Merit Newsletter - March 2008
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Merit North West

MERIT is an information and communication technology user group. For 20 years Merit has strived to ensure that it represents the needs of IT focused businesses who seek to exploit the digital technology.

MERIT offers a unique portfolio of user-centered services that have relevance for ICT experts and novices alike. Benefits include:

. The opportunity to network and do business at our FREE monthly event which focuses upon new and emerging technologies.
. Access to 1000's of IT focused training courses.
. Regular communication via our newsletter about the latest developments, issues and technologies in ICT.
. Access to merits knowledge base, an ever expanding repository of information and advice
. The opportunity to promote your company's logo and details on Merits supplier directory. The directory is viewed by over 9000 businesses across the North West every month

Click here to visit the MERIT website for more information
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Harnessing Digital Technologies

MERIT and Liverpool Chamber of Commerce are working in partnership to deliver the Harnessing Digital Technologies Project (HDTP).

This new and innovative project aims to assist Merseyside based SMEs in adopting the most effective digital technology for their needs and provide grants towards the training costs associated with implementing these solutions.

This project is part funded by ESF through the Enterprise Programme, managed by The Mersey Partnership, on behalf of Government Office for the North West .

The initial criteria for eligibility are simply that you are a Merseyside based SME, ideally looking to spend in excess of £10,000 on ICT.

To register your interest in the HDT Project, visit http://www.hdtp.co.uk/ContactForm/ContactForm.html and complete the short form on the nature of your ICT project

Company's who have benefited from grants so far include:

. Clarity Creation
. Roy Castle Foundation
. Liverpool Technologies
. Living Media
. Charities Trust

For further information about the Harnessing Digital Technologies Project visit http://www.hdtp.co.uk/

 Alternatively you can register your interest at http://www.hdtp.co.uk/ContactForm/ContactForm.html
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Course Description & Booking InformationDate: TBC
Venue: Liverpool Innovations Park

Adopted and adapted by organisations of all sizes and sectors around the world, ITIL has become the de facto standard for IT Service Management.

The IT Service Management Foundation Certificate is a 3 day course which introduces the concept of IT Service Management (ITSM) and gives a framework for identifying and interrelating the various activities involved in developing, delivering, measuring, and improving IT services to the user communities.

The first level of certification is known as ITIL Foundation Certification, the purpose of which is to establish that an individual has a solid understanding of ITIL. This course, combined with additional experience, contributes to the students' capacity to successfully pass the ITIL Foundation Certification.

Click here for full course details and booking information
Could your company benefit from sponsoring the MERIT Newsletter?

If you would like to use this space to promote your companies logo (which links directly to your site) to 9000 businesses across Merseyside then call 08700 663 994
To subscribe to the MERIT Newsletter, CLICK HERE
Podcasting for Business Event

Podcasting for Business & Creative Professionals - 25/3/2008

Venue: Warrington 2000+ International Business Centre
Time: 11:00am - 14:00pm
Speakers: Don McAllister of Screencasts Online

Podcasting is all about the creation and distribution of digital media via the internet to computers, portable devices and even to the TV.

Click Here to Book on this Event
For more information on MERIT, download our promotional flyer below.
Merit North West
Small Business & Classroom: Review

I would like to thank you for attending our small business and small classroom solutions event on Wednesday 27th February 2008. Hosted by MERIT at the Liverpool Innovation Park Offices on Edge Lane in Liverpool the event proved a great success with a presence provided by a range of organisations and educational institutions from across the North West.

Located close to the Capital of Culture's town centre, the MERIT office provided an ideal location for all attendees with solution technology solution on display and available for attendees to experience and test.

Click Here for full article
For more information on Harnessing Digital Technologies, download our promotional flyer below.
Harnessing Digital Technologies
Gary Duffield is our resident IT expert. In each newsletter Gary will be answering your IT questions. You can send your queries to gduffield@merit.org.uk

Q. As a small business, I am told I need a server. Why and what are the options: Linux?

A. Pretty much picking up where we left off last time, let's talk about Linux.

A quick history lesson, a chap called Richard Stallman set's out in 1984 to single handedly rewrite AT&T's UNIX in a free unlicensed format . He didn't finish it, what Richard does finish is a software licence that stated that changes could be made, but anyone modifying the code for distribution has to make their source code public on the same terms. Proprietary changes are prohibited except for private use. Enter the GNU General Public License. Not copyright more "copyleft". It was left for a Linus Torvald to write what became the LINUX kernel - Linux is released under the GNU license.

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