As we get ready to Get on the Bus, we thought we would introduce the events and our hosts to you. Let’s start with our event in York, hosted by Andrew Bettany.
On the evening of October 29th, The Bus will be in York, courtesy of the University of York IT Academy.
Our host, MCT Andrew Bettany, is quickly running out of empty seats but you can still register for the event.
Who is Andrew Bettany, (in his own words :-)):
Mid-height, athletic build, own teeth, GSOH,
Likes food, networking, IT and education.
Seeks lively audience to participate in and to share similar interests.
Tell us more about your company or school:
York is well-known for its exquisite architecture and cobbled streets, world-class museums and a variety of festivals held throughout the year catering for all ages and interests. The city also has a vibrant café culture with some wonderful venues for a drink by the river. Add to this its Viking history, York Minster and a strong railway heritage it is a prime location for a visit.
Started in 2004 the IT Academy is part of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Unit at the University of York. We offer Microsoft technical IT courses ranging from the ever popular “Desktop Support Technician” through to “Server 2008 MCITP” training. As a Prometric testing centre over 90% of our learners obtain Microsoft certification following training.
Why did you want to be involved with the Get on the Bus tour?
I attended TechEd in Los Angeles in May 2009 where I witnessed the original “Get on the Bus” tour event. I was really impressed by the excitement and enthusiasm it generated amongst the TechEd delegates. I later learnt from the Born to Learn blog that the event was being repeated in Europe and that applications were being accepted - I knew then that we wanted to be involved.
I often have to travel to London for this sort of event, which is a shame in some ways because the North of England has a vibrant IT Community so I thought that with Microsoft’s help we could bring the buzz of the Los Angeles event to our base in York.
What things are you planning for the event?
The event will start in our National Science Learning Centre’s stylish atrium where there will be time for networking with fellow IT Professionals, enthusiasts, educators and local companies - as this event is the first of its type in the North of England its also a great opportunity for the IT and MCT community to get together.
The main event will see the Microsoft USA team showcasing the new products which we have supplemented with two of the UK’s leading evangelists who will focus on why these new products are of value to SMEs, which are prevalent in our region.
There will also be a huge variety of SWAG – from t-shirts to copies of Windows 7 Ultimate!!!
Anything else you’d like our readers to know about this event?
The event is completely FREE. We have a maximum capacity of 300 and after just 5 days of promotion we have already reached 130 attendees – you really need to book early to avoid disappointment!
REGISTER TODAY