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Business partnerships scheme
What are business partnerships?
VSO Business Partnerships (VBP) is a secondment scheme which allows partner companies to release their employees to take up short term assignments with VSO. These employees utilise their business and management skills to assist organisations and communities throughout the developing world.
The purpose and benefits of VSO Business Partnerships
VSO Business Partnerships (VBP) was established in 1999 to meet an increase in demand for business/management professionals from our partners overseas. The emphasis that VSO places on individual development and sharing of skills means that VBP combines tangible benefits for UK business with urgently needed development support for the world's poorest countries.
In the true spirit of partnership, VBP brings benefits to all those involved in the scheme:
- Developing communities and organisations gain access to crucial business skills in developing countries that can act as an engine for sustainable growth. We believe this is one of the most effective solutions to global poverty
- VBP volunteers enjoy a rewarding career break which allows them develop a wide range of skills whilst making a real difference where the need is greatest
- For Partner companies, VBP helps develop and retain a highly innovative and adaptable workforce with a strong understanding of other cultures
A strong and properly regulated private sector is essential for sustainable development and the elimination of poverty. VSO Business Partnerships complements our own approach and recognises the important role that business has in promoting development. It offers individual staff not only management experience in emerging markets, but the chance to play a meaningful role in reducing poverty and helping to build a fairer world.
(Clare Short, former Secretary of State for International Development)
We often say that people are key to competitiveness. But it's much harder to find ways to offer employees in-depth hands-on experience of business practice in emerging markets. VSO Business Partnerships deliver exactly that. It offers UK businesses the chance to build a workforce with new personal and professional skills, adept at working in an international, multi-cultural environment, able to make strategic decisions informed by grassroots experience of the global economy. It's a triple win situation: businesses benefits from HR development and consumer credibility; individual employees gain invaluable experience and the developing world gets the skills it so urgently needs.
(Digby Jones, Director General, CBI) Matching skills to assignment needs
Management, finance and IT skills are in strong demand from small enterprises and community organisations in Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe. Volunteers work with communities and organisations to develop these skills and improve management/finance procedures and systems.
Candidates from partner companies should have experience in strategic planning, change management, organisational development, financial management, systems or people development, PR and marketing.
Further information
If you would like any further information on the scheme please e-mail enquiry@vso.org.uk or telephone us on +44 (0)20 8780 7500.
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