Bridging the gap: BPAP to revisit talent supply issue during IOS 2012

In an effort to strengthen public-private sector collaboration, the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) is working closely with government agencies to address employment and workforce skills development. Projected to be a US$25-billion industry by 2016, the information technology and business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) and global in-house center (GIC) industry is undertaking a series of visibility initiatives to highlight the rewarding career opportunities available to Filipinos.

“The IT-BPO and GIC industry has grown rapidly, so has the demand for a skilled workforce,” said Benedict Hernandez, BPAP president and CEO. “We are working with industry and government partners to address skills-and-jobs mismatch as well as to develop and sustain the talent pool.” Leading outsourcing firms operating in the Philippines offer multi-service delivery in consulting, IT and engineering, financial, manufacturing, customer engagement, public services and healthcare, facility management, security, real estate, and support services.

Top skills needed in the IT-BPO and GIC industry include leadership, strategic thinking, and English-language skills. BPAP currently has at least 13 certification, training, and HR development programs. It has also partnered with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and conducts regular trainings for trainers and job readiness training for youth.

“We need motivated and highly qualified professionals. This year, we hope to generate at least 120,000 new knowledge workers to attain our goal of employing 1.3 million Filipinos by 2016. With support from government and academic and training institutions, we expect to meet that goal,” Hernandez said.

Sustaining the industry’s pool of talent will be among the global issues that will be examined during the fourth annual International Outsourcing Summit (IOS), a high-level meeting of outsourcing leaders and experts. The IOS will take place October 7–9 at the Makati Shangri La. “In this year’s summit we will revisit the talent supply scorecard in the strategic HR track led by an impressive panel of high-level industry executives,” Hernandez said.

The summit will feature keynote presentations by industry and domain experts; panel discussions with respected and influential resource persons; gala dinners; business-matching sessions; exclusive briefings; unconferencing sessions; and a trade exhibit. For more information on the IOS and to register online, visit www.internationaloutsourcingsummit.com.

About BPAP
The Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) is the umbrella association for the IT-BPO and GIC (global in-house center) industry in the Philippines. BPAP serves as the one-stop information and advocacy gateway for the industry. With approximately 300 industry and support-industry members, including five associations, BPAP plays a pivotal role in sustaining rapid growth of the IT-BPO and GIC industry by working to ensure an enduring supply of high- quality labor, supporting service innovation, and providing country visibility.

BPAP assists investors in setting up operations easily and quickly in the Philippines. Relevant research, introductions to key government and industry officials, and a series of briefings at each step of the investment process ensure a seamless development process. On-going support is provided through a wide variety of initiatives, including programs for HR development, business development, and on-going knowledge sharing and networking opportunities.