UBDS signs the Microsoft Partner Pledge

At UBDS we are passionate about the power of transformative technology. Our purpose is to empower public and private organisations to realise significant, measurable and sustainable digital transformation. Therefore, we are committing to more than just signing the Microsoft Partner Pledge – we are committing to living and breathing it.

We are incredibly proud to be a part of the Microsoft partner ecosystem, and this initiative reaffirms the alignment of our partner relationship. Technology has allowed us to become more connected than ever before – just imagine the past 3 years without technology! However, we believe it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that the power of technology is harnessed in a sustainable, ethical and socially responsible way.

Emma Durkin, Chief People Officer of UBDS says, “At UBDS we put people at the centre of everything we do – whether it is our employees, customers or communities. We are committed to upskilling young talent and closing the skills gaps in the technology industry, and we continue to make great strides in this area. For us, having a diverse workforce is not enough, everyone has to feel included in the UBDS culture and we are continuously challenging ourselves to make this a reality. Environmental sustainability is a focus for us, from our benefits, through to what we deliver to our clients. These are not empty promises for us – they are conscious actions and initiatives that we are taking every single day. The Pledge was signed in a thoughtful way as it aligns to the UBDS values that we hold ourselves accountable"

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We are all about using technology for good, which is reflected in the things we do every single day. Below, we have outlined just some of the ways in which we have proven our commitment to all three aspects of the Microsoft Partner Pledge to date.

Grow Talent in Our Industry

Knowledge is the key to growth. At UBDS, breaking down barriers to employment and encouraging personal development is an integral part of our culture. Our team are actively encouraged to continually develop their skillset through a range of training courses. In addition, the team are empowered to make choices about their learning targets, aligned to their career goals. We encourage young talent into the business through our Digital Academies and apprenticeship and graduate schemes. Outside of UBDS, many of our team act as Enterprise Advisors to local schools, and more recently, UBDS have developed a library app using the Microsoft Power Platform for schools in London, helping them to maximise their use of their Microsoft 365 Licenses.

Enhancing Diversity & Inclusion

Diversity is at the heart of UBDS’ culture, and this is embedded across our: hiring process, policies, training, and the partnerships we form. We recognise that diverse teams bring unique value, and we celebrate the depth, breadth and diversity of experiences and backgrounds that drive our innovation and delivery of well-rounded solutions. UBDS are a proud Disability Confident Committed employer. We believe that these initiatives shouldn’t just be top-down, and all our employees should be committed to these causes. Therefore, we are continuing to increase awareness and educate our workforce, by asking all employees to complete the Microsoft Accessibility Fundamentals training by the end of this year.

Shaping a Desirable World

We all have a responsibility to do the right thing for our planet. Technology is an integral part of the present, and is shaping all of our futures. Technology can be used for good in so many ways, and we all have a responsibility to ensure that it is adopted sustainably. At UBDS, we are committed to making better environmental choices internally, and through the advice we give to our clients. We are ISO14001 accredited, have an Environmental Management Scheme (EMS) and we have created and published a Carbon Reduction Plan. In addition, all employees are granted access to an electric vehicle leasing plan. On the client side, we help to implement a Cloud First approach in order to reduce energy consumption, and to implement “Green by Design” services that self-optimise energy consumption.

For us, signing the Microsoft Partner Pledge is another positive step in the direction we were already heading. We are committed to delivering value to our clients, while maximising the positive social and environmental impact that technology can bring to the planet and society.

Technology has the incredible power to bring people together. At UBDS, we are using that force for good.