Beginners take TWICE as long as Experts.
NO’s makes the game FASTER because these IPC’s usually allow whoever is winning to continue winning, and get the job done faster.
If you want to improve your game time, make people BUY before thier turn, so Purchases are ready, and time thier moves, 3 min Combat Moves, 3 min Non combat, or 5 min, or whatever.
Allow dice rolling to go as per needed. Cut distracting chatter down.
If you can 6 turns in within an hour, you’re doing good, that will get you in 4 or 5 hours, quite close to a game completion.
Also keep in mind that the Opening moves are often much longer then subsequent turns. So it should speed up as it goes along.