UK freelancers look to the East for new markets

by Susie Hughes at 09:43 22/09/14 (News on Business)

UK-based freelancers are going global on a large scale as they move to sell their specialist skills to businesses based in countries that have historically been outsourcing hubs, such as India and China.

PeoplePerHour, the global online marketplace, says it has seen a massive 234 per cent increase in the number of UK based freelancers and micro businesses looking to emerging markets in the East. PeoplePerHour looked at work invoiced by its registered freelancers over the past year, and the number of short term projects carried out for employers based in East Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, India and Pakistan, has more than doubled in the past 12 months. The figures reveal that there has been eightfold increase in the past year, in work carried out by UK freelancers for businesses based in Japan while short term projects for India-based companies has increased nearly five fold. India Using India as an example, PeoplePerHour says that country has traditionally been an outsourcing hub for UK businesses, with thousands of companies moving their IT support and call centre operations overseas to take advantage of cheaper labour costs. India is now experiencing a booming small business and start-ups sector, and with funding flooding in, these businesses are in a stronger position to inwardly invest in their own growth, rather than simply offering support to help Western businesses grow. Advertisement However, for these businesses to grow, there is a greater need to find people with specialist skills; skills such as business planning, design and copywriting, that are in short supply amongst the local workforce. Now with greater financial support/investment behind them, businesses have the resources to look beyond the local labour market, and find global talent that matches their development needs. Xenios Thrasyvoulou, founder and CEO of PeoplePerHour, said: “The UK has something to offer the East. We can’t compete with the East on labour costs. Where we do have a competitive advantage are the specialist skills that our workforce has to offer. And thanks to the evolution of the online marketplace, this pool of highly skilled freelance professionals are now in a position to sell their skills to businesses across the globe. “This burgeoning freelance marketplace, which enables UK professionals with specialist skills to export their talents, could radically change the way businesses operate in the future." Countries which have seen the greatest percentage growth as Japan, Bulgaria, Indonesia, India, Saudi Arabia and China. Skills particularly in demand are design, business support, and copywriting. Tweet -- If you wish to comment on this article, please log in and use the Reply button below. Registering is free and easy - see 'Join Shout99'. - Susie Hughes © Shout99 2014

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