Scotland Works to Promote Itself as a Prime Destination for Outsourcing
While outsourcing is often associated with developing countries, Scotland is working to position itself as an alternative for outsourcing and BPO. Thanks in part to its proximity to the financial hub of London, the general education level of its citizens, geopolitical stability and grasp of the English language, the country does have some appeal for banks and financial institutions throughout Europe and America.
"What has been one of the key attractions is there is no compromise in quality to be able to do business in Scotland," says Danny Cusick, president of the Americas for Scottish Development International.
Cusick's mission is to promote doing business in Scotland and increase awareness of the various opportunities.
"The overriding key is access to talent and access to people," he says about what the country offers. "Most companies will tell you it comes down to the skills base."
While outsourcing to Scotland isn't as cheap as some developing nations, Cusick says, it does offer a savings over establishing operations in London, a key city for finance. And for businesses that have a base of operations in Scotland, there is no problem accessing London or the rest of Europe.
Simply, Cusick says, cost makes it difficult to sustain in London; Glasgow is a solid alternative.
"One of the attractions of Scotland from an international perspective has been the proximity to London," he says. "London is by far the most important financial services center on the planet. One of our key strengths is the fact of the proximity to London."
And, he believes, Scotland can offer a skill set on par with major financial centers anywhere.
"There is no compromise in quality to be able to do business in Scotland," Cusick says.
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