Microsoft SBS Community Group

The aim of the North West SBSC group, based in Manchester, is to be an independent forum enabling Microsoft Small Business Specialists in the North West to meet one another and share best practice. This sharing of best practice is not limited to Microsoft products, but includes all 3rd party vendor products and services relevant to small and medium sized business environments. Learning from other partners about how they get the most from all their suppliers and having good access to Microsoft resources in the form of product and technical specialists means we all improve our offering.

The forum is run by Microsoft partners for themselves, so the agenda is set by the group to reflect both specific and common issues the group are experiencing. As the main conduit through which IT products and services are procured and delivered to small and medium sized businesses, it helps us and providers to engage in discussion. The group discussions are critical and constructive, seeking only to work out what's the better solution for a given situation, and because of that, the group are allowed more of an influential insight into Microsoft and 3rd party vendor offerings and future plans.

Microsoft is increasing their engagement with partners in the North West and are actively looking to provide greater support to locally based Small Business Specialists. The form this support takes is by making available Microsoft resources in the form of key personnel in the Small Business Server technology arena - from technical specialists to product and marketing managers.

Microsoft Small Business Specialists can benefit from being part of a community association by being able to call on other resources when stretched, and help business colleagues with referals for work out of their preferred location or technical skill set. 

How this group can help you

• Share ideas and solutions with similarly technical peers
• Discuss product features, current and future, with Microsoft technical and product managers
• Assess 3rd party vendor product and service offerings and their performance
• Help your business contacts by refering business on to colleagues you know

Open to all Microsoft Small Business Specialsits in the North West region who want to help the community progress, and 3rd party solution providers to promote their offering, the group first met in Manchester in March 2008. Please use the Contact SBSC NW form to get in touch with suggestions.