250
th
ANNIVERSARY GALA EVENING
ASL Adding Real Value www.asl-jersey.co.uk
TECHNICAL
RECRUITMENT
EXECUTIVE SERVICES
WELCOME TO THE JERSEY CHAMBER 2 5 0 TH A N N I V E R S A R Y G A L A E V E N I N G It is an honour to be the President of Jersey’s Chamber of Commerce, and doubly so during our landmark 250 year anniversary. The last 250 years have seen huge changes. The combustion engine, electric lights, powered flight, transistors, telephones, antibiotics - all products of the last 250 years. Having looked back at the early days of Chamber, in the Jersey Archive we have a large number of documents that date right back to 1768. Our first member ledger containing the 49 seafarers, listings of their ships and tonnage and what they were carrying, all in neat copperplate writing. This was decades before photography and eight years before the US declaration of independence. It is only fitting to hold this celebration in memory of the many individuals who have given their time and energy in the running and the caretaking of Jersey Chamber and supported the success of our beautiful island and its commercial interests through thick and thin. Our committee members and our Presidents all hold honorary positions and it is the desire to secure the success of our island that drives each one. For that I am truly grateful, thank you to every one of you for your support of Jersey Chamber of Commerce. We must also look forward and tonight will be special in terms of launching our new logo, carefully evolved from our iconic and memorable brand, to a fitting evolution and one that will stand us in good stead in the decades to come. We also launch a new website, one that will hopefully bring us closer, not only to our member organisations, but to the 27,000 individuals that make up our membership. We have worked hard to ensure that the value of Chamber is clear and that we can deliver it to every one of our members. I send my personal thanks to Brian, Chris and Arlene from The Collective for your amazing work.
I am deeply honoured to welcome our Lieutenant Governor to our celebrations and we thank him and his office for their support and time in recognising our 250th anniversary. Our grateful thanks to our sponsors for the support that has made this evening possible. A specific thank you must go to our Gold Sponsor, BDO Greenlight, and our Silver Sponsors, Citi Group, Law At Work, Grant Thornton and BCR Law. And of course, a massive thanks to our Executive Team, Helen and Murray, for their tireless support of Chamber and for making tonight happen. As I move towards the final few months of my presidency, when I hand the organisation to our next president, I hope that my energy and passion for our island has shone through. I know that we have a strong enough organisation to be celebrating our 300th, 400th and 500th anniversaries in the years to come. Finally, to our guests this evening, thank you for attending and enjoy celebrating with us.
Eliot Lincoln, President
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CONTENTS
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GALA EVENING PROGRAMME The full rundown of tonight’s events, including speeches and entertainment.
22-23 TIMELINE Look back at the key events that have shaped Jersey’s history over the past 250 years.
6-7
WINE LIST AND MENU Pick a bottle and settle down to enjoy three courses of gourmet food.
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8-9
RORY BREMNER The renowned impressionist and comedian will be entertaining the audience at this evening’s gala dinner.
27-30 VIEW FROM THE TOP The men (and woman) who have headed up Chamber over the decades share what they achieved during their time in office.
JERSEY CHAMBER IN NUMBERS 250 years on from 1768, see the statistics that make up Chamber.
11-12 THE DEFINITIVE RAT PACK Meet the men behind the acclaimed tribute act celebrating the music of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr.
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LAUNCHING A LOGO As Jersey Chamber showcases its new branding, find out the process behind updating the well-known logo.
14-17 HISTORY OF CHAMBER Look back over the organisation’s 250 years in existence and discover what it has achieved over the centuries.
34-35 JERSEY EMPLOYMENT TRUST Chamber’s charity of choice for 2018 explains what its work involves and why it matters for islanders and local businesses.
19-21 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE COUNCIL Those currently heading up the Chamber of Commerce committees outline how they benefit local businesses.
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CHAMBER EXECUTIVE Meet the Chief Executive of the Jersey Chamber of Commerce, Murray Norton, and his team.
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SPONSORS
GOLD SPONSOR
SILVER SPONSORS
THANK YOU The CEO of Jersey Chamber of Commerce, Murray Norton, would like to thank the following people for making tonight happen:
HIS EXCELLENCY, SIR STEPHEN DALTON, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF JERSEY AND THE TEAM AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE
FLOWERS BY EDEN BY CLAIRE
THE RJ&HS
THE COLLECTIVE – BRIAN, CHRIS & ARLENE
OUR SPONSORS: BDO GREENLIGHT, BCR LAW, GRANT THORNTON, LAW AT WORK, CITI
IAN STEPHENS – ARTIST MANAGEMENT AND STAGE MANAGEMENT RORY BREMNER
JERSEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ADMINISTRATION – HELEN
PBJ MANAGEMENT
COLLABORATE COMMUNICATIONS – JULIE TODD AND TAMARA TIMOTHY
THE DEFINITIVE RAT PACK – STEPHEN TRIFFITT, MARK ADAMS & GEORGE LONG
3D EVENTS – ANDREW THOMAS AND KATIE LENTHALL
HANDPICKED HOTELS
DELTA HARPER’S CATERING
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MARQUEE SOLUTIONS
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MORVAN FAMILY HOTELS JERSEY ARCHIVE
GALA EVENING PROGRAMME
6.45PM DRINKS RECEPTION Kindly sponsored by BCR Law
7.15PM AUDIENCE TO TAKE THEIR SEATS FOR THE EVENING WELCOME SPEECH GIVEN BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE JERSEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, ELIOT LINCOLN DINNER – THREE COURSES FOLLOWED BY COFFEE ENTERTAINMENT FROM COMEDIAN RORY BREMNER MUSIC FROM WEST END STARS ‘THE DEFINITIVE RAT PACK’ DJ
1.00AM CARRIAGES
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WINE LIST CHAMPAGNE
Pierre Mignon Brut 1er Cru 'Grande Reserve' Le Breuil N.V. France £35.00
SPARKLING WINE
Biscardo Prosecco Spumante Millesimato Mabis 2015 Italy £22.00
An elegant Champagne from a small, familly owned estate in Marne Valley, Côte des Blancs made within their own cellars where attention to detail and quality is paramount. It is fresh and vibrant with citrus hints on the nose overlaid by touch of brioche and a soft and creamy mousse. Simply perfect for any occasion.
A very classic Italian sparkling wine. It is intense and aromatic, with hints of apple and peach blossom with a smooth, velvety finish. Excellent as aperitif, perfect with appetisers but also an ideal accompaniment to the entire meal, particularly with fish courses.
Marquis De Valette Brut Rosé N.V. France £20.00 Bright salmon pink colour with fine bubbles. Delicate and elegant with notes of strawberries and raspberries. Round and fresh with fine bubbles plus a long red fruit finish.
WHITE WINE
Sauvignon Blanc, Finca el Picador Central Valley, Chile £19.50 Youthful, lively and fresh with aromas of light summer fruits and cut grass followed by overtones of ripe gooseberries and a zesty citrus palate.
Pinot Grigio Rosé, San Antini Veneto, Italy £19.50 Delicate and pale rosé with soft perfumed aromas, soft berry flavours and citrus notes, perfect as an aperitif and a worthy partner for a variety of antipasti, fish or chicken.
Sauvignon Blanc ‘Wild South’, Cairnbrae Marlborough, New Zealand £24.00 Cairnbrae Wild South is a fantastic example of a true Marlborough style, with intense aromatics, bouquet of lifted aromas of ripe gooseberry and passion fruit with hints of citrus and mineral textures for which this region is renowned.
Chablis, Domaine Fournillon AOC Burgundy, France £32.00 An elegant, French classic made by a small, family run domaine. This is a single vineyard Chablis of classy complexity that is dry and minerally with lots of green apple notes, rounded mouthfeel and a long finish.
Chassagne-Montrachet Vieilles-Vignes, Jouard Burgundy, France £52.00 Wines from this wonderful producer are quite frankly brilliant and really approachable. Velvety smooth with ripe stone-fruit aromas leading on to a warm, seductive palate with a very lengthy finish.
ROSÉ WINE
Pinot Grigio Rosé, San Antini Italy £19.50
RED WINE
Merlot, Finca el Picador Central Valley, Chile £19.50
Delicate and pale rosé with soft perfumed aromas, soft berry flavours and citrus notes. Perfect as an aperitif and a worthy partner for a variety of antipasti, fish or chicken.
Filled with blackberry and ripe plum flavours with notes of mocha and dark chocolate on the finish.
Malbec, Finca La Linda Mendoza, Argentina £22.50 Intensity fruity, ripe Malbec with distinct aromas of cherries, plums, spices and a delicious smooth texture that envelopes on the palate.
Rioja Reserva, Vina Izadi Rioja, Spain £28.00 Located in Villabuena, Rioja Alavesa, the highest part of Rioja. Delicious and really modern style full of ripe blackcurrant and redcurrant fruit, with hints of cigar tobacco, liquorice and loamy soil undertones. This is a rich and concentrated wine with exceptional purity on the finish. GOLD MEDAL - Sommelier Wine Awards 2015
Brunello di Montalcino, Argiano Tuscany, Italy £46.00 This gorgeous, classic Brunello di Montalcino is a brooding, dark wine with great aromatic purity, flavours of plum, prune, spice cake and flower petal. Full body, chewy and intense with a great structure.
Segla, 2nd wine of Château Rauzan-Ségla, Margaux 2010 Bordeaux, France £52.00 The nose is ripe and fragrant, with notes of blackcurrant, damson, violet and toasted oak with soft and silky tannins and a persistent finish. A wonderful second wine from the illustrious 2ème Grand Cru Classé Château Rauzan-Ségla. Made for earlier drinking. 6
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MENU TO START Bang bang chicken – crunchy salad, chicken breast with spicy sesame and peanut dressing Salad of roasted beetroot, soft goats cheese and walnuts with a honey, balsamic dressing (v)
MAIN COURSE Fillet of pork with a creamy mushroom and wholegrain mustard sauce, served with thyme mash Mushroom wellington with spinach, caramelised red onion and farmhouse cheddar (v)
DESSERT Treacle tart with lemon and ginger
TO FINISH Filter coffee with chocolate coffee beans
(v) denotes vegetarian option
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Rory
Bremner As a comedian and impressionist, Rory Bremner is renowned for his satirical takes on well-known politicians and personalities. From the award-winning success of his show Bremner, Bird and Fortune, he has gone on to perform in popular comedy programmes such as Whose Line Is It Anyway and Mock the Week. Rory is currently a team captain on the ITV comedy panel show The Imitation Game. Rory Bremner’s brand of political satire is so familiar to audiences that it’s hard to imagine his first taste of fame came with a sportingthemed pop hit. His single, N-N-Nineteen Not Out, had chart success in 1985 when he released it under the name of The Commentators. A parody, it saw Bremner impersonating cricket commentators including Richie Benaud, John Arlott and Brian Johnston and referenced the England cricket team’s 1984 home series against the West Indies. 8
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The talent for impersonations he showcased then has remained a constant throughout his career, although the focus on sport has very much shifted to politics. His early television appearances included shows such as Spitting Image, lampooning politicians through puppetry. By 1987 he had his own BBC Two show, before a move to Channel 4 saw him focus even further on political satire rather than impressions of sportsmen. His popular show with the two Johns, Bremner, Bird and Fortune,
ran for 16 series and won numerous awards before the last full series was broadcast in 2008. As a proud Scot, Rory has gone north of the border for some of his more recent work. He presented Rory Goes to Holyrood in 2013 for BBC Scotland, which took a satirical look at Scottish politics and the independence referendum. The politics around the last UK general election also received his satirical treatment with two programmes on BBC Two in 2015. Rory Bremner’s Coalition Report looked back at the previous five years of British politics, while Election Report satirised the election process itself. Alongside his regular radio appearances, you can currently see Rory on ITV at 10.05pm every Sunday evening. He is currently serving as a team captain on comedy panel show The Imitation Game. Hosted by Alexander Armstrong, the programme sees the contestants take part in various games and challenges based around impressions.
Before his trip to Jersey for Chamber’s 250th anniversary gala dinner, we asked Rory a few questions about his current work and his take on contemporary politics… The current global and domestic political situation (Trump, Brexit etc.) may raise plenty of concerns, but does it also provide a wealth of opportunity for satire? Rory: It does, but as often as not it’s the politicians that are satirising themselves. You couldn’t make up characters like Trump and Boris Johnson, but they make it up all the time. The Washington Post keeps a record of the number of misleading statements or false claims made by Trump since he was made President (e.g. ‘biggest tax cut in history’- there have been seven bigger). By 1 August this year they were up to 4,229. Trump would doubtless hail that as a record.
“THE ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN COMEDIAN AND AUDIENCE IS WHAT MAKES IT ALL WORK!”
Can satire have wider benefits than simply providing entertainment? Rory: Yes. It engages people with politics and informs them. As performers, we have to make sense of what’s happening before we make fun of them. The audience then gets the result of that! Satire is healthy in an informed democracy (that’s why the dictators and demagogues hate it). Its absence under the coalition and in the run up to the 2016 referendum made Brexit more possible. With ‘The Imitation Game’ currently on primetime television, can you tell us if you prefer performing in that type of environment or live comedy? Rory: ‘The Imitation Game’ is a bit of fun – it is a celebration of the art of mimicry rather than anything more serious or satirical. I enjoy seeing friends and fellow impressionists at work and the challenges inspire some very silly results.
RORY BREMNER
FACTFILE FULL NAME
Roderick Keith Ogilvy Bremner KNOWN AS
Rory AGE
57 N AT I O N A L I T Y
Scottish O C C U PAT I O N
Comedian Impressionist Writer Broadcaster E D U C AT I O N
BA in Modern Languages, King’s College London
How important is your audience when you are performing? Rory: I couldn’t do it without them! Ken Dodd always stressed the difference between performing with an audience as opposed to at them. The engagement between comedian and audience is what makes it all work!
AWA R D S
Numerous, including four B A F TA s
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We’ve loved
you
for the last
years 187
We’re just getting started. Gas is at the very heart of your life, 24 hours a day, for cooking, heating and hot water. You are the centre of ours. This is the wonderfuel world of Gas.
We’ve been in Jersey since 1831 we’re proud to celebrate 250 years of the Jersey Chamber of Commerce. www.wonderfuel.je Jersey Gas, La Collette, St Helier. Tel. 755577.
LAS VEGAS COMES TO JERSEY As ‘The Definitive Rat Pack’, Stephen Triffitt, Mark Adams and George Daniel Long bring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr back to life. All three first created the roles for the original West End Show, The Rat Pack – Live in Vegas, in 2003 and have now spent 15 years perfecting their homage to the musical greats. Performing in Jersey is a fitting return for the group. Back in 2002 they first took to the stage together at the island’s Opera House for two weeks to bed in the show before its West End launch at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Those Jersey preparations obviously served them well – the planned six week run in 2003 was so successful it was extended by another six weeks before the show moved to the Strand Theatre (now the Novello Theatre), where it played for two years and broke box office records.
“We always tailor our songs to the event, so the evening will have a bespoke set list. The great thing about the music we are performing is that there is such a wide variety of it. Frank and Dean have such a huge catalogue of hits that we have plenty to choose from.” He admits that changing their set list and show also keeps their performances fresh. “After 15 years of performances, we’ve done more shows together than the real guys ever did. But we have a great camaraderie on stage, and there is always that unique music to perform, which everyone loves.”
THE SONGS
Among the many hits made famous by the Rat Pack are: Fly Me To The Moon Frank Sinatra
Following the success of the show, the three original cast members later set up their own tribute act, The Definitive Rat Pack, and have performed all over the world.
That’s Amore Dean Martin
In Jersey, they will be celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Chamber of Commerce in true Vegas style.
Volare Dean Martin
Mark Adams, who performs as Dean Martin, said: “We are bringing our three female singers – the Golddiggers – with us to perform backing vocals, which always adds to the atmosphere of the show. We want to encourage people to get up and dance, so this will be more of a cabaret performance.
My Way Frank Sinatra
Mr Bojangles Sammy Davis Jr Chicago Frank Sinatra
What Kind Of Fool Am I? Sammy Davis Jr
Ain’t That A Kick In The Head Dean Martin Once In A Lifetime Sammy Davis Jr
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MEET THE RAT PACK Mark has performed as Dean Martin all over the world, including a UK/USA tour of That’s Amore, a show he devised in 2007 to continue his love affair with the character of Dean Martin. He has also played at venues including The London Palladium, Royal Albert Hall, Kew Gardens and Blenheim Palace. “If Mark Adams was not Mark Adams, he would probably be Dean Martin. He had the looks, the moves, the cheek, the charm.” BBC Radio
FRANK SINATRA STEPHEN TRIFFITT Stephen created the role of Frank Sinatra in the original West End cast of The Rat Pack – Live from Las Vegas, as well as opening USA, Canadian and European productions.
“Adams captures Martin’s casual charm perfectly … [he] proves to be the coolest performer as he handles the horseplay and song effortlessly.” Ian Johns – The Times
He has performed all over the world including at the renowned Sands Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City and the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. His solo tours of Stephen Triffitt celebrates Frank Sinatra sold out The London Palladium and Royal Festival Hall, earning a place for his name on The London Palladium Hall of Fame. “Stephen Triffitt embodies Sinatra’s assurance of craft and style, and his resemblance is uncanny. Having made a career playing Sinatra, Triffitt nails the phrasing, timing and tone with utter confidence.” Variety “Stephen Triffitt’s tribute show to Frank Sinatra, is “unsettlingly perfect”.” London Evening Standard
SAMMY DAVIS JR GEORGE DANIEL LONG George was one of the first artists to devote his skills to the portrayal of Sammy Davis Jr and created the role in the original West End cast of The Rat Pack – Live from Las Vegas. He performed at the Strand Theatre and Theatre Royal Haymarket as well as two national tours, helping earn the show an Olivier Award nomination for Best Entertainment. George trained at London Studio Centre and first appeared professionally in productions including Hair, Miss Saigon and Fame. His recordings include: Rat Pack – Live from Las Vegas and Sister Act – The Musical (original West End cast recordings) and his solo album Me and My Shadow.
DEAN MARTIN MARK ADAMS Mark played the role of Dean Martin in the original West End cast of The Rat Pack – Live from Las Vegas in 2003, and he re-opened the show at the Adelphi Theatre in 2009. He was also invited to Canada to open the show in its North American premiere.
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“George Daniel Long is an uncannily convincing Sammy Davis Jr.” Daily Mail “George Long has the whippet lean vitality and nifty footwork of Sammy Davis to a tee.” Charles Spencer – The Guardian
CONGRATULATIONS
Jersey Chamber of Commerce in celebrating
25
YEARS
Still flying high and steering our local business community in the right direction
THE HISTORY OF
CHAMBER The Jersey Chamber of Commerce can lay claim to being the oldest in the English-speaking world. Its very inception in 1768 was an impressive achievement, but that was just the start. Here we tell Chamber’s fascinating story.
JERSEY AND THE WORLD Jersey Chamber was established in 1768 – before there was even a United States of America – and it has helped shape the island’s economy ever since. It is an economy that has seen highs and lows, but one that has constantly adapted, and made the island a ‘good place to do business’. In the 18th century, buoyant shipbuilding, fishing, privateering and knitting industries made Jersey known across the globe. Then it was produce - the Jersey Royal, the Jersey cow and Jersey tomatoes. Next came tourism – ‘the holiday isle’; and more recently a thriving finance industry. But behind these ‘headline’ acts there has been a constant supporting cast of small businesses helping Jersey prosper and providing Chamber’s, and the island’s, backbone.
Images courtesy of Jersey Heritage
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CHAMBER’S EARLY YEARS
THE AGE OF STEEL AND STEAM
The story begins in 1768. But, before going into the details, it’s important to set the scene.
By the mid-19th century the winds of change were in full force, and Jersey was in danger of being blown away in the maelstrom. In an unprecedented economic boom, the island’s population almost doubled in 30 years from 28,600 in 1821 to 57,000 in 1851.
According to one historian, in mid-18th century Jersey ‘there was a scarcity of food, very great poverty, and the farmers did not grow sufficient grain to supply the needs of the people.’ Perhaps more importantly when looking at the history of Chamber, he goes on to write: ‘The States were in the hands of a small clique who were more careful of their own interests than those of their fellow citizens.’ The island had an estimated population of almost 20,000. And, although St Helier had around 400 houses, St Aubin, at half the size, was the island’s most important port. Britannia’s military and mercantile fleets ruled the waves, and the sea dominated life in Jersey. The island was home to a thriving shipbuilding industry – the fourth biggest in the British Isles – with a string of boatyards stretching from Havre des Pas to Gorey. But merchants were frustrated. They felt St Helier Harbour needed to be developed, but that the States wasn’t listening. So, they banded together. The Chamber’s first recorded meeting took place at Peter Lys’ King’s Head on Wednesday 24 February 1768. At another meeting, three days later, George Rowcliffe was elected President. Because most members were involved in shipping, subscriptions were set at ‘three pence Sterling per Ton per annum’, whilst ‘members not concerned in Shipping’, were asked to ‘subscribe what tonnage they think proper – not less than 30 tons’. Over the next three decades the rules and regulations were modified five times to broaden the organisation’s base. Nevertheless, with so many members dependent on the sea, improving St Helier Harbour was top of the agenda. Despite repeated petitions from Chamber to get on with the work, and drawing up its own plans, as the century came to a close, there had been very little progress. At this point Chamber took things into its own hands and helped raise money through a series of public lotteries, which resulted in the building of what we now call Commercial Buildings. It was probably Chamber’s greatest achievement in its long and successful history. The New North Quay followed in 1814, and the Victoria Harbour in 1846. Chamber had got its way, and was now wielding more power, but in doing so had perhaps made enemies in high places. In 1787 it presented a petition to the Governor, Bailiff and Jurats requesting an application be presented to His Majesty seeking a Charter of Incorporation. The request was mysteriously blocked, and Incorporation wasn’t granted until 1900.
But with boom comes bust. And, in the second half of the 19th century, modern technology meant there was no longer a need for wooden ships, and the island’s shipbuilding industry went into terminal decline. The island’s population, and with it Chamber’s fortunes, took a dip. The island’s population wouldn’t reach 1851 levels again until almost a century later. But it wasn’t all doom and gloom. The seeds of recovery, in part, lay in the Jersey Royal, a unique crop, which together with the island’s warm climate, produced early, tasty, kidney-shaped potatoes for export. And, thanks to steamships, more of them could reach UK markets faster than ever. Steamships could also bring visitors to the island in ever increasing numbers. In Chamber’s 1883 annual accounts, President Philip Gosset proudly proclaimed ‘the two most important items in connection with our Island prosperity are our Shipping and Agricultural interests’. And in Chamber’s 1894-5 annual accounts, the island’s main export was said to be potatoes, and its major import visitors. Once again though, Chamber was urging the States to improve harbour facilities and transport links. 48,000 visitors were coming to the island annually, but there was only one steamer a day from Weymouth. There were calls for a morning and evening boat. By 1891, Chamber’s membership had reached triple figures and by the turn of the 20th century it was 200 plus.
20th CENTURY The 20th century marked another turning point in the island’s history. Jersey was losing its French identity and Chamber (which has always been ahead of the curve – from its earliest days most of its records are written in English) was calling for English to be allowed in the States and in the Royal Court. Business again took a dip in 1914 as Jersey was caught up in the Great War. With fewer people to staff shops Chamber put notices in the local press urging islanders ‘to shop as early as possible in the day, [to] not expect immediate service during busy hours, [to] carry home small purchases, [and] to send orders in writing where practical and as long as possible in advance’.
Although not as pronounced as the 1821-51 population boom, the island experienced another period of accelerated growth from 1950 to 1990, with the population going up by around 50% from 57,000 to 84,000. That growth was built on a flourishing tourism trade and later a highly successful financial services industry. In 1955, 291,505 people travelled to the island either by sea or air, and in July 1955 a recordbreaking 12,641 passengers flew into Jersey Airport in just three days. The following year saw more people coming to the island by air than sea, and Chamber was once again behind plans to improve and enlarge facilities at St Peter.
Following the end of the war, two trends are evident from a study of Chamber’s annual reports. The first was the worsening economic climate. The other was encouragement for the Empire to pull together. In 1932 Chamber president Maurice Béghin wrote there had been ‘no improvement in world economic conditions’, and that Chamber ‘desire to develop to the upmost the importation into the island of British and Empire produce and manufactures’. But, once again, despite the economic downturn, some in Chamber had an eye on future opportunities. In the 1920s that meant being alert to the potential of a new mode of transport: planes. According to a Chamber report, the first commercial passenger to arrive by plane in the island landed on 1 September 1922 at West Park beach. The problem with making flying a commercially viable venture was the ‘difficulty of finding a good landing place at all states of the tide’. The obvious answer was to find a site that wasn’t affected by the sea. Chamber can claim to have played a pivotal role in finding a site – in St Peter – and helping to draw up plans, making it possibly the only Chamber in the world that has been instrumental in building both a harbour and an airport. It was officially opened in 1937.
POST OCCUPATION Writing in the 1945-46 annual accounts – just months after the five-year German Occupation which had cut the island off from the rest of the world – President Edwin Wyndham Hettich, said with understatement ‘at the close of a year which has been notable for great events…’ and then went on to hope business would once again flourish. He was right. By 1948 membership had reached 400 for the first time.
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Alongside the very obvious and highly profitable tourism industry another quiet economic revolution was taking place: financial services. The States tax take from its profits would soon be so large the island’s ‘exchequer’ Senator Cyril Le Marquand would famously declare Jersey had money coming out of its ears. But he was also a cautious man and wanted to prepare for a downturn. There was talk of a sales tax and the introduction of PAYE. Those members of Chamber involved in retail distribution ‘expressed consternation’ at the thought of a sales tax when the States’ books for 1970 showed a surplus of £4m. In his annual report, Peter Baker, the owner of one of the island’s premier department stores, vowed ‘the law must not be allowed to find its way on to the statute book.’ By the 1980s and 1990s the economy was slowing down. In his 1989-90 annual account Ian Barnes wrote ‘this year we have also seen, for the first time in a number of years, a decline in the growth in real terms of States’ revenues’. And in the following year, Richard Spears noted it had been ‘a most difficult one for business.’
There was more doom and gloom in the 1997 annual report with Peter Walsh noting ‘challenges facing the island continue to grow’, particularly highlighting the States’ population policy and zero job growth. And the following year the decline in tourism bed numbers was highlighted, which Chamber noted was likely to have ‘far reaching consequences for many island businesses and indeed the atmosphere of the island generally’. It was against this background in 2001 that the Chamber had its biggest ever response to one of its regular lunches. More than 300 members applied for tickets to hear finance president, Senator Frank Walker, give a talk on ‘States Finances – do we have a clue what we are doing?’
THE FUTURE It is unclear what challenges the island will face in a post-Brexit world. Will finance continue to flourish? If not, what should be done? But those are the sorts of questions Chamber has continually wrestled with over the past 250 years and to which it has so often found answers. And looking back at its past certainly inspires confidence for its future.
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REPRESENTING THE ISLAND’S BUSINESS COMMUNITY The Chamber of Commerce is led by the President and steered by the Executive Council. The 10 faces that make up the current Council are responsible for areas ranging from tourism to technology. We asked some of them to share their experiences of Chamber and how it helps their industry.
RONNIE ISHERWOOD DIGITAL BUSINESS COMMITTEE Ronnie Isherwood is Chair of the Digital Business Committee. He is a technology consultant with more than 20 years’ experience in the industry. Ronnie is a director at JE3.com, where he has created the JE3 research and development function and is currently developing several applications. He is also Chair of the Chartered Institute for IT (Jersey). With a background in technology and education, I am passionate about promoting technology awareness. I was keen to join Chamber Council to look at the island’s economy from a digital perspective, and how you make technology work effectively for local businesses. I am passionate about promoting the importance of having a high level of digital skills within company boards, and as part of a non-executive director role. It is crucial that younger, more technology literate people are part of the top level of company management. It is all very well for a CEO to have a specialist adviser, but he also needs a board full of people who understand technology so that they can understand and guide the business.
Being part of Chamber Council is a commitment, but like many things – you get back what you put in. I run a small IT firm, but I chair a committee that deals with much larger organisations. The personal development I get from that experience is certainly rewarding for me. At the same time, the interaction with other committees is fascinating – my understanding of other industries’ views and challenges is much greater because of my time at Chamber.
The Digital Business Committee wants to help guide members on topical issues, so we ran two GDPR workshops this year when that critical legislation came in. Both were oversubscribed and we reached many hundreds of people. I believe it was so successful because we made sure that we had the right people there giving the information, including the Data Protection Commissioner, and we had a balanced and informative panel session.
At the moment, Chamber covers approximately 750 of the island’s businesses. The direction I see it going is in increasing that number. Chamber Connection was recently set up, which represents younger members of Chamber, and I think that was a critical step to take.
Aside from special events, we are constantly dealing with government and challenging them on their activities. As representatives of the island’s technology businesses, we push to ensure that local companies are given a fair opportunity to bid for government projects.
In my industry, it is particularly important that we hear from young people as they are not only the future of the industry, but an important part of the present. Many start-ups and tech businesses are run by those in their 20s and 30s, so we need to be hearing from them, and Chamber Connection will hopefully help us do so.
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LORNA PESTANA HUMAN RESOURCES & TRAINING COMMITTEE Lorna Pestana is Chair of the Human Resources Committee. She is a chartered FCIPD professional with over 25 years’ experience dealing with strategic and operational HR issues across the Channel Islands. Lorna is Executive Director at Law at Work (Channel Islands) Limited. The Human Resources & Training Committee focuses on people management issues, and in particular employment legislation, which has seen huge change in recent years. Since the major legislation was brought in back in 2003, we have dealt with numerous amendments over the years. That gives Chamber a lot of work to do around consulting with its members and engaging with government to ensure that they understand the challenges industries are facing and the potential consequences of any proposed legislation. For me, Chamber is the link between industry and government, and the work Chamber does can make a real difference. This is particularly the case for the smaller organisations who are members of Chamber. They wouldn’t normally be heard by government, but we can make sure that they are given a voice. We can also help guide them through any changes that are brought in. The main issues facing our industry at the moment revolve around legislation and licensing. The family friendly legislation, for example, that was very recently updated has increased employee rights dramatically, which will impact on our members. At the same time, problems with licensing have placed a great deal of strain on some of our member industries, in particular hospitality, retail and agriculture. We are supporting them through that process. I wanted to be involved with Chamber because I think that when you have an area of expertise, it is good to put something back into your profession. The direct impact that I can have through Chamber has been really important to me. We put forward strong views, for example, when the first migration policy document was produced. Our feedback resulted in the policy being delayed until some of the issues had been thought about further. That type of success is very rewarding.
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I’m really proud of the fact that I’m part of Chamber as it celebrates its 250th anniversary year. I believe that the organisation will continue to evolve naturally in accordance with what’s going on in our environment. From an HR and training perspective, any changes to legislation will naturally set our agenda going forward. Jersey has always been behind when it comes to employment legislation, and I think that society will generate change. As we face the realities of Brexit, I have no doubt that the next three years will be challenging. Chamber has to be prepared for how it might impact on the island, and I think that depends on having the right people on our committees who are able to react to changes quickly and efficiently. After all, we are there to represent our members, and that is a serious responsibility.
The committee always looks for solutions rather than rejecting proposals out of hand. We did this recently with regard to the proposed Liquid Waste charge. We believe that if government understands the issues that may be caused by a proposed policy early enough in the process then better, more informed decisions can be made.
CATHY ELLIOTT BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
ANDY JEHAN TRANSPORT AND TOURISM COMMITTEE Andy Jehan is the Chair of the Transport and Tourism Committee. He spent the majority of his career in the logistics industry, with more than 30 years’ experience working for Jersey Post. Andy is currently the Chair of Jersey Business and is a Director of St George’s Preparatory School. For a number of years now the former Transport and Tourism Committees have been combined as one group. We recently reviewed this and the consensus was that with so much crossover between the two areas it’s better to stay as one group with a wide representation of industry. Our committee looks at many areas including the working of the ports from both a visitor and operator perspective. Jersey is currently well served by good air links, benefiting visitors, locals and the business community alike. There have been concerns over sea links for some time and we are watching developments with a keen interest. We also follow closely the work of Visit Jersey and enjoy a good relationship, with the committee receiving regular updates from the team at our meetings. Other areas the committee looks at include import and export of goods, local transport, including circulation, parking and the availability of public transport. Like many other industries, hospitality continues to face serious challenges regarding staffing. Many islanders have started their career in Jersey in hospitality, gaining generic customer service skills before moving on to other industries. Our group continues to lobby with other interested parties for a workable solution, this being more complex with Brexit now only a matter of weeks away.
Cathy Elliott is the Chair of the Building and Development Committee. She is a director of Elliott Design Partnership, which she founded with Dion Elliott in 2005. Cathy has worked in the construction industry since returning to Jersey following her qualification as an interior architect in 1991. The Building and Development Committee represents all members working in the construction industry from developers through to site employees, consultants and tradespeople. As an industry we face many challenges, from ever increasing legislation and health and safety policies to stringent island planning constraints and a challenging appeals system. The Jersey Chamber of Commerce’s role is critical in ensuring that new and existing policy and legislation does not becomes so constrictive as to inhibit or prevent development in Jersey or lead it to becoming cost prohibitive. We work closely with politicians and the Department of Growth, Housing and Environment to provide feedback on consultations for new policy whilst also commenting and providing user related feedback to departments on working practice, again to ensure that services provided assist rather than hinder the local construction sector. Further to this, we have a role in providing information relating to the construction industry economy for use in developing training and apprenticeship schemes as well as advising on fiscal policy, housing and p opulation. The Jersey Chamber of Commerce Building and Development Committee is currently engaged in discussions with various utility companies and government about developing a joined up approach to Jersey’s energy policy, which is just one of the many other ways we proactively get involved in developing ways to assist both the building and development industry and the island itself for both current and future generations. 250 th ANNIVERSARY GALA EVENING
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1781 1768 Jersey Chamber established
Major Francis Peirson led a British army to victory in the Battle of Jersey
1789
1843
Imports of foreign cattle forbidden by law to maintain purity of breed
Street names were erected for the first time
1771
1784
1841
1852
The Code laid down for the first time the extant laws of Jersey, and sole legislative power was vested in the States of Jersey
The first printing press was introduced
Jersey issued its first coins
World’s first pillar box installed
1945 Jersey was liberated from the German occupying forces on 9 May
1919 Women aged over 30 given the vote
1928 First legislation was drawn up primarily in English
1937
1960s
Jersey Airport opened
Growth of finance industry in the islands
1971 The swimming pool was built at Fort Regent as it became a leisure centre
Images courtesy of Jersey Heritage
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1981 Island-set drama series Bergerac was first shown
1880s
1854
Jersey Royal potato developed, which would become one of the island’s most famed exports
Paid police force created
1901 English first permitted in debates in States of Jersey
1870
1887
1899
First Jersey railway, the Jersey Western Railway, opened
States Chamber constructed adjacent to the Royal Court
First motorcar arrived in the island
2005
2012
States of Jersey Law 2005 set out the States’ constitution with eight senators and 29 deputies
Metal dectorists announce discovery of Europe’s largest hoard of Iron Age Celtic coins
1907 Elementary education became free
2018 Jersey Chamber celebrates its 250th anniversary
2009 Controversial zero/ten tax regime was introduced
250 YEARS OF JERSEY HISTORY During the two and a half centuries since the Jersey Chamber of Commerce was established, the island has seen great change. Here are some of the events that have defined the island over the past 250 years.
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JERSEY CHAMBER
IN NUMBERS TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS IN EXISTENCE
SEVENTY FOUR
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
FIVE HUNDRED & FIFTY +
ONE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED & THIRTY FOUR
TWENTY SEVEN THOUSAND +
THREE
TWO
ELEVEN
MEMBER ORGANISATIONS
MEMBERS
YEARS SERVED PER PRESIDENT’S TERM
VOLUNTARY HOURS GIVEN BY THE PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS PER YEAR
MEMBERS OF PAID STAFF FORMING THE CHAMBER EXECUTIVE
NETWORKING LUNCHES HELD PER YEAR
SEVEN COMMITTEES
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THE VIEW FROM THE TOP Five former presidents of the Jersey Chamber of Commerce share their memories of their time in office. Some of those at the top of the organisation during the period from 2003-2017 tell us what they felt they achieved, what they left undone, and what they think about Chamber’s future.
BOB HASSELL 2003-2005 Bob Hassell, who’d been running his own HR consultancy agency for more than 15 years when he took over the presidency, says it felt like the right juncture in his professional career. But he also admits it was a challenging time. The States was facing an estimated £140m black hole, and desperately looking for ways to fill it. For them the answer was a Goods and Services Tax. Whilst Chamber was vehemently against GST it was obvious the States were going to go ahead with it, and Bob and the team felt their best approach would be to enter negotiations to limit the rate and to make sure the system was as simple as possible. In what sounds like a logistical nightmare, Bob managed to get 22 interested parties around the table at the same time to hammer out a deal. The rate was set at 3%, and it was agreed – that unlike VAT in the UK – there would be no exemptions, but that a ‘safety net’ would be put in place to help vulnerable islanders. According to Bob: “In a place like Jersey, where there’s no party politics, organisations like Chamber and the Institute of Directors, act almost like an opposition party, calling politicians to account and putting forward alternative policies.” Without such pressure groups he believes there would be less public debate and that the economy would suffer.
KEVIN KEEN 2005-2007 Kevin Keen was Jersey Dairy’s Managing Director when he took on the role of President in 2005, and was unusual in that he hadn’t served as Chamber Vice-President before taking up the top role. He says he was ‘volunteered’ because nobody else had come forward. Despite feeling honoured, he remembers it as a time of confrontation between business and government, and says the voluntary post took up a lot of his time. “The States was about to bring in a Goods and Service Tax , and at the same time promised to cut its costs and help grow local business,” he reflects. “They brought in GST, but didn’t follow through with their other promises,” something he notes almost 15 years on still hasn’t happened. He also reflects that although bosses and politicians clashed, it was over issues and wasn’t personal. He doesn’t feel that’s the case today. He even remembers Senator Ozouf – the then Economic Development Minister and someone he’d had a number of run ins with - giving him ‘a plate or something’ to mark their constructive working relationship. The big campaign during his presidency was ‘Think Twice, Buy Local’. “Myself and Chamber have always tried to get the message across that we all benefit from supporting the local economy.” But, he admits, “It’s often a difficult message to get across.”
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The Jersey Co-operative Society is proud to have been an active member of the Chamber of Commerce for 73 years.
Congratulations on
250 YEARS of promoting trade, commerce and the prosperity of Jersey.
Belonging is everything www.channelislands.coop/belonging facebook.com/cicoop
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THE VIEW FROM THE TOP
DAVID WARR 2011-2013 David Warr says he was one of Chamber’s first Presidents to have a small business background, rather than coming from the world of finance or tourism. He owned Cooper & Co, a coffee and tea wholesalers in Beresford Street, and a café at the Co-Op Grande Marche near the Millennium Park, when he took on the presidency. He also opened a new café at Castle Quay as his term came to an end. He says he became President almost by accident. He’d written a letter to the Jersey Evening Post criticising Jersey Dairy and wondering why, when it had a monopoly, it wasn’t making a profit. The Dairy’s boss, and then Chamber President, Kevin Keen, contacted him and took him out for a coffee to give his side of the story. One thing led to another. David was invited on to a Chamber small business group, became Vice-President, and in 2011 took on the top job. It was a time of great change: in 2006 Jersey had introduced ITIS – Income Tax Instalment System; in 2008 a Goods and Services Tax (GST); and a raft of new employment laws were on the horizon. David says all these changes disproportionately affected small businesses, and that he and Chamber fought hard to get the voice of small businesses heard in the corridors of power. There were many successes, but he’s still disappointed the government hasn’t budged on the de minimus rule, which makes some internet goods cheaper than locally bought items. Something he claims creates an uneven playing field. For the future, he says Chamber must continue to pressure the States on behalf of all its members, but in particular small businesses.
JAMES FILLEUL 2013-2015 At 38 years old, James Filleul was probably one of Chamber’s youngest post-war Presidents. At the time he owned local PR agency Direct Input and Bailiwick Publishing, producing Connect and Bailiwick Express. For a number of years before taking up the presidency in 2013 he’d used his communication knowledge and skills to help promote Chamber, and says he took on the top job because he was keen to get more involved and “put something back into the business of Jersey which I think we are all very lucky to be part of.” Population control was one of the bugbears of his presidency and an issue which he feels the States has still not come to terms with. “No one denied population control was a tough problem to solve,” he says, “but setting a ‘planning assumption’ for growth and then smashing it every year was madness. In the meantime, local businesses were struggling with staff recruitment issues.” But logic, he admits, doesn’t always win the day: “We campaigned very hard against the arbitrary, and clearly ineffective, planning assumptions which were being applied to population control. But, although you can argue cogently, raise awareness and lobby hard, you cannot always win. Sometimes change on a deep-seated issue like population takes time.” Nevertheless, he argues, the battle is still worth fighting.
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THE VIEW FROM THE TOP
KRISTINA LE FEUVRE 2015-2017 Kristina Le Feuvre made history in 2015 when she became the first woman to head up Chamber. With a background in finance and tourism she was in the unique position of knowing first-hand many of the challenges facing two of Chamber’s major sectors. She had spent more than a decade in senior management roles in the finance industry before setting up the aMaizin! Adventure Park in 2001 with husband Carl. In an early interview shortly after being appointed she admitted that whilst “perhaps not being a typical president” by being a woman, and working in tourism in a small business not based in town, she nevertheless had a passion for the island and its prosperity. Amongst her aims whilst in office were to make Chamber more relevant, and to bring it into the 21st century. Female membership increased; lunches were a sell out; and a relatively simple idea – a weekly newsletter detailing new government papers and detailing Chamber projects - gave people a good sense of the value of Chamber. Her term of office also saw more young people get involved, something she’s proud to see is continuing under the current president. As she notes: “It’s important for any lobbing body to be able to prove they speak for different industries, and those at different stages of their working life.”
THE HISTORY OF THE PRESIDENCY Since its formation, the Jersey Chamber of Commerce has seen many different Presidents representing all areas of industry take on the top job. There have been over 80 men, and one woman, at the head of Chamber since George Rowcliffe first established the organisation and became its first President in 1768. While modern Presidents now serve a strict two-year term of office, a look back through the history books of Chamber show that was certainly not always the case. An honourable mention for length of service should go to early President, William Patriarche, who served for an impressive 15 years between 1775 and 1790, with a short break between 1786 and 1787. Competition for his record, however, has to come from C B Butterfield, who took on the President’s role between 1909 and 1918 with a similar break in 1911. Modern-day Chamber Presidents shouldn’t be too concerned that their length of term will be extended though. One needs to look all the way back to the 1970s to find a leader who has served more than two years in office, so it appears that the current scenario is here to stay.
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BRIGHT. COMMERCIAL. RESPONSIVE. Congratulations to the Jersey Chamber of Commerce on 250 years of service to Jersey Please contact: David Benest, Managing Partner E: david.benest@bcrlawjersey.com T: 01534 760 860
bcrlawjersey.com | 01534 760 860 | 12 Hill Street St Helier Jersey JE2 4UA
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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE JERSEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ON THEIR SPECIAL 250 TH ANNIVERSARY
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Launching a logo As the Chamber of Commerce celebrates its 250th anniversary, it seemed a fitting time for the organisation to rebrand and ensure it had a digital presence appropriate for the 21st century. The result includes a new logo that, like Chamber, respects the past while looking to the future. Earlier this year, Chamber sought the expertise of a branding and digital agency to help them conduct a brand review and re-launch of their website to celebrate the 250 year anniversary and reflect the aspirations and values more accurately of Chamber today. The chance to work with one of the oldest brands in the English speaking world was enough to send designers to sharpen their pencils, web developers to get in to a wireframe frenzy and marketing professionals to dream about branding. Jersey-based agency, The Collective, was chosen to take up the challenge; one it has relished. “We have considered it a privilege to bring Chamber into the digital age, while still retaining its important heritage,” said Director Brian Mann. Evolution not revolution - what’s in a logo? You can’t ignore the ubiquitous Chamber logo. It appears throughout the island; a proud seal of membership into an iconic island institution. Once you start looking for the logo you can’t help but see it everywhere. You can play your own game of treasure hunt, gaining extra points for spotting one of the oldest logos on the façade of Beghins shoe shop on King Street. This early guerrilla marketing served well to increase awareness and drive more membership. Arlene Maltman of The Collective explained: “We understood this backdrop and the need to treat the logo respectfully. The challenge was how to take an iconic ancient seal and make it a functional modern logo that could be versatile and reproduce well in small sizes on digital platforms. It was also important to retain Chamber’s quotidian identity.” The 250-year logo had hardly been touched since its inception, telling the story of shipbuilding and the evolution of commerce since 1768. And there’s Britannia herself, the personification of strength and unity. When you understand her, you understand how strong and steely those ship merchants were. Undoubtedly, she is still relevant today.
The Collective took the Chamber wording out of the logo, giving more room for Britannia to breathe. The classic choice of sans serif font made for a clean and distinct brand mark. Each element of the logo was simplified, including the sails and the barrel; re-drawn with ‘actual pencils’ before the final result could make its journey into the digital realm. Jersey Chamber leads the way At the core of the project, aside from the re-brand, The Collective delivered an intuitive integration with Chamber’s CRM system so that members can have a more interactive experience when using the new website. Member organisations can now login and manage their own events, upload their offers, job vacancies and news articles; while individual members are able to access personalised content such as member offers and events, tailored to their interests and based on previous user engagement. Chris Morris, Digital Strategist from The Collective, commented: “We have enabled Chamber to grow their membership base and community not only in physical form but also on a digital landscape.” The Collective has marked this historic 250year anniversary by delivering an innovative and progressive E-Chamber platform, leading the way for other Chambers to follow. It should help encourage an ever-growing engaged business community and increase the value of membership so that Chamber can fulfil its objectives to support business to thrive in Jersey for another 250 years. 250 th ANNIVERSARY GALA EVENING
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Jersey Employment Trust Each year, the Jersey Chamber of Commerce supports a local charity, through its events and by raising awareness of the charity’s work. For 2018, Chamber’s charity of choice is the Jersey Employment Trust, which assists people with a disability to prepare, find and maintain employment in the island.
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sensory impairment, learning difficulty, physical impairment, those with long term medical conditions such as cancer or HIV and AIDS, mental health issues, brain injury or neurological impairment. The charity provides a range of employment support services, from pre-vocational education courses, work tasters in its vocational training areas (Acorn Enterprises and Oakfield Industries) and work experience placements in other commercial settings. JET helps people find suitable employment opportunities, negotiates with employers on their behalf, and can also provide on-the-job training and support. For employers, JET can provide a comprehensive recruitment service and provides access to an experienced and motivated, but perhaps untapped, workforce.
The Jersey Employment Trust (JET) is a charitable trust with the primary role of assisting people with a disability to find and sustain employment. It is made up of a number of specialised support services, enabling islanders to access a flexible range of options that can be tailored to their specific needs.
The charity can provide job analysis, onthe-job training, information, advice and guidance on recruitment and also support with retention issues. At the same time, it can offer disability awareness training and coordinate support from other support services.
JET works with anyone who has a disability, including people who are on the autistic spectrum, have a
HR Manager at JET, Amanda Berry, said they want local businesses to automatically think of the charity when they’re looking for advice.
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“As a result there are wider community benefits as we are taking significant tonnage out of the waste stream in Jersey and are also able provide everyday household goods at prices that are more accessible to lower income families.” Amanda said the support from the island’s community for the Acorn Enterprises project has been incredible, but there are lots of ways that island businesses can get involved.
“We can also provide workplace training in a number of different areas including autism and learning disability awareness training. In particular for this year, we have developed disability awareness training to run alongside the newly introduced disability discrimination law. “This training is offered free of charge for employers and managers and we have also developed a customer service version for which there is a nominal charge. We have numerous testimonials from employers about how professional and supportive our service is so we would encourage any business to get in touch and we will always do our utmost to assist.”
“THE SUPPORT FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS BEEN A BRILLIANT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE JET SERVICE TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.”
“Our aim is for JET to become a household name for local businesses to contact should have they have vacancies or if people need advice about an employee with a disability or health condition.” This year has been an exciting one for JET, which has completely redeveloped its Acorn Enterprises site in Trinity and can now offer a wider range of opportunities for clients, alongside benefits for the whole community. “Our Acorn Enterprises site provides training and employment opportunities for clients who have more significant barriers to open employment. The benefit of this site is that it provides a very supportive environment for people to learn new skills and to make progress towards their employment goals. Acorn Enterprises comprises a number of business areas which provide a diverse range of opportunities, including the Woodshack, the Nursery and Reuse, which generates income from donated items from the public that can be re-sold,” said Amanda.
“We have been truly humbled by the engagement and support of the business community in 2018, particularly in connection to raising funds for Acorn Enterprises. We welcome business involvement on a number of different levels. As a charity we do of course welcome discussions regarding financial support and grants and we are very appreciative of those that have invested in us,” she said. “But local businesses can help in many other ways, for example offering support to clients seeking employment through mock interviews and work experiences and using our recruitment service for vacancies. In addition, we have had businesses who have provided groups of staff to complete specific practical projects for the charity. Plus any contributions to Acorn Enterprises of items we can potentially resale through our social enterprise have been gratefully received.” JET’s ‘charity of choice’ designation from Chamber has made a real difference this year, according to Amanda. “The support from the Chamber of Commerce has been a brilliant opportunity for us to spread the word about the JET service to the business community. Having a platform to speak to members at the lunches through presentations, networking, articles in Contact magazine and having our logo on the Chamber of Commerce communications has all added to raising the profile of what we do and how we can help businesses.” Any local businesses who would like further information regarding how they can get involved with JET can contact the charity on 01534 788900 or email admin@jet.co.je
JET’S MISSION STATEMENT: To empower and facilitate people with a disability in Jersey. To maximise their potential to gain and maintain open employment through individual training, education and support.
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Meet the team Alongside the voluntary President and Council positions, the Jersey Chamber of Commerce functions with a small executive team. Headed up by Murray Norton as Chief Executive since earlier this year, the team of three runs the day-to-day operations of the organisation alongside its events and lobbying work.
Murray Norton was appointed Chief Executive of the Jersey Chamber of Commerce in May 2018. Since then, he’s had an exceptionally busy time with a packed calendar full of Chamber events, meetings and lobbying work. As a former politician himself, Murray is well-placed to understand the machinations of the island’s government – and crucially, how to make sure that Chamber’s voice is heard by those in power. Having been elected as Deputy for St Brelade in 2014, he held the post of Assistant Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture at the States of Jersey with full responsibility for Culture and Heritage. Alongside that political experience, Murray has significant business expertise – having run two successful restaurants on the island, the well-known Murray’s and Mash.
MURRAY NORTON CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Murray is originally from Shropshire but is a very familiar face (and voice) in Jersey. He has now lived in the island for almost 40 years. Murray is well known locally as a former broadcaster, having presented daily radio shows for 30 years, mostly with the BBC in Jersey and Guernsey, but also with commercial radio station Channel 103fm and presenting TV programmes in the UK, Spain, Sweden, Germany and the USA.
FELICITY STATHER
HELEN ROCHE
EVENTS & MARKETING MANAGER
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Felicity will be the newest member of the team when she joins Chamber in November 2018. Her role will involve organising its wide range of events, including the ever-popular monthly lunches.
Helen is highly experienced in administration and accounting. Born in Jersey, she was office manager at a local brewery company then administrator for a compliance company before joining Chamber. She co-ordinates Executive Council and Committee meetings and assists in marketing and planning events.
Felicity brings with her a wealth of experience drawn from both Jersey and the UK. She is a member of the Association of Project Managers and her previous clients include Sure, Standard Bank, Lloyds Plc, Deutsche Bank, Ski Cuisine, BI Nicorette, Abbots Medical, Arsenal Football Club, Portsmouth Football Club, Cow & Gate, Aptamil, FTSE, Morrisons, Boots Plc and The States of Jersey.
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Helen is responsible for the daily running of the busy Chamber office and ensures a high level of customer service to all stakeholders. She can answer queries regarding membership, accounts, payments, event bookings and website queries, and attempts to keep Murray organised whilst maintaining a level of calmness in the office.
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we provide the expertise and
To find out how we can help your business get in touch on +44 1534 715400 or at info@greenlightci.com
www.greenlightci.com
your business that you don't have time to work on your business, resource to help you.
It’s not often we look back. Logicalis is proud to support the Jersey Chamber of Commerce on their 250th anniversary.
24/7 Support
Long Term Backup
Logicalis is the largest IT Services company in the Channel Islands. We offer a comprehensive range of IT solutions and services for business and are pleased to support our community. Call Jersey on 288088 or Guernsey on 737000 for a free no obligation and confidential discussion on how Logicalis can help your business to make the right IT choice.
Cyber Security Training
Disaster Recovery
Service Desk Support
Jersey
Guernsey
Visit www.je.logicalis.com
Visit www.gg.logicalis.com
Call +44 (0) 1534 288 088
Call +44 (0) 1481 737 000
Email solutions@je.logicalis.com
Email solutions@gg.logicalis.com