Why Supply Chain Nearshoring Should Extend to Talent Strategy
Emapta Global
Outsourcing trailblazer serving 1000+ clients in 30+ countries, including the US, Canada, Australia, NZ & Britain
More UK manufacturers are turning to nearshoring to cut costs, reduce risks, and regain control over their supply chains; but the focus often remains on physical goods. As companies rewire their networks for resilience, the workforce deserves a more strategic seat at the table.
Recent insights from Kearney explore how nearshore-offshore hybrid models are helping industry leaders adapt to supply chain disruptions. While the shift centers on production networks, it also opens the door to a bigger conversation: resilience can’t come from automation or logistics alone. People still power systems.
“Companies are evolving their manufacturing networks to stay competitive — it’s time they apply that same lens to their workforce.”
Richard Siao | Strategic Advisor for Supply Chain Workforce Transformation, Emapta
Nearshoring: A Response to Supply Chain Pressures
As one of the world’s most respected consulting firms, Kearney has long helped global businesses navigate economic uncertainty — and its perspective carries weight in boardrooms across industries.
In a recent article published in Supply Chain Digital, Nigel Pekenc , Partner at Kearney and a trusted voice in operations strategy, explores how businesses in the UK manufacturing sector are responding to rising costs and labor shortages by shifting parts of their production closer to home.
He frames this movement not as a retreat from globalization, but as a strategic evolution — “reshaping, rather than reversing.” Instead of consolidating operations in low-cost countries, manufacturers are taking steps to strike a smarter balance: retaining upstream efficiencies while bringing key manufacturing steps closer to end markets.
"Bringing operations closer to home also gives manufacturers greater oversight. It’s easier to make large-scale product adjustments, coordinate with suppliers and maintain quality control, which are the kind of advantages that help keep manufacturers competitive.”
Nigel Pekenc | Partner, Kearney
With UK firms projected to invest $650 billion in reshoring initiatives over the next three years, nearshore solutions are becoming a long-term response to mounting pressure on global supply chains.
A Hybrid Workforce Strategy is the Missing Link
Richard Siao , Strategic Advisor for Supply Chain Workforce Transformation at Emapta, has long observed the evolution of hybrid models — not just onshore-offshore, but increasingly nearshore-offshore.
“Much of the U.S. manufacturing sector has already been doing this,” he shares, citing his previous experience leading supply chain operations for a globally recognized media company. “We sourced components like cases and discs from offshore suppliers in China and Germany, then completed final assembly in Mexico.”
This aligns with the shifts we’re now seeing in the UK. But while recent conversations focus on the physical side of supply chains, Richard Siao points out a critical gap. “If you’re evolving your manufacturing model through a hybrid global network, you should be thinking about your talent strategy the same way,” he said.
Balancing Retention and Cost-to-Serve
Traditional retention strategies like Employee Value Propositions (EVPs) are often the first to shrink under financial pressure. While EVPs can lift morale and reduce attrition, they’re expensive to scale and usually limited to high-potential employees. Richard notes that this leaves broader teams underserved, even as expectations remain high.
To address both retention and rising labor costs, companies are starting to rethink their Cost-to-Serve models. One path forward is to apply a hybrid global network to workforce strategy by segmenting roles based on:
AI Is Just One Part of the Equation
The Kearney article also touches on the digital imperative, highlighting the growing need for businesses to modernize through advanced technologies like automation and AI. But while AI-led transformation can help ease costs, it’s not a silver bullet.
“There’s a lot of transformation taking place, headlined by the disruption of AI. It will be one of the factors that mitigate costs, but it is not and cannot be the holy grail to the desperately needed cost savings companies are looking for to stay ahead.”
Richard Siao | Strategic Advisor for Supply Chain Workforce Transformation, Emapta
Complete digital transformation requires significant investment, planning, and time to integrate effectively. In the meantime, companies need other levers. Strategic outsourcing — whether nearshore, offshore, or hybrid, offers a faster, more flexible way to access global talent while managing costs.
North Macedonia: A Nearshore Win for UK and Beyond
For businesses in the UK and neighboring regions, nearshore outsourcing is gaining traction as a first step in building a global workforce strategy. It’s a practical entry point — keeping teams closer makes governance easier and builds the playbooks that make adding offshore teams smoother later. It offers:
One location delivering all of these benefits is North Macedonia, home to one of Emapta’s key European hubs. Inge Z. , Executive Director, Head of Europe, and ESG Lead at Emapta, has seen first-hand how the country’s talent market is meeting the needs of businesses in the region far beyond traditional manufacturing roles.
“Nearshoring isn’t just for manufacturing. As operations grow more complex, manufacturers increasingly need white-collar talent — from procurement and customer support to logistics, AI, and business intelligence — all of which are within reach in our North Macedonia operations.”
Inge Z. | Executive Director, Head of Europe, and ESG Lead, Emapta
In Emapta’s Skopje offices, multilingual professionals work in a close-knit, collaborative environment that reflects the warmth and hospitality North Macedonia is known for. They combine this culture with European market expertise and adaptability, integrating seamlessly with in-house teams to accelerate workflows and deliver results across time zones.
“Forward-thinking companies are blending nearshore and offshore teams to create a truly global workforce. With partners like us in North Macedonia, they’re gaining agility, reducing risk, and accessing multilingual talent ready to support European markets.”
Inge Z. | Executive Director, Head of Europe, and ESG Lead, Emapta
Building Your Global Team with Emapta
Unlocking the benefits of a global team takes more than just finding talent in different locations. You need a strategic outsourcing partner with proven expertise in both nearshore and offshore delivery, working with you to:
Emapta has helped more than 1,000 clients design and manage outsourced teams across nearshore and offshore locations — experience that gives us the insight to match the right roles with the right markets and the operational discipline to make those teams work together seamlessly. Here’s how we empower you to leverage a hybrid talent strategy:
1. Access to the Top 1% of Global Talent
Build global teams without compromising quality by tapping into highly skilled, business-critical experts in the markets that matter most to your growth. Our dedicated staffing model ensures they work as a seamless extension of your onshore operations.
2. Cost Optimization with Predictable Models
Plan your talent strategy with confidence through consistent, transparent cost structures that support both short-term needs and long-term strategy. With no hidden fees or surprise costs, you’ll always know exactly what you’re paying for.
3. Flexibility and Scalability
Scale teams up, down, or across regions to match shifting priorities and seize new opportunities — without operational delays, minimum hires, or long-term contracts holding you back.
4. Risk Management and Data Security
Keep your hybrid workforce running through market shifts, talent changes, and operational disruptions with built-in redundancy, risk mitigation, and change management systems — all backed by enterprise-grade security, GDPR-compliant processes to protect your data and operations.
5. Culturally Aligned Teams
Integrate nearshore, offshore, and onshore teams with talent that understands your work culture and reflects your values, ensuring smooth collaboration across locations.
SUCCESS STORY
Global IT Team Delivers Cost Savings and Continuity
A global cloud platform provider headquartered in Israel and the U.S. turned to Emapta to overcome a shortage of specialized network and security engineers. Competing in tight local markets, they built a blended workforce with nearshore teams in North Macedonia and offshore teams in the Philippines and Colombia.
Engineers across locations work in close alignment with in-house teams, providing full EMEA coverage, managing complex network and security issues, and strengthening business continuity through built-in redundancy and overlapping shifts.
The results: up to 45–50% cost savings compared to hiring similar teams in the UK or Europe, without compromising quality. What began as a tactical staffing solution has evolved into a sustainable workforce strategy — balancing nearshore and offshore talent for efficiency, resilience, and growth.
Workforce Resilience Without Borders
UK manufacturers are rethinking their supply chains through nearshoring — and applying that same approach to workforce planning can unlock powerful advantages, no matter where your business is based:
With Emapta’s global network and expertise in building high-performing teams, your business can tap into nearshoring and offshoring to adapt faster, operate smarter, and turn geographic reach into a lasting competitive edge.
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Profit growth through smart international expansion | I support DACH-based machinery companies in selecting and developing profitable production sites in CEE | 25+ years industry experience
1moReally interesting perspective — I fully agree that nearshoring shouldn’t stop at supply chains but extend to workforce strategy. What I often see overlooked is the leadership dimension: nearshore regions already have outstanding senior managers who could take on EVP or Director-level roles. Combining that with the cultural diversity these markets bring could make hybrid models not just a cost/resilience play, but also a real driver of innovation and leadership strength.
Read more here: https://emapta.com/blog/why-supply-chain-nearshoring-should-extend-to-talent-strategy/