12th December 2011 - Advanced 365 (Advanced), which designs, deploys, operates and improves IT services from the desktop to the data centre, is one of the first UK IT companies to have earned a Microsoft Certified Master (MCM) SharePoint 2010 qualification. Advanced 365 selected development manager, Brian Cartmel, to apply for the MCM training to keep Advanced 365 a step ahead of the competition.
Microsoft SharePoint is a web-based platform, which delivers applications including document management, content management and customer solutions.
Brian Cartmel took a gruelling eight months to achieve the qualification during which time he spent three weeks at Microsoft’s headquarters in Redmond, USA, where he took part in a rigorous training program. Brian also had to complete some of the industry’s toughest examinations to achieve the qualification.
Neil Cross, Managing Director of Advanced 365, says, “Advanced 365 is a rapidly growing organisation with extensive SharePoint development expertise. As one of the only SharePoint Master qualified companies in the UK, this further strengthens our credentials in the SharePoint marketplace. It also highlights the importance we place on training our people to be the best, despite the turbulent economic climate.”
Brian, who has 20 years’ experience as a software developer, of which 11 years have been spent at Advanced, had to pass numerous administration and developer examinations as well as an in-depth interview by the Microsoft Acceptance Board before being accepted onto the course. Once accepted, he spent the next few months studying 1,700 TechNet articles, 80 whitepapers and 50 hours of training videos which all culminated in over 300 hours of classroom time in Redmond, 2000 PowerPoint slides and 12 hours of examinations.
Brian Cartmel says, “The qualification process was more of a marathon than a sprint but I feel very privileged to have earned this sought after accreditation. I found the process very stimulating and look forward to applying all that I have learnt to the benefit of Advanced’s customers.”
Advanced is one of thousands of Microsoft gold partners in the UK but is one of just a few Microsoft partners globally to have earned a Microsoft Certified Master (MCM) SharePoint 2010 program qualification.
Cross says, “Microsoft has set the bar very high with the MCM program and we are very proud of Brian for obtaining the SharePoint Master qualification. We believe that our people should be encouraged to grow and learn and we are always looking to help them gain extra knowledge and experience for the overall benefit of our customers.”
Cross adds, “This latest string to our bow means that our customers can be reassured that we are skilled to the very highest level of SharePoint delivery.”
