Plans in pipeline to rebrand BPO sector to students

Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and cosmetology courses at the HEART Trust/National Training Agency are gaining the most interest from applicants, and chairman of the institution , Edward Gabbidon, said the agency will position the BPO sector in order for young people to see the real benefits and opportunities which exist there.

In an interview with The Gleaner during the inaugural TVET Leaders' Summit and Youth Forum which was held on Tuesday, Gabbidon said the vocational training institution will be doing a lot to rebrand it's courses, especially to introduce young people to the myriad of opportunities that are available in the BPO.

"The ones (courses) that we are getting a lot of traction on are our cosmetology school and we are getting a lot on the BPO side. What we find is that people have this myth about BPO, but it is a huge industry. If Jamaica gets even four per cent of the full gamut we will be well on our way," he said.

"There are certain standards and disciplines that every industry requires from it's workers and we have to get to those standards.

"Within the industry, we (Jamaica) are at the bottom tier now because we are mostly doing call centres. What we need to get to is, the business process outsourcing; accountants and lawyers are prime examples.

"We produce tons of lawyers a year but they don't have jobs, but there is a BPO sector where you can have lawyers, accountants, pharmaceuticals, transcriptionists.

"We need to first get into the industry and then rise on the value chain to where we are providing the jobs for a level that brings in real money and drives the economy," he added.

Gabbidon continued, "It's a process. If you look at all the countries that are doing well, India, Dominican Republic, they started at the bottom of the value chain and gradually moved up.

"There is no quick fix to anything. You have a plan - strategise, but the end game must always be in sight."

He also said that agriculture is another booming sector that young people are interested in, but a lot needs to be done to market the area better.