Microsoft invests in local programs that benefit people of all ages. In the United Kingdom, our collaborations are organized by our focus areas of Building Digital Skills, Enabling Sustainability, and Empowering Communities.

The following program list contains a sample of the kinds of investments Microsoft makes on an annual basis.

Building digital skills

Microsoft believes everyone should have access to the skills, technology, and opportunity they need to succeed in a changing economy.  

Catch22 Charity Limited promotes opportunities for the development, education, and support of young people in need to live meaningful, productive, and fulfilling lives, and to contribute to safer, crime-free communities for the public good. Catch22 is a social business, a not-for-profit business with a social mission, working with over 33,000 people across every stage of the social welfare cycle.

• Digital Edge: AI Innovate supports NEET individuals age 18 and up into long-term, sustainable employment in the digital/IT sector. Operating across multiple regions, including Yorkshire, London, and Wales, the Digital Edge programme has helped over 1,000 participants overcome barriers to employment, with career coaches successfully supporting 350 of them into paid work.

Generation: You Employed transforms education to employment systems to prepare, place, and support people into life-changing careers that would otherwise be inaccessible. Among its programmes, Generation provides bootcamps across a number of regions, including London and Yorkshire.

• London: Digital Skills for employment bootcamps offer profession-specific training bootcamps in IT support (9 weeks), Data Analytics (11 weeks), and Cloud Computing – Azure (12 weeks). The program includes comprehensive mentorship support and connects diverse jobseekers facing barriers to employment with life-changing, in-demand roles. The bootcamps focus on supporting people specifically from West London and aim to place them into roles with Microsoft customers and partners in London.

The King’s Trust helps young people from disadvantaged communities and those facing the greatest adversity by supporting them to build the confidence and skills to live, learn, and earn. Its courses, resources, and other support help people aged 11 to 30 to develop essential life skills, get ready for work, and access job opportunities.

• Digital Skills for Jobs in South Wales supports young people from South Wales to increase their understanding of AI and gain sector leading certificates to transform their futures. The project integrates relevant LinkedIn Learning modules into proven codesigned employment and engagement programmes, in addition to relevant digital skills programmes as a learning pathway. For those who are furthest from the job market, it pilots content developed by Microsoft and Capgemini as an interactive, guided module focused on myth busting whilst supporting young people to understand the impact AI will have on their lives.

Enabling sustainability  

Climate change requires swift, collective action and technological innovation. We are committed to meeting our own goals while helping communities to do the same.  

Earthwatch Europe engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment.

• Ealing Urban Tree Planting Project engages Earthwatch UK to plant 600 trees to support and improve the greenspace in a new social housing development in Ealing/Acton area of London. Given the proximity to the busy road, the goal is to improve air quality and create a vegetation buffer for the residents. The trees will be maintained and monitored for three years. For all tiny forests, Earthwatch UK trains and engages citizen scientists to take measurements and provide data tracking from this project.

Empowering communities  

Microsoft is committed to strengthening communities and empowering organizations to help them thrive. Whether affected by a recent emergency or decades of challenges, we use data, technology, and strategic investments to restore and support them for future generations.  

ChangeX International helps to create thriving communities everywhere by democratizing change, ensuring proven innovations and finance are accessible to everyone, everywhere. ChangeX is a community engagement platform that, with Microsoft’s support, has funded more than 800 groups in communities across Europe and the United States since 2015. Many funded programs have multi-year commitments.

• ChangeX Wales, Newport, and West London Community Funds make financing, resources, and support available to people and community organizations for launching a proven idea in environmental sustainability and community tech skills training. These local projects contribute to more sustainable, liveable, and inclusive communities. Some of the successful funded projects include Hour of Code, introducing students to computer science; FreshWater Watch, training people to monitor and protect local freshwater bodies; and Repair Café, organising a free meeting place for people to repair things rather than throw them away.

TechSoup Global builds a dynamic bridge that uses technology to enable connections and innovative solutions for a more equitable planet.

• Nonprofits Digital Transformation Journey builds the digital resilience of EMEA nonprofits through the delivery of information, guidance, digital skills training, IT services, and access to technology products and solutions through a partnership with Microsoft. The project raises awareness about the benefits of digital transformation and helps organizations move towards a consistent level across the six digital capability areas in alignment with the TechSoup digital capability framework.

Jamal Edwards Delve is a grassroots youth work charity founded by Jamal Edwards MBE providing young people in Ealing with opportunities to learn, work, and connect. Through its youth centres, JE Delve aims to provide a sense of community for young people in the local area. A social, safe space of their own where they can develop their skills, explore who they are, connect with others, access support and nurture a positive sense of self.

• Bashley Road Youth Activities at the Bollo Brook Youth Centre will offer year-round provision for young residents of Bashley Road Travellers Site, including youth worker support, arts activities, and off-site trips and activities.