CommunityMark company to help 500,000 into work

CommunityMark company, Microsoft, has launched a campaign to help 500,000 people into work by 2012. This timely initiative is part of Microsoft’s Britain Works programme, which looks to specifically tackle the issue of rising unemployment in the UK.

Over the next three years, Microsoft has committed to work in partnership with non-government organisations, community learning centres and local authorities to deliver its ambitious target of helping half a million people into work through a combination of apprenticeships, training and a new job matching service.
 
Microsoft is focusing on jobs in the areas of the economy that will lead the recovery in the digital field across a range of sectors including manufacturing, services and IT.
 
Gordon Frazer, managing director of Microsoft UK said: "The last 12 months have been disastrous for many individuals, families and businesses throughout Britain.
 
"The Government has invested where it can but in reality there's only so much it can do. That's why I asked my team to look at ways we can make a difference as a business,” Frazer said. "Today represents the start of a nationwide programme, which I hope will have a real impact at grassroots level across the UK."
 
Former government trade minister Lord Digby Jones backed the announcement, adding: "Next week, we are expecting the number of people unemployed to top 2.5 million for the first time since 1995. That's a frightening prospect, but I also know that there are thousands of people who do not have the appropriate skills that businesses need in today's IT-led economy.
 
"Businesses still need these people, and so a significant part of this campaign will focus on making skills for business training vouchers available to people who want to give themselves an extra chance when going for interviews."
 
Microsoft was successful in achieving the CommunityMark in 2009, which has recognised the company as an exemplar of best practice community investment.

For further information visit Microsoft's Britain Works website.