Microsoft Partner

[sal]

Maybe that's because it's the best bit about it? The MS Partner Network is mainly targeted at resellers so you need to flog/develop/support MS software and build yourself up to Silver/Gold level with lots of MCSPs (or whatever they're now called) in order to really reap any benefits.

Silver is piss easy, you need 2 people (they don't even have to work for YourCo) with a couple of MS certificates (that are piss easy to get) to associate their MCP IDs with YourCo and references from 3 clients - There are no real checks whether these people have actually done any work for YourCo or the 3 references are actually from clients - it's all a box ticking exercise. After that as long as you are paying the ~1k/year fee you can call yourself MS Silver partner. The extra benefits are a bit more licenses and tech/pre-sales support.

Gold is a bit more "prestigious" as it actually triggers some checks on part of MS (or at least it did a decade ago when I was working for a MS gold partner)

Both are absolutely pointless for 1-2-man band unless you are actually reselling MS products in bulk to cover the extra fee.

[ladymuck]

Despite me specifically saying I wasn't interested in the software on offer you've all gone on about the Action Pack

Maybe that's because it's the best bit about it? The MS Partner Network is mainly targeted at resellers so you need to flog/develop/support MS software and build yourself up to Silver/Gold level with lots of MCSPs (or whatever they're now called) in order to really reap any benefits.

[northernladuk]

no problem, I struggle with it as well, have you asked your accountant

Lol.. Very good.

[BigRed]

Need a slightly more in depth understanding of IR35 I am afriad..

no problem, I struggle with it as well, have you asked your accountant

[northernladuk]

IR35 avoidance perhaps?

Need a slightly more in depth understanding of IR35 I am afriad..

[BigRed]

Despite me specifically saying I wasn't interested in the software on offer you've all gone on about the Action Pack

However, you've made a good case for it

but going back to my original question, is it good for anything else? IR35 avoidance perhaps?

[ladymuck]

I've had the Action Pack Subscription for years. Never knew there were discount codes! Will be keeping an eye out for them on renewal.

[sal]

The Action Pack is just over £300. It's got most server software, 5 x O365 E3 licenses, £75 a month of azure credits. And a bunch of others.
Nobody will give you Visio or Project for free and they're included.

No brainer to me.

There are non-stop 50% off discount codes for the Action pack, just google for the latest one at renewal. Bringing the price to £165/year which even less than a no brainer.

You also forgot to mention the 2 MSDN subs with extra licenses and Azure credits

Link? (to save the finding)

The 2 Technical contacts (or whatever was the name used) on the MPN portal get MSDN subs

[dmini]

https://my.visualstudio.com/Benefits
You will need to log in with your MPN account

[eek]

You get access to the support forums (MS staff answer queries here) with the partnership - and a number of direct calls to Microsoft included for system down, free with the action pack.
You get the MSDN subscription as well with the action pack - now that DID take some finding!

Link? (to save the finding)

[dmini]

Plus....

You get access to the support forums (MS staff answer queries here) with the partnership - and a number of direct calls to Microsoft included for system down, free with the action pack.
You get the MSDN subscription as well with the action pack - now that DID take some finding!

[SouthernManc78]

Yep my limited company is a Microsoft partner with the Action Pack. I don't use all their software as I'm not a developer but the O365 and windows server licenses are good for me along with Visio.

[Sub]

The Action Pack is just over £300. It's got most server software, 5 x O365 E3 licenses, £75 a month of azure credits. And a bunch of others.
Nobody will give you Visio or Project for free and they're included.

No brainer to me.

This ^^^

[Lance]

The Action Pack is just over £300. It's got most server software, 5 x O365 E3 licenses, £75 a month of azure credits. And a bunch of others.
Nobody will give you Visio or Project for free and they're included.

No brainer to me.

[BigRed]

Has anyone found being a Microsoft Partner provided any real benefits lately as a one man PSC? It used to be good for discounts on software but with multiple Office 365 licenses being thrown at you every time you buy a cheap tablet and SQL Server Developer being free I've not reached a point where it's worth buying the software package. I can still put Microsoft Partner on my CV and business cards and it's free but I'm wondering if there's anything work working on.