Enabling Jobs and Opportunities - Creating Economic Opportunity

Realising potential through creating jobs and opportunities

Economic opportunity can help bring prosperity, safety, and security to individuals and their families. Making economic opportunity possible for people who desire it starts with ensuring that needed skills are being developed in communities, connecting skilled people with available jobs, and managing business operations and growth in a competitive world. Microsoft is partnering with governments, voluntary organisations, local businesses, and academic institutions to offer technology that can help foster entrepreneurship and support job creation.

Britain Works

On September 9th 2009 Microsoft launched its flagship employability and skills campaign- "Britain Works". With over 77% of all jobs requiring some form of IT Skills, we believe that given the rising issue of unemployment, our role as a responsible business is to provide access to vital IT Skills that could improve the employability of UK citizens.

Through a series of partnerships with NGOs, community learning centres and public authorities we are aiming to help half a million people into jobs in the areas of the economy that will lead the recovery. These will be digital jobs, requiring the use of computer skills, but will be in a range of industries, from manufacturing to services and the IT industry itself.

Skills for Employment

Microsoft is working to develop access to IT skills and knowledge to further individual development and enhance career opportunities through programmes of entrepreneurship and elearning. These resources are also being utilised to support voluntary organisationsand bring about career development whilst increasing the capacity of the third sector.

Did you know?

In 2008 Microsoft Employees fundraised over £500,000 for UK Charities.

Last year 6,530 PC were refurbished in the UK through the MAR scheme.

Last year Microsoft donated £10 million of software to UK charities.

In 2008 25 teams undertook a one day volunteering project in the local community.