Scotland could become IT outsourcing hub

14:15 19th August 2008

A new initiative may see Scotland rival Eastern Europe as the UK's primary IT outsourcing destination.

The Outsourcing Hub initiative plans to encourage worldwide firms to outsource high-end business processes to Scotland, as opposed to the low-end services typically contracted out overseas.

Andrew Rigby, a lawyer who has specialised in IT and outsourcing, set up the programme six weeks ago and pointed to the large technology expertise Scotland holds as proof of the country's capabilities.

He said: "Scotland has become famous for its call centers but this is the wrong end of the value chain to concentrate on."

The organisations involved in early meetings include the Trade Association for Technology in Scotland; the Scottish Development Agency; and the Chartered Institute for Bankers in Scotland.

Earlier this year, the research group IDC identified that outsourcing will play a lead role in the 4.6 per cent in growth of IT services in Western Europe over the next four years.

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