Contract workers help cut risks

Businesses can reduce costs and risks associated with business expansions by hiring short-term contract workers, says a regional consultancy.

The economic crisis presents good business opportunities for building the use of temporary skilled workers in the country, said Barry Willmore, managing director for Southeast Asia at Brooklands Executives, a UK-based consultancy that has recently expanded to Thailand after entering China two years ago.

"There has been enormous growth in Asian economies over the past 10 to 15 years and that has been hit badly by the crisis in the past one-and-a-half years," he said.

One of the best times for developing business is during a downturn, he said.

"In difficult times, companies are still looking for skills and experience but don't want to make that permanent investment," he said.

Interim management offers an opportunity for clients not to make commitments to permanent and expensive members of staff.

The use of interim executives is growing in the United Kingdom by about 25% a year. In the UK there are about 5,000 interim managers.

A lack of expertise in a particular field also drives demand for head-renting.

Established in the UK 15 years ago, Brooklands provides and sources professionals for short-term assignments covering all sectors such as finance, supply chain, logistics, sales and marketing, design and manufacturing.

A project can range from one month to two years. Assignments usually last between three months and one year.

Brooklands expects to build a 10-million (55-million-baht) revenue business within five years, or 25 projects a year.

The firm hopes to become a market leader in the Thai market.

The company has 9,000 contract workers on its books. It aims to have 300 interim managers in Thailand within the first year of operations.