↑ Grab this Headline Animator

HSBC joins Microsoft Bizspark Programme

HSBC Commercial Banking (http://www.hsbc.co.uk/1/2/business) has today announced that it has joined the Microsoft BizSpark Programme (www.microsoft.com/bizspark) as a Network Partner and becomes the first UK bank to become part of the network.

As a BizSpark Network Partner, HSBC Commercial Banking will be able to offer its estimated 17,000 technology start-up business banking customers the opportunity to enrol in the Programme and receive fast and easy access to Microsoft'ss current full featured development tools, platform technologies and a full suite of software with no up front costs for the first three years.

The Programme has been designed to accelerate the success of technology start-ups across the globe by connecting them an online ecosystem which will provide mentoring, guidance and resources from all network partners and peers.

The Programme is available to businesses under three years of age, who are actively engaged in the development of a software-based product or service that is core to their business model.

Huw Morgan, head of business banking at HSBC, said: The technology sector remains vitally important for HSBC and accounted for one in 10 of our start ups in the last year. Given the current economic environment we will hold to our traditional values and support and nurture sensible business propositions. Joining an established program like BizSpark helps us to maintain our commitment to helping our customers succeed.

By becoming a BizSpark Network Partner we will be able to offer nearly 17,000 technology start ups a service which will provide them with advice and networking opportunities at a life stage of their business when knowledge from outside sources is the most valuable, but also least affordable.

Dan'sl Lewin, Corporate Vice President, Strategic and Emerging Business, Microsoft Corporation said; We are very pleased to have HSBC on board. It is often assumed that big multinational companies are unaware of or unconcerned by the pressures and needs facing small businesses. This is certainly not the case; we recognise how vital entrepreneurship is in driving innovation and to the UK economy as a whole, particularly in the current climate. Together we are able to extend BizSpark to more companies across the globe, enabling a new generation of entrepreneurs to flourish.

Technology start-ups interested in finding out more about the BizSpark Programme should visit hsbc.co.uk/bizspark (www.hsbc.co.uk/bizspark) or

Microsoft.com/bizspark

Media enquiries to Anna Murray / Katie Donlan / Joe Laing

020 7781 2312 / 010 7781 2376 / 020 7781 2365

Notes to Editors:

To be eligible for the Microsoft BizSpark Programme, start-ups must be actively engaged in development of a software-based product or service that is a core piece of their business model, have been in business less than three years and have less than $1 million in revenue. Start-ups may enrol for the programme by obtaining sponsorship from a designated BizSpark Network partner. The programme is only available to those businesses that operate on a Microsoft platform.

HSBC Holdings plc

HSBC Holdings plc serves over 128 million customers worldwide through 9,500 offices in 85 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. With assets of some US$2,354 billion at 31 December 2007, HSBC is one of the world'ss largest banking and financial services organisations. HSBC is marketed worldwide as 'sThe world'ss local bank's.

Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realise their full potential.

↑ Grab this Headline Animator

---

This article has been robotically scanned and tagged by Prnewsnow with the following search tags. No human manipulation of these tags take place.
| " | Lion Covenant | beneath temple mount |

---

4931 readers online...

, Local News