Scotland could become a centre for
IT outsourcing if the work of a think tank comes to
fruition.
The Outsourcing Hub Initiative wants outsourcing services
included in the
Scottish Government's plans to invest in a number of industry
sectors. The Government's plans include
promoting sector skills in higher education and giving tax
breaks to companies.
Andrew Rigby, a partner at law firm Brodies in Edinburgh who set
up the think tank, predicts Scotland could earn billions of pounds
through outsourcing IT services.
"The idea is to develop an industry which provides IT-enabled
services specialising in certain industries," said Rigby. "The idea
is then to provide onshore location for London and a
near shore location forContinental in countries."
He said there is less focus on getting the lowest price and more
on the
skills available at the higher end of IT outsourcing, such as
in software development.
Andrew Rigby said
Scotland can provide these skills because it has a high
proportion of graduates and has a high standard of education but
suffers because most of the talent leaves Scotland to find jobs
elsewhere.
"This must change and we need to build industries that will
retain them," Rigby said.
He said he wants Scottish Universities to provide skills to
create centres of IT outsourcing excellence.