Outsourcing rises in economic climate

The number of firms choosing to outsource their services has increased, according to a new poll.

Information gathered by TPI, an advisory firm, shows the first six months of this year saw £28 billion of deals being signed for outsourcing contracts, reports the Financial Times.

The surge in contracts, which is the highest number in the past decade, is due to companies aiming to save costs, according to Peter Allen, a partner and managing director at the firm.

Martyn Hart, chairman of the National Outsourcing Association, said the traditional view of outsourcing to India is no longer true, stating the cultural differences are often too much.

He added: "The specific skills needed are too hard to find, particularly for the more esoteric tasks specific to the asset servicing space."

In related news, BT has just signed a deal worth £75.5 million with Steria to extend its 20-year outsourcing deal by six years.