Business Process Outsourcing: Leeds firm offers Yorkshire businesses access to top talent from the Philippines
Alex Giles, a Yorkshireman with Filipino roots, spent many happy formative years in the Philippines and has business connections and a “foot in both camps,” as he puts it. It seemed inevitable that his work would bring the two parts of his life together.
“It’s something I’d been thinking about for quite a while,” says Alex, who seized the opportunity to turn his dream and passion into a business after being made redundant following his role as communications manager for a West Yorkshire MP who lost her seat in the last election.
His business philosophy comes from core Filipino values – Bayanihan and Kapwa. Bayanihan is the idea of communal spirit, that if you work as a cohesive unit you will achieve your goal. Kapwa is the idea of a shared identity, that we can achieve more together than on our own. Out of this Archipelago BPO was born.
What is Archipelago BPO?
The name comes from the Philippines being a series of islands—an archipelago—and, arguably, so are the British Isles. Thus, they come together, embodying the vision of connecting one series of islands to another.
Unlike many other outsourcing offerings, Alex says his contacts and knowledge of the Philippines gives him the opportunity to carefully select individuals to match a company’s needs, screening staff who all have English as a first language, are educated to degree – often masters – level, and are both adaptable and hard-working.
“My dream is to bring the two cultures together,” he says. “In the UK, businesses are struggling post-Brexit, and Northern businesses, in particular, especially SMEs, are facing significant challenges.”
"What I offer is an alternative to traditional staffing. I provide not just an 'outsider,' but the right people who become an extension of your existing team."
The Philippines is home to a well-educated, hard-working pool of tech-savvy, talented individuals who are underutilised on the global stage. Whether it's back-office operations such as accounting, customer support, digital marketing, or web development, these skilled professionals can be hand-selected to provide the skills, working hours, and expertise needed to be the right fit for your business.
Why outsource?
The biggest benefit is financial, but outsourcing to the right people can drive both efficiency and reduce costs. Typically, outsourcing to the Philippines is 40-60% cheaper than employing someone in the UK. Alex charges no finder's fees like conventional recruitment agencies and instead invoices companies monthly for outsourcing services.
For the Filipino worker they will not only earn more working for a UK company than in the Philippines but Alex says there’s a greater ‘big picture’ benefit.
“It can be a platform to showcase their abilities and contribute to business worldwide,” he said. “I believe there is cultural alignment between our two countries. English is spoken as a first language, Filipinos have a very high literacy rate – the highest within Asia – are highly educated and skilled. They’re also the happiest people you can meet and a joy to work with.”
“Outsourcing is becoming an integral part of the economy,”he said. “Some people may fear that it's exploitative, but I want to dispel that notion. For me it’s deeply personal, I want to make a difference and bring our two sets of islands together – and that’s the biggest reassurance I can give.”
Supporting Filipino communitie
Alex’s commitment to the Philippines extends beyond providing jobs befitting people’s talents, and helping Yorkshire companies survive and thrive. He is also committed to helping more people access education and create future opportunities. His company supports multiple charities in the Philippines: one focused on rugby and the others on education for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
How does it work?
Archipelago BPO has offices in both Leeds and the Philippines. Initially, Alex will consult with a company to understand their specific needs—whether it's a skills shortage, a particular role, or multiple positions to fill. He will then use his talent pool and connections in the Philippines to identify and deploy the right staff.
Contracts are usually 3, 6 or 12 months – as he says, these staff should be integral parts of the business. To that end, working hours can fit in with a business need too. The Philippines has a seven hour time differential from the UK. For some work, such as customer services, having someone in a country who is working during the UK’s night-time means they can operate 24-hours. Other businesses need someone to work UK working hours, which is no problem, or it could be a mix of the two.
Talk to Alex