Xpertise to deliver new Microsoft Office 2007 certifications to organisations - starting with itself
Leading training company Xpertise has launched the new Microsoft Business Certification Programme including brand new qualifications for Office 2007 and Windows Vista– and Xpertise is its own first customer.
Xpertise has been providing Microsoft Office training for several years, but is now also to offer Office 2007 and Windows Vista training through the new Microsoft Business Certification Programme. Xpertise is an official testing centre for the new Office 2007 certifications through Prodigy, who manage the certification programme in the UK and Ireland.
According to Xpertise’s commercial director, Bill Walker, Microsoft’s new Office 2007 certifications have been totally overhauled. “As is now standard with Microsoft’s certifications,” says Walker, “the new Office 2007 certifications are much more role-based – focused on specific uses of Office software. Microsoft has already done this with its technical certifications and it makes a lot of sense – most people don’t need to be an expert in every aspect of Microsoft Office, but they do need to know, in depth, features relevant to their job.”
The new certification will be important, believes Walker. “Office 2007 and Windows Vista is such a huge leap forward, especially for organisations which have skipped a version or two. You really do need training to get to grips with everything that’s on offer.”
Xpertise believes that organisations will be entering into a highly active ‘upgrade cycle’ – driven by the release of Microsoft Windows Server 2008. “Windows Server 2008 unlocks the business management, performance and security potential of many new Microsoft products – ranging from Windows Vista, through to Office and Exchange 2007,” says Walker. “It’s not just a range of products, it’s a highly optimised ecosystem. Microsoft’s new products make so much more sense when deployed together – and additional server products, such as SharePoint, add to the richness of functionality on offer. It’s a very powerful combination – and Office 2007 is the user interface into much of it.”
Xpertise’s first Microsoft Office 2007 training programme is for itself. “We’re currently rolling out Windows Vista, Office 2007”, says Walker, “so we’re providing the full Office 2007 training programme to almost 150 Xpertise staff – in addition, our trainers and many key employees will be taking the new Office certifications. It’s good to show that you practice what you preach – these are the same courses and certification programmes that we offer to customers.”
Much of Xpertise’s Microsoft Office training experience is in the form of large-scale role-outs, helping organisations to move from one version of Office to another – training dozens, hundreds or even thousands of people.
Craig Bewley, CEO of Prodigy Systems Limited, is delighted to be working with Xpertise. “Xpertise has a market-leading reputation for quality and service. We’re confident that they will deliver the Office 2007 training and certification programmes to the same high standard as the rest of their training.”
Xpertise’s Office training courses are now available through the new
Microsoft Business Certification Programme.