Microsoft's UK managing director, Gordon Frazer, has said the
recession could produce the next Google as the lack of jobs forces
IT workers to rely on innovation.
"Recessions in the past couple of decades have seen a large
increase in the number of start-up companies. People find
themselves unemployed and if they have an idea it's a good time to
do it. A lot of innovation can come from that," he said.
Strong companies are likely to remain strong, but weaker
companies could be at risk unless they manage to innovate through
new products and solutions.
"Google and others came out of the dotcom bubble," said
Frazer.
"The industry will be reshaped by the recession. It will
certainly survive, but will evolve and adapt."
Frazer was talking at an event hosted by
Microsoft and e-Skills, which aimed to boost awareness of the
new
IT diploma.
Around 150 pupils who are studying for the diploma attended the
event at Microsoft's offices in London. They listened to talks from
Microsoft employees and took part in a competition to design a new
technology.
Frazer said it is "critically" important to keep investing in
training throughout the recession.
"If you're going to be reducing your workforce, you'll be doing
business with fewer people," he said. "You've got to give these
people better skills, whether it's IT specialist skills or the
general IT skills of the broader workforce.
"In our business we are managing costs, but we are not cutting
back on training. Skills are critically important from a
competitiveness point of view."