COUNTIF Confusion

Thanks very much Daddy Long Legs. It does indeed work. Any chance you can explain the whole LEFT and RIGHT thing? also why the text value "mmmm"???

Thanks again. Have also tried a pivot table and it too looks like a possible method. The only thing is, because staff would input a date how could I get a monthly output as opposed to a set date?

Or, much like the online banking systems, can you choose a start date and an end date for analysis??? How would I do that in a pivot table?

Much appreciated everyone. It is amazing how powerful Excel can be. I have a reporting project that I'd also like to develop. The concept may be better suited to a database but I think Excel could pull it off!