Joint venture created by Microsoft and Accenture to open Tampa hub

A tech firm formed through a joint venture between Mircosoft and Accenture will open its first U.S. engineering hub in Tampa, creating 500 local jobs. 

The Seattle-based firm Avanade, the $2 billion-plus Microsoft solutions provider, says its new Tampa Bay engineering hub will be the first of its kind in the United States. 

“As our clients seek solutions for adapting to the accelerated pace of change in a new, hybrid world, it’s imperative we continue to enhance our team with the best and brightest, forward-thinking talent,” Shawn Simmons, VP of North America Engineering Hubs at Avanade, said in the news release from the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council. “Watching Tampa emerge as one of the nation’s hottest tech cities, we felt it made sense for us to plant our flag here and become an active part of this burgeoning community.”

Avanade selected Tampa as its U.S. Hub after commissioning a comprehensive assessment study from Everest Group that gave the area high marks on the available skilled talent, top educational institutes, government support and quality of life, according to the release.  

The Tampa Bay EDC is working in collaboration with Avanade to recruit entry- and senior-level software engineers from throughout Tampa Bay and across Central Florida. The company expects to hire hundreds of employees over the next three years. 

The Tampa team will work with Avanade clients, of which many are Fortune 500 firms, to create innovative solutions from cybersecurity to supply chain disruptions. 

“Over the last several years, our city has been on a hot streak when it comes to attracting leading technology companies and the highly-skilled talent they need to be successful,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said in the release. “We are thrilled Avanade has chosen our community for its latest expansion and we’re excited for the company’s future here.”

The release did not disclose where the company is opening its Tampa office but did state the company has a hybrid model, allowing employees to work remotely or physically in the office. 

As part of the Tampa entrance, Avanade is partnering with local universities to provide career mentoring and technical training. The company will also have a seat on the board of Tampa Bay Tech. 

The new U.S. hub follows the company’s opening of its first hub in Atlantic Canada, which opened in March. 

To date, Avanade, founded in 2000 by Microsoft, has seven global engineering hubs. The company has 56,000 employees in 26 countries.