Pirantech News
Microsoft Backs Region's Ambition To Suceed
09.06.2006 Age: 4 yrsLead Microsoft Speaker expounds upon the theory that Cornwall could become a center of Information Technology akin to Seattle in the US.
Microsoft created a stir in late 2005 when it suggested that the South West had a "golden opportunity" to become the new Seattle. We highlighted the many similar factors the south west of the UK and the north west of the US have in common - the climate and geography, entrepreneurial spirit and historically vital business sectors, the vibrant education and research environment and of course the successful high-tech firms.
We also talked about the crucial importance of increasing the number of young people entering work with the right skills for careers in ICT (Information and Communications Technology), challenging the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) to set a target for improving this.
The majority of the comments about that vision have been supportive. There is a fantastic ambition to succeed across the region.
I'm in the South West tomorrow, to talk about our vision for the area with SWRDA and a range of local businesses, technology and educational partners at a summit hosted by the Western Morning News in Plymouth.
Given the recent debate, the newspaper's timing couldn't be better.
Ours is not a passing interest in the region's future - far from it. Microsoft has been in the South West for a long time with a strong record as a committed investor and player.
We work with almost 3,000 partners in the region on a range of projects, supporting education and improving skills.
We support 34 IT academies, six specialist schools and three Microsoft Partner schools across the South West in locations as diverse as Broadclyst Primary School, near Exeter, to Eggbuckland School in Plymouth, and Rosemellin Primary School, Camborne.
We also back IT academies, like the one at Cornwall College, teaching students how to use IT creatively to solve business problems.
The real advantage of the IT Academy Programme is that it offers students the chance to gain valuable workplace skills, degrees and certifications, while employers get individuals with skills that really make a difference.
With Cornwall College, Truro College and Cornwall Adult Education, we have developed a virtual learning space providing tutor support to a range of those who need IT skills, especially small and medium-sized businesses.
Finally, we have also worked with partners in the public and voluntary sectors to tackle deep-rooted issues, such as digital exclusion. Working with Age Concern, Microsoft has supported the Mini Explorer bus which operates in Devon and Cornwall, bringing IT to hard to reach communities.
In the first year of operation the bus has provided basic IT training to 1,230 older people in the region. Being a mobile unit the bus is able to take technology to older people in rural areas of the counties who may otherwise not be able to access it.
It is through the experience of working on these projects and others that we believe the region has the potential to follow in the footsteps of the Seattle area in the United States, home of Microsoft founder Bill Gates and some of the top high-tech companies in the US.
The building blocks are already in place. The South West is a growing region, driven partly by developments in new technology. There has been an increase of 3.9 per cent in the total population since 1991 - well above the average for other regions.
ICT is one of the largest and most dynamic sectors in the South West of England, employing about 70,000 people. The sector has grown by 10 per cent since 1997 and broadband penetration is very high across the region.
The South West has a strong high-technology capability in semi-conductor and wireless design.
And, there are a number of outstanding companies and organisations doing innovative work across the area to ensure this growth continues, including SWRDA, Goss Interactive, Grey Matter, Wired West and Broadband4Devon to name but a few.
However, we are not afraid of ideas on a big scale. And we are not afraid of saying that there is more that can be done.
That is why Microsoft challenged SWRDA to set a target to increase the percentage of people in the region with entry level ICT skills from 40 per cent to 50 per cent. It is crucial that the industry has the right people with the right skills if it is to expand as it has the potential to.
We believe that more collaboration with industry leaders would maximise the take-up and exploitation of ICT and are ready to offer our expertise and assistance in helping the South West make the most of its existing high-technology growth belt.
Similarly, we think the region should be supported to take advantage of the new markets in ICT such as increasing the take-up of broadband, digital interactive television and mobile communications.
And new technology can certainly help to improve accessibility and digital engagement, particularly for rural and elderly communities, and in providing innovative solutions to encourage more remote working.
Finally, there is also a real opportunity to use new technology to improve the delivery of public services across the region.
The Government recently announced Digital Challenge, a competition to encourage local councils to use new technology to transform and better join-up public services in health, education and elsewhere. Microsoft has partnered with other IT companies to promote this opportunity with local councils as we see it as real opportunity to deliver new solutions for local people.
Much work is going on in these areas already and there is no doubt that a great deal has already been achieved by SWRDA and others. We recognise and respect this.
There is a wealth of evidence that businesses which use ICT effectively are more successful than those who don't and we want to help the government and local business build on these achievements and exploit ICT to help build the area into one of the strongest regional economies in the UK.
Can the South West really become the next Seattle? We really think it can
