Milton Keynes Scoops £3 Million Worth of Training Prizes in National Competition (Milton Keynes Liberal Democrats)

Milton Keynes Liberal Democrats <info@mk-libdems.co.uk>

Milton Keynes Scoops £3 Million Worth of Training Prizes in National Competition

February 17, 2010 1:19 PM

Milton Keynes residents are to benefit from millions of pounds worth of potentially life-changing computer training after the council scooped third prize in a national contest run by global computer giants Microsoft.

Milton Keynes Council and its commercial broadband and IT arm, ConnectMK, was one of the three final contenders for 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize in the National Britain Works Challenge - a campaign that challenged local authorities to devise effective programmes to address unemployment and to develop digital skills in the local community. The competition encouraged local authorities, to use their creativity and business skills to pitch for thousands of Microsoft Training Vouchers and to help the councils launch innovative programs for citizens in their areas.

Previously in Milton Keynes the Digital Challenge, as it was known, was met head-on with the Council and ConnectMK working closely with partners to offer personal computers for rental to low-income families, at just £1.50 a week. More than 1,500 people seized the opportunity, with over 1,000 on the books at any one time. This has formed part of a broad-based approach which has also seen the Council stimulate the introduction of new broadband services into Milton Keynes.

Now the Council has scooped a staggering £3 million in training vouchers, including those aimed at equipping people with essential IT skills to more advanced technical specialist courses. All training vouchers have to be used within 6 months of issue, and the Council will work in conjunction with partners to make most effective use of the opportunity. The training will be particularly targeted to help unemployed people to acquire improved technology skills and to aid their bid to get new jobs.

Liberal Democrat councillor Sam Crooks, Council Leader and cabinet member for IT, said: "We had to prove our case to Microsoft and we are delighted that they recognized the important and innovative work ConnectMK and the Council are doing. We've been providing the home loan computers for some time now, and we've been aware for a while that we need to back that up with training, whether it's at a basic level such as understanding Word or Excel, or at more technical levels, which could lead to new employment or a change of career."