Microsoft invests in local programs that benefit people of all ages. In London, our collaborations are organized by our focus areas of Skills for Jobs, Enabling Sustainability, and Empowering Communities.
The following program list contains a sample of the investments Microsoft makes on an annual basis.
Skills for jobs
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 is the latest iteration of Catch22’s partnership with Microsoft. The program supports people with barriers to work by providing skills in generative AI and other tech areas to secure long-term, sustainable employment. The initial 3–4-week pre-employability program provides insight into the tech industry from Microsoft professionals, networking opportunities, essential skills in generative AI when searching for jobs, and an overview of how AI will be used at work. In addition, participants receive one-to-one career coaching for up to six months, as well as six months of in-work support once they have secured a role. The program delivers Digital Edge to specialist groups in Ealing in West London, while also building a community of frontline practitioners and training them to deliver essential AI skills modules to their service users, thus upskilling a much broader range of people.
Generation: You Employed transforms education to employment systems to prepare, place, and support people into life-changing careers that would otherwise be inaccessible.
- 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.
- Generation Azure Bootcamp Curriculum Development created an Azure skills training to align with Building Skills for Jobs impact metrics. They drive Azure developer skilling programs in UK and Ireland (initially). The program supported future skill development programs by ensuring current Microsoft Azure bootcamp is part of the Generation bootcamp portfolio.
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 500 groups in communities across Europe and the United States since 2015. . Many funded programs have multi-year commitments.
- ChangeX West London Community Challenge makes financing, resources, and support available to those who are interested in initiating a proven idea in the areas of community environment and tech skills training to strengthen local community. The key goals to increase skill and environmental sustainability contribute to a more viable, livable, and culturally inclusive community.
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.