Region is urged to apply for share of IT hand-out

Nov 26 2009 by Andrew Mernin, The Journal

TECHNOLOGY giant Microsoft is heading to the North East to urge local authorities to bid for a share of an £18m funding pot to improve IT skills and curb unemployment.

The US firm has set aside vouchers worth £18m for technology-related training courses at colleges across the country to help get more people back to work by giving them the vital IT skills they need.

As part of its Britain Works Challenge, it will share the vouchers between three local authorities, which will be chosen following a rigorous selection process. Ahead of the closing date for applications next month, it will visit the North East to make the region’s local authorities aware of the opportunity available to them.

The company will be represented at the IT in the Community conference taking place between December 1 and 2 at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.

Microsoft introduced its Britain Works campaign to help 500,000 people into work by 2012 through a combination of a new national apprenticeship scheme, targeted skills and employability training, and a new job matching service.

The bulk of the vouchers will go to the council which shows the greatest need for work-related IT training while also demonstrating a good use of resources and the ability to work with a strong set of delivery partners.

Stephen Uden, head of skills and economic affairs at Microsoft – who will speak at the IT in the Community event – told The Journal: “Three quarters of available jobs require some form of computer skills. The other ones will also be advertised online.

“The delivery of the vouchers will be done through a network of 800 IT academies which are local colleges, schools, workforce training providers and universities.

“If you haven’t been in work for a long time and need new skills, you will be more confident going to a local community centre than going to a Microsoft office.

Other key speakers at the IT in the Community conference include representatives from Sunderland City Council, who will debate how public, private and third sector organisations can work together to get people online and realise the benefits it can offer.

Also in attendance will be Andy Hudson, founder of the Broadband Computer Company, which has developed ultra-simple software called Alex aimed at those who are unable or afraid to use conventional computers.

He said: “It is staggering to consider that if everyone in the UK was to use the internet, the potential total economic benefit would be in excess of £22bn and yet, despite this, there is still not a truly coherent and consistent approach to getting the disengaged 21% of the population online.”