13 June 2006

London, UK: Business and management professionals are urged to share their skills and knowledge with people in poor countries while giving their long-term career prospects a boost.

International development volunteer agency, Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) needs to recruit at least 200 people with business or management backgrounds to fill volunteering opportunities in developing countries.

It is holding a meeting tomorrow, June 14, at PricewaterhouseCoopers near Tower Bridge where potential volunteers can learn more about the benefits of overseas charitable work and meet people who have completed a VSO placement.

The charity is looking for mid- or senior-level managers with experience in staff training, leadership and motivation, team or company strategy and planning, budget control, project monitoring and evaluation, managing change, and communications.

Vicky Starnes, marketing advisor at VSO said: "If you've ever considered working overseas or if you'd like to use your professional skills in a whole new way, come to the 'Meet VSO' event to find out the difference you could make to some of the poorest people in the world.

"VSO placements work because we're responding to the requests of our partners, who really need people with strong business and management backgrounds to advise and help them.

"With a VSO placement you'll not only change your life, but also the lives of many around you."

VSO placements last between one and two years and volunteers receive a package of financial assistance including local salary, accommodation, flights, National Insurance contributions and a series of grants.

A study published earlier this year by VSO and the Chartered Management Institute found people who do voluntary work overseas often returned with expertise that could address skills shortages within UK companies such as conflict management and diversity management.

Experiencing different cultures and learning problem-solving and communication skills could also make overseas volunteers more employable in the UK, the report showed.