Shared Services gala in Budapest

The Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency (HIPA) organized in Budapest the Hungarian Shared Services Gala, during which awards were given to top companies and managers of 2017 in three categories and the latest SSC market survey was published.

80% of Hungary's SSCs plan to expand in the short term, as revealed by the results of the first Hungarian Shared Services & Outsourcing Insights survey, carried out this year by the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency (HIPA), EY and SSC Heroes.

The young industry sector has developed at a rapid pace in Hungary during the past few decades, and is now one of the most important sectors for job creation, with further growth potential. 110 shared services centres now operate in Hungary, employing approximately 46,000 people.

The representative survey questionnaire was completed by 53 companies which together employ 37,000 people, representing an 80% response rate in terms of numbers of employees. The number of those working in the industry who completed the survey exceeded 800.

The survey shows that Hungary has Central and Eastern Europe's most mature SSC market, not only in terms of numbers but also with regard to the industry's past and structure. This is supported by the fact that captive and hybrid centres dominate the market, as well as by the wide range in terms of the distribution by sector and activities of the centres. Two-thirds of the companies have been operating in Hungary for more than five years, which shows that Hungary can ensure long-term growth for companies that set up here.

This year, awards for excellence among enterprises were presented to Nokia and MOL, while the award for best company director went to Managing Director of the Lexmark Budapest Competence Centre, Péter Csucska.