Introducing the Microsoft NZ Toolshed

Yesterday we held a roundtable discussion with industry folks to announce the Microsoft NZ Toolshed. The idea is that in these troubled economic times we need to take the initiative and reach out to the community and industry.

We’ve combined some existing programmes with a pile of new initiatives – and some great offerings from our training partners. But the really useful thing is we’ve pulled everything into one place http://www.microsoft.co.nz/toolshed so this assistance is consolidated and much easier to find. Some of the things you’ll find there:

• Technology literacy for the wider community
• Basic digital literacy courses
• Windows and Office certification
• Career building for IT and Software Development professionals
• Professional certification – free exam re-take
• 90% off e-learning courses
• Complementary offers from participating training partners ACE, Auldhouse and Excom
• Free software for tertiary and high school students through our DreamSpark programme
• Free software, support and visibility for start-up software businesses through BizSpark
• Microsoft software donation programme for charities and not-for-profit organisations ($2m so far this year)
• Employee volunteer leave days – 3 days per employee to work in the community
• Microsoft finance options for larger businesses

We hope that other companies will follow this lead and really start building some momentum to help the industry make it through the recession – and come out the other side in an even stronger position.