Hello and welcome to episode six of Microsoft Stories, a podcast about technology and the people who use it.

In this episode we will be chatting about female entrepreneurs and how the pandemic has affected them. According to research, women still struggle to get funding for their businesses. Why does this still happen and how can we ensure that female entrepreneurs are supported to start their own business?

You will hear from three women, all with huge amounts of experience with female entrepreneurs. They will shed light on what it's like to be a woman starting your own business today, and how we can encourage more people to take that first step into running their own company.

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Hello and welcome to episode five of Microsoft Stories, a podcast about technology and the people who use it.

In this episode we will be chatting to Nick Hedderman, Director of Modern Work and Security Business Group about how the UK is coping with going back to the office.

We will be finding out how he makes flexible working work for him and his team, how to have great meetings no matter where you are and what he really thinks about companies forcing staff back into the office.

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In this episode we are looking at modern work. During the pandemic, most of us have had to adapt to working from home - and the good and the bad that comes with that. Not having to commute is great, but the regular interruptions and multiple people on your broadband network is not. Who has thrived over the past two years and who hasn't? Why are young people more likely to want to work in the office? What can younger and older generations teach each other about ways of working when they finally get to sit around the same table again? We answer all these questions and more.

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Companies in every sector desperately need employees with digital skills. From relatively simple tasks such as using Microsoft Teams to set up a virtual meeting, to advanced tasks such as those undertaken by data scientists, digital skills are in demand and help businesses adapt, transform and grow. But not enough young people are learning those skills. How do we make digital skills “cool” and how do we make tech careers a path that young people are desperate to follow?

Let's find out!

For episode two we are staying with sustainability – one of the most urgent issues of our time and a key focus for the UK with the COP26 summit being held in Scotland.

This episode asks: how can organisations launch impactful sustainability plans and continue to grow? Your customers should love your efforts to reduce your carbon footprint, but how do the inevitable changes to your organisation affect what it does and how it does it? We hear from two young people who are passionate about the environment and how they view companies who are trying to be more environmentally friendly. You will also hear from Microsoft’s Sustainability Customer Lead, as well as Rebecca Marmot, Chief Sustainability Officer at Unilever, about the work both companies are doing to be greener.

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We are kicking off this series with two episodes on sustainability - one of the most urgent issues of our time and a key focus for the UK with the COP26 summit being held in Scotland from October 31.

This episode focuses on the importance of measuring your carbon footprint so you can reduce it. You can't manage what you don't measure. We will look at the tools available to companies and individuals to help them do that, as well as hear from two young people who are passionate about the environment and the steps they take to lead greener lives. You will also hear from Microsoft's European Sustainable Science Lead, as well as the Head of Climate Change at NatWest about the work these two companies are doing to help protect the planet.

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Hello and welcome to series two of Microsoft Stories, a podcast about technology and the people who use it. In this series we will be talking to young people and finding out about the big issues affecting their lives and shaping their futures. We also learn about the companies and experts who play key roles in those issues. And how does technology fit into all this and how can it be used to help tackle some of the most important challenges facing the world today?

Let's find out!

In this episode we focus on Cornerstone Academy Trust, which is based in Devon and oversees four primary schools. Its staff place innovation at the heart of teaching and learning.

Cornerstone has forged strong partnerships locally, regionally, nationally and globally, and also provides teacher training, professional learning, leadership development and school-to-school support at both primary and secondary levels. It has been appointed a Microsoft Training Academy, a DfE English Hub and a Science Learning Partnership, and is also part of the West Country Computer Science Hub.

Like every school in England, Cornerstone has had to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic and the knock-on effect that's had on their pupils' education. In this podcast, you will hear from Jonathan Bishop, headteacher and CEO of Cornerstone, about how innovation has helped his staff continue to provide first-class learning to their classes.

You will also hear from Chris Rothwell, Head of Education at Microsoft UK, about how schools are working together and sharing that innovation.