Microsoft Consulting Services has joined the group membership scheme offered by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, in a move to support the adoption of Chartered IT Professional status for its consultants. The Microsoft UK headquarters in Reading is the base for 270 of its consultants.

Andrew Reid, Microsoft Consulting Services director, said: "We believe the new CITP programme represents today's benchmark of IT excellence and professionalism and it's starting to gain international industry recognition."

Microsoft Consulting Services is aligning its internal processes to meet the requirements for awarding Chartered status. The first step has been the adoption of the BCS group membership scheme and the award of Professional membership (MBCS) for its consultants.

Over 50 percent have signed up so far, with some already gaining full CITP accreditation.

Senior managers within Microsoft Consulting Services have been working with the Institute to set up a CITP processing agreement which will see the remaining Professional members upgrade their membership to Chartered status, as an integrated part of the team's professional development programme.