Thousands of unemployed to join Microsoft training scheme

Microsoft will train 4,000 unemployed young people with technical support, sales and software skills as part of its pledge to bring new jobs to the UK in 2011.

The expansion of Microsoft’s Britain Works scheme, which launched in 2009, was announced following a meeting between prime minister David Cameron and a number of high profile, private sector businesses designed to create new roles.

"Microsoft's Britain Works does two things. Firstly it creates new jobs in the form of highly skilled apprenticeships and opportunities for entrepreneurs to start new businesses. Secondly it provides IT training to give people the right skills for existing vacancies", says Microsoft UK managing director Gordon Frazer.