Pitman Training

Essential Payroll Award

Diploma Outline

Our Essential Payroll Award is one of our range of Mini-Diplomas.

If you have an aptitude for figures and wish to learn manual and computerised payroll, then this practical course is for you. Through studying for this Award, you will become confident in popular and in-demand software including Sage Payroll and Microsoft Excel. This means you’ll have all you need to get into the world of payroll; the Award will also help secure you an interview in a payroll department.

You can start when you like and our flexible learning system means you can fit your studying around your existing work and home commitments. There will also be a course advisor on hand to help, should you need additional support

  • Flexible training which fits around your commitments
  • Support on hand from our friendly course advisors
  • Get the skills in demand by employers

Get the Pitman Advantage™

The course is highly practical in nature – not only will you have the knowledge you need, but through a range of practical exercises based on real-life scenarios, you will have the skills and confidence to apply your knowledge in the world of work. This is a key reason why this course is different to others and why employers respect Pitman Training Courses. 

Having completed this course, you can be confident that prospective employers will have evidence that you have a practical understanding of manual payroll, Sage Payroll and Microsoft Excel to a good working standard, which other candidates may not possess.

Core subject areas covered include:

  • Practical Payroll Level 2
  • Sage Payroll
  • Microsoft Excel OR Excel Expert

The guideline learning time for the Essential Book-Keeping Award is: –

  • 70 hours flexi study or 3 weeks full-time*

*full-time is based on approx. 20-30 hours a week.

Our Essential Payroll Award has courses which can be accessed online, via our distance learning portal and courses which you will need to study in one of our centres. 

This means that you have the flexibility to study our Essential Payroll Award:

  • In centre, with our friendly course advisors available for support and guidance as and when you need it.
  • At home or from work – with support via email or telephone during working hours.
  • On a blended mix – in-centre for the modules you need help with, at home or from work for those you are gliding through.

Once you’ve decided to go ahead, all you’ll need to do is contact your nearest Pitman Training centre that offers and supports our distance learning platform, and they will arrange for you to have an induction to show you around the system and talk you through how our online training works. After this, you can learn in your own time and at your own speed, but with the knowledge you have support at hand if required. 

To find your nearest centre that offers and supports our Essential Payroll Award training, /training-a-z/”>


The best way to make sure your training programme suits you, your skills, your ambitions and your busy schedule, is to get in touch with us for a free, friendly expert career consultation.

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