North-shoring is a possible geographical shift in the outsourcing market to the North West of the UK.

Liberata, a private equity-backed firm which specialises in public sector services, will create 300 new jobs in Pendle, a former industrial centre in Lancashire, through its new business and payment processing centre to supply a contract with Pendle Council. The centre is expected to open towards the end of the month.

In July, the firm also announced a six-year £75m deal with the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to assist delivery of the Learner Support Programme and made a commitment to create 300 jobs in Barrow-in-Furness through its Shared Services Centre, which opened in March 2006.