Thousands of East Midlands businesses gain access to Microsoft support scheme

Thousands of businesses will gain access to free resources that will help them get the most of Microsoft technologies as a new pilot scheme is rolled out in Leicester and Leicestershire.

The Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) is working with Microsoft’s Business Support division to pilot an initiative to help SMEs to get more from digital products which can help to grow their businesses.

The pilot will ensure SMEs from all sectors have access to a variety of productivity tools as well as technical skills support. Dozens of local businesses have already logged on to business support platforms since the programme went live in January.

Andy Reed OBE, LLEP co-chair, commented: “Increased productivity is a pillar of our regional economic growth plan and we are using our Innovation Strategy and other activities to find new ways of helping small businesses find simple ways of working better.

“By collaborating with partners such as Microsoft, we are able to offer support to small businesses which form the vast majority of the region’s economy.”

Many small businesses will already have the required tools available, but will not be aware of ways to utilise them to their full potential.

Advice will range from ways to maximise the tools offered in everyday platforms, such as Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM systems, through to more specialist complex transformation projects. It will also include access to free Microsoft training and skills.

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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