IT outsourcing is set for a surge in 2008, according to new research.

A study by research group Gartner has revealed that the outsourcing sector may grow by as much as eight per cent over the next 12 months.

Kurt Potter, research director at Gartner, said that many organisations' IT strategies and governance structures "are still immature" or misaligned with enterprise objectives, leaving room for IT outsourcing firms to improve matters.

Gartner's research also noted that although the value of publicly disclosed IT outsourcing contracts appeared to fall last year, figures in this area may have been misleading due to fewer contracts being reported.

Outside of the UK, Indian outsourcing firms grew their business by 40 per cent in the US in 2007 and 60 per cent in Europe.

Many smaller British firms are increasingly choosing more local IT outsourcing firms in cities such as London or Manchester, as this locality allows them to keep in close contact with their partners.

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