HR outsourcing provider Capita to double India workforce in 2008

HR outsourcing provider Capita plans to double the number of people it employs in India by the end of 2008, according to its annual corporate responsibility report.

The company, which provides business process outsourcing services - including HR - to a range of organisations across the public and private sector, said 2,600 staff would be based offshore by the end of the year.

The report said its policies in India were designed to support all relevant employment and human rights legislation, and its training programmes tailored to meet the needs of Indian workers.

The market for business process outsourcing in the UK and Ireland is estimated to be worth £5.1bn: 33% in the public sector, and 67% in private sector organisations. However, Capita estimated the market has the potential to grow to £94.8bn in the future, with the same public/private split.

Capita has almost doubled its workforce in the past five years as the outsourcing market has boomed. However, the report did reveal that the number of ethnic minority workers it employs almost halved in 2007, compared to the previous year.

In 2007, group turnover increased by 19% to £2.07bn, with pre-tax profit rising 19% to £238m.