Working in Trust Around the World

Gina Le Prevost, Chief Executive of AP Group, looks at a trend for globe-trotting that sees many qualified individuals - particularly in the trust world - using their talents and experience as a passport to international freedom.
The number of employees on international assignments has doubled over the last three years as part of the continuing trend towards globalisation, according to a survey conducted by leading international HR consultants Mercer.

The company's 2008/2009 Benefits Survey for Expatriates and Globally Mobile Employees covers 243 multinational companies worldwide, including over 94,000 expatriates.

It concludes that '47 percent of companies surveyed said they had increased the deployment of traditional expatriates (employees on 1-5 year assignments) and 38 percent reported an increase in "global nomads" (employees who continuously move from country to country on multiple assignments... Gaining experience in various geographies is becoming an essential step on the career ladder of international firms.'

This is something that we have been aware of for some time. We have seen candidates move to a new jurisdiction, gain experience and then come back to us after a few years, looking to move somewhere else again, and it is particularly prevalent among those who work in the field of trusts. I have never known a time - even in the present recession - when there have been enough trust professionals available to fill all the vacancies. Obviously this is good for the individuals, provided they have the ability to deliver the goods when they take up their new post, and for employers it means fresh insights and broader experience, which can rub off on their less adventurous staff, with positive results. Not everyone is cut out for this kind of roving lifestyle, but for those who do have the confidence and no ties - and a second language can help too - it can be very rewarding. As an additional bonus for all concerned, moving around in the cause of work could lead to a reduction in the disruptive fashion for taking a year off to 'go travelling'.