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News

Boost in IT jobs on the way, says Microsoft

Almost 80,000 jobs could be created over the next four years as thousands of technology firms are created in the UK, technology giant Microsoft has predicted.

Research by the firm suggested more than £50 billion could be spent on information technology this year and rising by 1.8 per cent a year from now and 2013.

The IT market will drive the creation of nearly 2,500 businesses and 78,200 jobs between the end of this year and 2013, according to the study.

Most of the companies will be small and locally owned organisations, and the jobs will be highly skilled and high-quality, it said.

Microsoft underwent a "cultural reformation" when it felt the effect of the global recession, chief executive Steve Ballmer said.

"Consumer spending was impacted, we had to decide how to cut. We suffered the first revenue declines in our company history. They were a few per cent," he said on a visit to London.

Microsoft "locked" its research and development budget and made sure it kept enough money to invest in new businesses, he said.

Bullmer is optomistic on the future but called for greater investment in future generations.

NEW - HP MSA2000i Update Training

Host Computer Services are pleased to announce the addition of the following courses to their training portfolio. This one day Instructor Led Training (ILT) course focuses on the Configuration and Management of the iSCSI connected HP StorageWorks 2000i, Modular Smart Array according to HP best practices. With a mix of theory and hands-on Lab exercises, the delegate will have the opportunity to use the Command Line Interface (CLI), and Storage Management Utility (SMU) to properly configure and manage the storage environment, and gain access to the controller system logs. To view the full course description, please click on the link below.

Course details are as follows:

Code: S638

Title: HP StorageWorks MSA2000i Modular Smart Array Configuration & Management

Duration: 1 day

List price per delegate: £ 355.00 exc VAT

Available dates: 19th October, 20th October, 13th November, 9th December, 8th January, 5th March

Location: Haughton Hall, Shifnal, Shropshire

If you are interested in reserving a place or have any queries regarding the above, please do not hesitate to contact us. reception@hostcomputers.co.uk

Storage Infrastructure Training

Storage Questions? Make better decisions, get informed, stay informed

Decisions in the world of storage are intrinsically linked to capacity and performance, each of them has a cost implication. There are more implementation options in storage than other areas of IT. Cost savings can be made by optimising what you already have and intelligently managing growth. We are therefore writing to advertise a new comprehensive training course developed to assist you with storage planning. The training highlights the process of storage assessment, planning, and design in vendor neutral terms, with an emphasis on the discipline of assessment and the art of matching strategic requirements to storage capabilities.

All attendees will benefit from this training by gaining a clearer understanding of storage dynamics with a focus on understanding the balance between technical and strategic objectives. Using a rational format, it discusses the underlying science of calculating capacity and the art of performance modelling. This course is also recognised internationally as part of the SNIA certification program and contributes to SNIA Certified Storage Networking Expert.

This is a truly unique opportunity with only one date scheduled for 2009.

Course code: S10-300

Course title: Storage Assessment, Planning & Design

Course location: Host Computer Services Ltd, Haughton Hall, Shifnal, Shropshire, TF11 8HW

Course start date:21st September 2009

This training is being delivered by the course originator who is one of the top advisors on storage to the US government, major airlines and other organisations with large storage requirements. The delivery partner is also a founder member of SNIA - Storage Networking Industry Association.

For further information please call us on 01952 460551 or via reception@hostcomputers.co.uk

HP Left-Hand SAN Training

Host Computer Services are pleased to announce the addition of the following courses to their training portfolio. This course is part of the AIS Speciality in HP Left-Hand Solutions (2009). This course will supply learners with 2 days of instructor led training on the HP LeftHand SAN solution. Through a mixture of interactive Q&A, slides, and "hands-on" practice, students will see, hear, and experiment with product installation and configuration. For further information please contact us on 01952 460551.

HOST are accepted as CompTIA Members as part of their Learning Alliance.

HOST have today been accepted as members of The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), the world’s leading vendor neutral IT Education provider.

HOST's extensive CompTIA portfolio covers Server+, Network+, A+, Linux+, Security+ and PDI+.

For example, PDI+ serves as a solid foundation for entry into a career involving the service and support of printing and document imaging devices and provides a stepping stone for product specific training.

All training course bookings are protected by HOST's non-cancellation policy.

For more information about CompTIA please follow this link to their website http://www.comptia.org/about/default.aspx

Slashing staff training is not the answer

A coalition of the UK's most senior businessmen and union leaders have taken the unprecedented step of calling on UK employers not to slash staff training in a bid to cut costs as the economic downturn bites.

In an open letter published in national newspapers, some of the UK's top business people, including Sir Michael Rake, Chairman of BT and the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, Sir Stuart Rose, Chairman of Marks & Spencer and Business in the Community, Mervyn Davies, Chairman of Standard Chartered plc, and Richard Lambert, Director General of the CBI, together with Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the TUC, urge employers to sustain or even increase their investment in training.

An extract reads: "Now is precisely the time to keep investing in the skills and talents of our people. It is the people we employ who will get us through. When markets are shrinking and order books falling, it is their commitment, productivity and ability to add value that will keep us competitive. Investing now in building new skills will put us in the strongest position as the economy recovers."

Likewise, Unite have called on finance companies not to make cuts in spending on skills training as the economic downturn gathers pace.

Graham Goddard, Unite Deputy General Secretary, said, "The tough economic climate demands that finance companies make smart decisions to ensure that their organisations are best placed to cope with the changing nature of such a competitive industry. As the regulatory environment in financial services changes it is important that staff are equipped with the skills and training they require to do their jobs.

"Unite is demanding that employers think carefully about where they make cost savings and do not sacrifice investment in their staff in a bid to make small financial savings."

The call to action comes as the government announced a streamlined package of business support products, Solutions for Business, that will make it easier for companies to access government help with key business issues, including skills.

Peter Mandelson, Secretary of State for Business, said, "During these difficult times many businesses will look at how to rein in costs. Evidence shows that those that invest in training are less likely to fail, and first class workplace skills will be key to prospering when the economy turns up.

"I know people face tough decisions, but I would urge businesses to invest in skills and training to ensure that they are well placed to take advantage of the opportunities when global economic conditions improve."

In offering his endorsement and support, the TUC General Secretary, Brendan Barber, said, "Employers are under more pressure now than they've ever been. Cutting staff training can seem like a quick fix, but it's not the solution. Research shows that companies who don't invest in training are two and a half times more likely to fail than those that do."

www.amicustheunion.org

www.ukces.org.uk

www.bitc.org.uk

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