MAY/JUNE 2018
HANDS ON HOSPITALITY Channel Islands’ hotelier Julia Hands shares her thoughts on the islands’ hospitality industry
GUERNSEY ON FILM
SUMMER SEASON
MEET THE BOSS
As Guernsey comes to the big screen nationally, we find out about the opportunities locally
As the tourist season starts, we speak to those involved about the challenges the industry is facing
Condor’s Paul Luxon shares the highs and lows of heading up the Channel Islands’ major ferry operator
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WELCOME TO THE MAY/JUNE ISSUE OF CONTACT Martyn Dorey
Eliot Lincoln
President Guernsey Chamber of Commerce
As I write this, ‘The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society’ has just reached cinemas and the island has been celebrating the release of a film Chamber hopes will bring new opportunities for the island. For me, the film has a personal significance. During the war, my father’s aunt, Dorothy “Doy” Higgs, was in Guernsey. She later published a collection of her letters from the time. Many years later, American author Mary Ann Shaffer was fogbound in the island. To pass the time she read two books - Ebenezer Le Page and Doy’s publication. From that she was inspired to write her New York Times best seller. I am pleased that today we can celebrate the Guernsey book, the film and all those, like Visit Guernsey, who have supported its production. However, it goes to show the power of inspiration; our actions today can inspire a bigger, bolder action, decades or generations later. The film should also be a call to recognise Guernsey’s value as a cultural centre, and the broader reach of cultural diplomacy. For a small collection of islands our cultural output is phenomenal. It is because of the power of culture that Chamber has always been at the forefront of celebrating not just our business entrepreneurs but also our social and cultural entrepreneurs. Leading lights are those such as the Guernsey Literary Festival, the Arts Commission, the Dandelion Project and Art for Guernsey. They are all punching above their weight to put globally leading creatives into the orbit of Guernsey. They, and many other forward-thinking organisations, build a Guernsey brand that all businesses can benefit from. Of course, creativity goes beyond art. Our innovation and thought leadership stretches across many industries, and we will continue to thrive because smaller islands like ours can bring people together who wouldn’t otherwise connect.
President Jersey Chamber of Commerce
It’s election time again. We have several key politicians, including a significant number of ministers, who have indicated that they will not be standing in the forthcoming elections. It is so important that the electorate get engaged in this important process and ensure that we elect a States Assembly that has a good level of commercial sense and understands the key issues facing our business community today and over the coming few years. We face some significant uncertainty from Brexit and it’s not clear where we will collectively end up in March 2019 and beyond, so we need the best elected representatives the island can offer to help navigate us through these uncharted waters. It is incumbent on every one of us to ensure we engage in the political process and ensure we elect only the most commercially astute candidates for this task. Jersey Chamber is committed to this process and to doing what we can to ensure that the most important and relevant issues are understood and presented to our candidates as they stand in this most important of elections for our island. As I near the mid-point of my two-year presidential term, I am sad to announce that our chief executive, Gillian Martindale-Parsons, has decided to leave Jersey Chamber for pastures new. Gillian’s service to Chamber has been exemplary and she has been a fundamental part of our success during her two years with us, especially in terms of our lobbying, attracting and retaining members and our highly successful events programme. Thank you Gill, we will miss you!
So let’s celebrate the arts, and also, on 9 May, let’s make this a very special Liberation day in memory of all those in the Channel Islands who were liberated in 1945, and those children who came home from their evacuation to inspire us. 1
EDITOR Tamara Timothy
editor@collaboratecommunications.com
SALES Julie Todd
julie@collaboratecommunications.com
Adam Martel
adam@collaboratecommunications.com Jersey - 01534 858514 Guernsey - 01481 715222
DESIGN & PRODUCTION Anthony Barbapiccola
design@collaboratecommunications.com
Contact is produced six times a year by Collaborate Communications Ltd. To receive Contact magazine call Julie Todd on 01534 858514 or email sales@collaboratecommunications.com Contact is published by Collaborate Communications Ltd. Copyright 2018. All rights reserved. Any reproduction without permission is prohibited. Contact contains editorial content from external contributors which does not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers and the factual accuracy of which cannot be guaranteed by the publishers. Contact does not accept or respond to unsolicited manuscripts and photographs. The publishers do not accept responsibility for errors in advertisements or third party offers.
Guernsey Chamber of Commerce Suite 1 16 Glategny Esplanade St Peter Port Guernsey GY1 1WN Tel: 01481 727 483 www.guernseychamber.com Jersey Chamber of Commerce Chamber House 25 Pier Road St Helier Jersey JE2 4XW Tel: 01534 724 536 www.jerseychamber.com
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CO N TE N T S
NEWS & EVENTS 04 Handling hospitality’s challenges We look at the factors affecting the hospitality industry in the islands, and find out what those involved feel needs to be done. 14 Guernsey Chamber news As Brexit appears on the horizon, Guernsey Chamber of Commerce says it has been looking to forge links outside the island. 24 Jersey Chamber news With the election approaching, Jersey Chamber of Commerce is encouraging all islanders to get out and use their vote.
From bestseller to blockbuster 56
Guernsey Mind 86
30 Viewpoint Richard Digard says the islands’ business communities need to listen to some blunt advice. 56 From bestseller to blockbuster As Guernsey hits the big screen, we look at the opportunities locally for business.
PEOPLE 34 Dene Reardon YBG’s current president discusses how important personal networking is in the digital age. Handling hospitality’s challenges 04
86 Guernsey Mind Jo Cottell of Guernsey Mind explains how workplace training on mental health issues can benefit business. 88 Paul Luxon We meet the CEO of Condor Ferries to find out how he handles the responsibility of managing one of the islands’ lifelines.
CONTRIBUTORS Richard Digard Tamara Timothy
Writer Writer
Chris George Martin Gray
Photographer Photographer
Meet the boss 88
Jersey Chamber News 24
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HOSPITALITY FE ATU R E
HANDLING HOSPITALITY’S CHALLENGES As chair and CEO of Hand Picked Hotels Holdings, Julia Hands has a substantial stake in the Channel Islands’ hospitality industry, and understands better than most the challenges the industry is facing in both Jersey and Guernsey. With the main tourist season approaching, Contact has been investigating the islands’ individual situations, their shared difficulties and their unique appeal. Julia Hands has spent the best part of a decade with one foot in the Channel Islands, since her husband Guy moved to Guernsey in 2009. This year she relocated to join him. It was a move made mainly for personal reasons, but she acknowledges that it will mean she is even more involved in her group’s Channel Island hotels – St Pierre Park in Guernsey and L’Horizon and the Grand in Jersey. Julia worked as a lawyer before heading up the Hand Picked Hotels group. She admits that her move into hospitality came about by chance after her husband Guy bought a group of hotels in 1999 and they couldn’t find the right people to head up their management. But it was a fortunate twist of fate as the role of hotelier is one she thoroughly enjoys. ‘I loved it from day one. Hotels are very much a people business, and the people working
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in the hospitality industry are so lovely. It’s also such a multi-faceted industry – there’s the property side, the financial affairs of the hotels as well as the marketing. It’s been a steep learning curve, but an enjoyable one.’ When Guy and Julia bought the original hotels, L’Horizon was part of the package, so she has been involved with it for as long as she has been invested in the industry. ‘We went to visit Jersey and the hotel at St Brelade’s and it was just such an extraordinary place. We fell in love with Jersey when we first went to visit L’Horizon.’ In 2013, when Guy was already living in the island, the Hand Picked Group bought Guernsey’s St Pierre Park and the next year added the Grand Jersey to its portfolio. Julia said it all made sense for their business. ‘It was natural to buy a hotel in Guernsey as we were spending
so much time here. Then when the Grand came up in Jersey it was a really good fit with L’Horizon. The hotels are all lovely and the islands are stunning and the versatility and variety between the hotels mean that we can appeal to different groups.’ Julia is very positive about the islands and her hotels’ role within the hospitality sector, but she does admit that the industry has its challenges. ‘I think the UK and the Channel Islands are facing many of the same problems. Costs are rising all the time, whether that’s for staff or utilities or business rates, and room rates can’t increase at the same rate as it’s a very competitive market.’ While the cost of labour in the industry can be a challenge, finding the right staff can be even more difficult. Julia believes it’s crucial that the islands are made attractive places to live and work.
H O SP I TA L I T Y F E AT URE
‘Tourism is an incredibly important part of the Channel Islands’ economies, and we need to have staff for restaurants, shops, transport and attractions as well as hotels. Government can do very little about the cost of labour, but they can make sure that there aren’t barriers to attracting staff.’ The problem of finding and retaining the right staff is one that is echoed throughout the industry. Simon Soar is the manager of the Jersey Hospitality Association (JHA) and hears frequently of the difficulties all his members face. ‘One of the biggest problems we’re facing is the shortage of staff. I’m speaking to my members daily and they are telling me it’s a significant issue. ‘Chefs are in particularly short supply at the moment, which then drives up the going rate in the industry. I’ve had JHA members tell me that they are going to
have to restrict their menu and operating hours as they don’t have enough staff. That’s not where we want the industry to be. The shortage of chefs is a global problem but it’s hitting particularly hard here.’
Cheaper travel costs are clearly also more appealing to those looking to visit the Channel Islands, and that seems to be reflected in the visitor statistics for Jersey and Guernsey. Simon says that Jersey has worked hard to recruit more local staff and encourage the development of further education facilities. He believes that they are achieving a change in attitude towards careers in hospitality but that it’s a shift in perception that takes time.
With both islands struggling to attract the right staff, one factor that benefits Jersey over Guernsey is the cost of transport to get to and from the islands. It’s well documented that the more comprehensive travel links to Jersey, and in particular its EasyJet connections, have made getting to that island more affordable, which in turn is attractive to those looking to move to the islands. Cheaper travel costs are clearly also more appealing to those looking to visit the Channel Islands, and that seems to be reflected in the visitor statistics for Jersey and Guernsey. Karel Harris is the managing director of the Sarnia Hotels group and heads up the tourism and hospitality sub-group of the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce. She’s clear that high airfares are holding the local industry back.
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H O SP I TA L I T Y F E AT URE
‘If you’ve got somebody who wants to come to the Channel Islands but doesn’t have a particular preference, then as soon as they look at travel their decision will be made. Fares in Guernsey are becoming unaffordable generally, but for tourists you have the double whammy of the huge contrast in price between travelling to Jersey and Guernsey.’
If you were somebody in the UK, for example, wanting to go to the Channel Islands but you had no bias towards a particular island, you would look at the cost and it would almost be a no-brainer. Jersey is vastly cheaper and that’s a huge challenge for Guernsey.’ It’s an opinion Julia Hands agrees with when it comes to the differences between the two islands’ tourist industries. ‘Transport is absolutely key, both the cost and the availability of it. If you were somebody in the UK, for example, wanting to go to the Channel Islands but you had no bias towards a particular island, you would look at the cost and it would almost be a no-brainer. Jersey is vastly cheaper and that’s a huge challenge for Guernsey.’
Jersey have done a fantastic job – both with introducing EasyJet to the island and pushing the idea of #theislandbreak which has encouraged lots of people to come for short visits of two, three or four night stays when they actually tend to spend more money exploring and enjoying the island.’ The challenge of improving Guernsey’s connections isn’t one anyone has a clear or quick solution to, but both Julia and Karel are adamant that it’s an issue that needs to be kept in the spotlight. Karel believes the Chamber of Commerce can help fight the industry’s corner. ‘For the whole island’s sake, transport has to be number one on the agenda. In any sphere of influence that Guernsey Chamber has and any opportunity they have to speak with politicians and civil servants, it’s the issue that has to be kept at the forefront of people’s minds.’ But Karel believes there are even more issues that Chamber can lobby the States
of Guernsey regarding – in particular, keeping the island looking its best. ‘With hotels, we have to keep investing and it’s the same for the island. If you don’t plough money in then you go backwards and I worry that Guernsey plc seems to have forgotten that. We’re approaching summer and we have some of the island’s south coast bays closed. The bays in that area are one of the island’s selling points – we promote the term ‘a bay for every day’. Chamber definitely needs to keep encouraging government to look at the general infrastructure of the island and ensure that it is kept accessible and enjoyable for visitors and locals.’ Both Julia and Karel may have raised concerns about Guernsey’s links but they are also very clear that, like Jersey, the island remains a very attractive option for those looking for a short break, a longer holiday or even to follow in Julia’s footsteps and make a more permanent move. ■
Simon’s members benefit from those cheaper airfares and he acknowledges that it is an advantage. ‘The links we’ve got are great and the pricing is incredible. Visit
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HOSPITALITY FE ATU R E
IS SPORT A SOLUTION?
Jersey has recently seen an increase in visitors coming to the island to take part in and spectate at sports events. Competitions such as the Super League Triathlon have attracted worldwide attention. Now a group in Guernsey is hoping to convince government that sports tourism can be a winner for their island as well. increased budget for sports events would provide extra benefits for the economy. ‘The challenge has been that there has been no evidence put together to show how much money sport brings in. In my mind, there is no question of the value sport already has to the island’s economy, and there is huge potential to increase that. I believe it currently contributes around £2.5-£3million per year. The rugby clubs for example spend half a million pounds with Aurigny every year while the football, cricket and hockey teams are also all pumping huge amounts of money into the local airline. Then there are the bed nights on top of that with visiting teams which are a real boost to the hospitality industry.’
David Piesing has a long history with island sport, and has seen first hand the difference it can make to people’s lives. But he’s also convinced that sport can make a real impact on the island’s economy. He recently set up the Sports Tourism Action Group (STAG) and is now putting together a proposal for funding from the States of Guernsey. ‘I’m working on a paper which will be seeking a commitment to support sports tourism with an allocated budget for 2019 and 2020 for hosting new events in each of those years. Those two years are crucial as they are the run-up to the NatWest International Island Games in Guernsey in 2021.’ David is planning to have his proposal ready to submit to the Committee for Economic Development in May and hopes to have an answer fairly quickly. If the funding is agreed, STAG will approach various sporting bodies in the island and ask for more detail about the events they want to put on and the grant funding they’d require to make those events a reality. While the sports would be given grants, David is certain that focusing that money
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on sports tourism events would see much more spent in the island’s economy. ‘We would need to see clear revenue projections in the sports’ proposals and we would then be looking for around five times return on that investment. We’re asking for £100,000 from the States for the next two years and we believe with that we can generate £500,000 in new sports tourism revenue. Once we bring in new events and they become sustainable, there will be a budget for more events and sports tourism can become a new leg for the economy.’ David believes that sports tourism has not previously been valued in the way it should be. He hopes that his evidence-based proposal will prove the sector’s worth to the island, and support his argument that an
While David believes Jersey has done an excellent job of promoting sports tourism, he believes the potential for Guernsey to benefit is somewhat different. ‘I think we need smaller events than some of Jersey’s recent successes. We simply couldn’t cope with 5,000 spectators in Guernsey, but I think we could certainly handle 200 to 300 people coming to take part in a cycling race. ‘We also know that Guernsey is expensive to get to, so the events would need to be of a high enough quality that serious sports participants are prepared to pay that travel cost. If the event is attractive enough, pricing becomes less of an issue.’ David also believes that there is plenty of potential for the islands to work together. ‘I think when we look at what is realistic and achievable for Guernsey, that may well involve Jersey. There’s plenty of scope for working together and perhaps alternating events between us year on year so everyone benefits.’ ■
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GUERNSEY GOES GREEN Guernsey is looking to position itself as the go to jurisdiction for green financial services. The new development strategy for the island’s financial services sector includes a focus on ‘green investment’. Guernsey Finance acting director of strategy Andy Sloan said that the ambition was to develop the broadest and best range of product with a green focus among international finance centres, incorporating investment, securities and insurance markets and services. ‘The potential for green and sustainable finance is enormous and streams into major global initiatives. Action in this
area builds on Guernsey’s strengths and expertise in private equity and infrastructure, supports other initiatives in areas such as impact investing, and supports a general repositioning of the island’s financial sservices offer,’ said Dr Sloan. The Guernsey Financial Services Commission is poised to launch a new
regulatory initiative known as the Guernsey Green Fund. Compliance with green criteria will be required and it will be open to all types of funds. It has also announced plans to work with the global insurance industry to enable long-term green investments to be taken on as assets to meet long-term life insurance liabilities. ■
FINANCE EMPLOYMENT KEY TO SUSTAINABLE FUTURE The latest Jersey labour market statistics, published by the States of Jersey, show that employment in the finance sector increased by 230 jobs on an annual basis, and that total employment in the sector was the highest recorded for nine years.
Geoff Cook, CEO, Jersey Finance believes that sustained growth in finance sector jobs reflects clear confidence in Jersey as a forward-thinking jurisdiction.
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While there were 50 fewer people working in the banking sector compared to the same time last year, the number of jobs in trust and company administration reached the highest level to date for that particular sector. ‘These figures chime with the feedback we’ve had from industry - a recent survey of
firms forecast that 800 jobs will be created in the industry over the next five years, 83% being filled by local people,’ said Mr Cook. ‘Looking forward, it is vital that we place a real focus on the training and skills required to fill these opportunities. The way our industry will stay afloat is through the skills and expertise of our young islanders, with 3,000 finding their first jobs in finance over the last decade. By allowing continued access to the best talent, be it home-grown or sourced off-island, we can ensure that the Jersey economy continues to grow in order to support our aging population.’ ■
C H AN N E L I SL AN DS NE WS The Channel Islands Treasurers Association (CITA) has appointed its first officers and adopted its constitution following its first general meeting. The association, founded earlier this year, aims to bring together companies and individuals involved in treasury functions such as managing or advising clients on cash matters or safeguarding client money.
CITA APPOINTS INAUGURAL OFFICERS
Jeremiah O’Keeffe of JCAP Treasury Services has been appointed as president, Niall Husbands of Intertrust is vice president and Jamie McIntosh of Link Asset Services will serve as treasurer. All appointments were approved at the CITA’s general meeting.
Initial areas of focus for the organisation include the impact of EU Directives on the Channel Islands, the implementation of the Prudential Regulation Authority’s (PRA) ring-fencing rules for UK banks and the risk appetite of local banks. The CITA will also be responsible for liaising with regulators, public authorities and other related professional organisations within the islands. The group has established a LinkedIn page for members to share information and discuss the latest developments in the industry. The CITA will meet quarterly and the next meeting will focus on the impact of PRA ring fencing on UK banks with a presence in Jersey and Guernsey. ■
CHANNEL ISLANDER IN CITYWIRE LIST Brooks Macdonald’s Scott Goodrum was the only Channel Islander named in Citywire’s top 30 under 30 wealth managers list. The wealth management publication named the Jersey investment manager
in a list which aims to identify rising stars around the UK private client investment management industry. In qualifying for the top 30 list, Scott was assessed on a combination of academic success, professional qualifications, and his responsibilities at and contribution to Brooks Macdonald.
‘Supporting the development of aspiring investment professionals in the Channel Islands is a core objective for us and with that in mind, I’m very pleased to see Scott represented in Citywire’s Top 30 under 30 list. To be identified as amongst the very best within the industry nationally is an impressive achievement and one he fully deserves as an exceptional investment manager.’ ■
Tim Dallas-Chapman, director at Brooks Macdonald’s Jersey office, said:
GUERNSEY COMES UP TRUMPS AT US CONFERENCE Guernsey is looking to take advantage of any opportunities created by Donald Trump’s pro-business agenda in the US. Trust Corporation International directors Michael Betley and Andréa Daley Taylor attended the 14th annual International Estate Planning Institute in New York, jointly staged by STEP New York and the New York State Bar Association. Guernsey Finance deputy chief executive Kate Clouston was also part of the delegation and Trust Corporation International was gold sponsor of the conference, which brings together experts from around the world to
discuss the latest developments in crossborder estate planning with a US component. Mr Betley said the US domestic market is currently more buoyant thanks to recently enacted legislation including cuts in the corporate tax rate. ‘There is a better outlook in the US for domestic operators thanks to reduced corporate tax rates and President Trump’s efforts to reduce the level of bureaucratic red tape,’ said Mr Betley. ‘Significant steps have been taken to keep wealth within the US and many of the new
tax initiatives are aimed at repatriating the assets of corporations and individuals. Many in the US are therefore looking at onshore structures in order to comply with the latest legislation, which is a service that we offer in the US and have for some time.’ ■ 11
CHAN N EL ISL A ND S NE WS
WINE CELLAR AT LONGUEVILLE MANOR
A state-of-the-art wine cellar has been built at Longueville Manor in Jersey. The cellar is the first of its kind for any Jersey hotel or restaurant and one of very few throughout the UK.
After securing deals on two important private collections, the cellar now boasts more than 4,000 bottles, including a number of extremely rare varieties.
the UK as both a working cellar and a collection of interest. It’s so unique and we honestly have to pinch ourselves to believe it’s now a reality,’ said Mr Lewis.
The owners of Longueville Manor, Malcolm and Patricia Lewis, have invested over three quarters of a million pounds in their latest stage of refurbishment, including the bespoke wine cellar.
‘Fine dining and fine wine are synonymous, so this exceptional facility is ideal for our clientele many of whom are collectors themselves. We are enjoying giving tours and discussing the rare wines, champagnes and ports. It’s an excellent addition to our property and we are delighted to share it with our guests.’ ■
‘I am so proud to launch the Longueville Manor wine cellar. I believe it stands out as one of the top wine cellars in
GUILD OF FINE FOOD FOR LOCAL DRINK Jersey-based Sleep Well milk has been admitted as members of the prestigious Guild of Fine Food, one of the leading industry groups upholding excellence in fine food and drinks production. Backed by 1,300 members, it runs the influential Great Taste and World Cheese Awards. Sleep Well Milk was founded in September 2016 by local entrepreneurs Allan and Sam Watts. Their first product, a vanilla flavoured bedtime milk drink, was launched at the Speciality and Fine Food Fair in London in September 2017. The
‘This is another milestone in what has been an astonishing year for our company, from launching in London six months ago to listing at Fortnum and Mason by Christmas and the huge support we have received from local stores,’ said Mr Watts.
drink is sold online, in local shops and at Fortnum and Mason in London. Sleep Well is made by Jersey Dairy using whole milk from local herds, honey and valerian.
‘Becoming members members of the Guild is important because it underlines our commitment to quality and innovation. It also helps present our product to the thousands of independent food and drink outlets across the UK.’ ■
WAITROSE DISPOSES OF TAKEAWAY CUPS Waitrose has announced it will be removing all takeaway disposable coffee cups from its shops by autumn 2018, saving more than 52 million cups a year.
Members of the supermarket’s loyalty scheme, myWaitrose, will continue to have the option to enjoy a free tea or coffee from their shop’s self serve machine but will be asked to bring their own reusable cup to use rather than being offered a disposable coffee cup when they go through the checkout. Removing the cups is part of the supermarket’s commitment to reducing its impact on the environment and its use of plastics and packaging. It recently
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pledged to not sell any own label food in black plastic beyond 2019. Tor Harris, head of sustainability and responsible sourcing at Waitrose, said: ‘We realise this is a major change, but we believe removing all takeaway disposable cups is the right thing to do for our business and are confident the majority of customers will support the environmental benefits. It underlines our commitment to plastic and packaging reduction and our aim is to deliver this as quickly as possible.’ ■
C H AN N E L I SL AN DS NE WS
INVESTMENT IN WHITE ROCK RAS Group Ltd has completed its investment into Guernsey’s White Rock Brewery Co. Ltd. RAS says the partnership is an important strategic move as it continues to invest in Channel Islands-based businesses that show strong potential for development and growth.
White Rock now has ambitious plans to not only grow its product range but also expand into new lucrative markets. Phase one of the investment strategy is to move the brewery and new gin distillery to larger premises in St Peter Port by quarter 3 2018. A new retail outlet will also be incorporated into the site.
of the brand. They are also building relationships with key national beer wholesalers to drive exposure and sales across the UK craft pub network. ■
White Rock has recently finalised a deal with Waitrose to stock its beer and gin range in a number of UK stores, which the local producer hopes will be an opportunity to drive national recognition
GUERNSEY DESIGN AWARDS ANNOUNCED The winners of the 2018 Guernsey Design Awards have been announced with the People’s Choice Award going to Le Mont Saint Farm for its innovative renovation and conservation of its listed farm and barn buildings. The winner of this category was chosen by the general public from a short-list of entrants compiled by the Design Awards judges, who were made up of members from sponsors Norman Piette, the Planning Service and the Guernsey Society of Architects.
The projects were judged on the overall quality of design, use of materials, the relationship to setting, sustainability and adherence to the client brief. Managing director of Norman Piette, Paul Rogers, said: ‘Yet again Guernsey has demonstrated it can punch well above its weight when it comes to looking for creative design. The island has always been restricted by the amount of land available, yet year on year our architects and contractors show extremely impressive standards of innovative thinking and design finesse.’
Design projects eligible for entry included new buildings, extensions, restoration projects, lighting schemes, public art projects and works to protected buildings and monuments. ■
INTEREST HIGH IN COMMERCIAL PROPERTY Real estate advisors D2 have reported that 2017 was an exceptional year for commercial property investment in the Channel Islands. The 12 months from January to December 2017 saw over £150m worth of assets being traded across both Jersey and Guernsey and also heralded the return of middle eastern investors, with the acquisition of 37 Esplanade, Jersey for £45m. Phil Dawes, managing director of D2 Real Estate, said there is a compelling case to invest: ‘With global commercial property investment yields at all time lows, investors
are looking to alternative markets for yield and value, which is why UK regional office prices and volumes have increased over the past 12 months, as yields in London and overseas have contracted. Given the close relationship between the UK
and the Channel Island property market, this demand has filtered through. ‘In general Channel Island office investments offer long lease terms, less rental volatility, strong covenants and yet the yields are currently at a discount to the UK. For example UK regional office yields are now sub 5% compared to 6%- 6.5% in the Channel Islands. This provides a compelling investment case, and we expect the yield gap to shorten in 2018 particularly given the quality of the investments coming onto the market in the near future.’ ■
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CHAN N EL ISL A ND S NE WS
BDO BUYS C5 ALLIANCE BDO in Jersey has purchased the Channel Island technology business, C5 Alliance Group. C5, which provides technology services to businesses across the Channel Islands, was established 19 years ago and employs 200 people in the Channel Islands. ‘This acquisition consolidates two leading businesses in their respective fields and creates a unified firm providing strategy, consulting, digital, technology and managed services,’ said Matthew Corbin, CEO of BDO in Jersey.
‘Our clients are competing in an increasingly complex business environment that is dominated by fast-paced technological, fiscal and regulatory change. Extending our professional services capabilities in the area of technology, which sits so firmly at the top of the boardroom agenda, ensures that we continue to align our services to the needs of our clients.’ The acquisition is being supported by Government-funded development agency and industry association, Digital Jersey. Tony Moretta, CEO of Digital Jersey, said: ‘This deal will support our drive to become a digital
centre of excellence and support inward investment and the growth of local talent in this important sector. This is a strategically important acquisition of a business that provides critically important IT services to support the growth and development of the local digital economy.’ ■
CYBER ATTACK INSURANCE RISK Logicalis is warning Channel Islands’ organisations they could be leaving themselves open to huge losses if they rely on insurance to cover damages from a major cyber-attack. The IT company says that cyber insurance should not be an alternative to good cyber security, and they fear that up to 80% of businesses would not be covered by their cyber insurance policies in the event of a cyber-attack because they are not following correct security protocols.
with cyber insurance are not following basic cyber security procedures, which means if they suffer a loss, it will be hard for them to claim because they have been negligent.’
Ricky Magalhaes, managed security services director, said: ‘Many companies think cyber insurance is an alternative to good cyber security practices, however, if you don’t have correct controls in place, your insurance will not cover you. Up to 80% of companies
The Logicalis Security Operations Centre (SOC) detected more than 124 cyber-attacks on Jersey companies during the first three months of 2018 and say that is just a fraction of the real level likely to be happening. ■
10 YEAR CELEBRATIONS FOR CIPR The Channel Islands Group of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has a new committee which will lead the group through its tenth anniversary. Guernsey-based Mark Oliphant, head of communications at The International Stock Exchange Group Limited (TISEG), continues for a second annual term as chair and Jersey-based Natasha Egré, PR director at The Refinery, remains as vice-chair. There are four new faces on the committee in Dan Gallienne from Orchard PR in 14
Guernsey, Jersey-based Hannah Shellswell from Freedom Media, Hannah Carolan of The Partnership and Allan Watts, Orchid. ‘I am delighted to be able to continue as chair in what is a landmark year for the Channel Islands Group of the CIPR. We have grown significantly since our inception in 2008 so that the group now has 67 members, with 13 new members joining during the last 12 months alone,’ said Mr Oliphant. ‘I expect that the highlight of the year once again will be our annual Channel Islands PR forum, which is due to take
place in September. It will take on extra significance as we mark not only our 10th anniversary as a group but also the 70th anniversary of the CIPR and we have already begun to make preparations to mark these during the forum.’ ■
Appleby’s Channel Islands team of legal specialists advise global public and private companies, financial institutions, and high net worth individuals, working with them and their advisers to achieve practical solutions, whether in a single location or across multiple jurisdictions. Appleby Guernsey +44 (0)1481 755600 guernsey@applebyglobal.com
Appleby Jersey +44 (0)1534 888 777 jersey@applebyglobal.com
applebyglobal.com
GUERNSEY CHAMBER NEWS
MAY CHAMBER LUNCH DAVID UMMELS
Old Government House Hotel
Guernsey Chamber has refreshed its monthly lunches so there is more time for networking and questions. Held on the third Monday of each month at the OGH, the regular get-togethers are proving a valuable arena for swapping business cards, hearing from speakers with specialist insight and enjoying delicious food. Numbers are continuing to increase and the event is also open to nonmembers of Chamber.
The speaker at our May lunch is Art for Guernsey creator and former financial trader David Ummels (see page 18 for further information). Venue: Old Government House Hotel Date:
Monday 21 May
Time:
12:00-14:00
Book:
Eventbrite/non-members welcome
JUNE CHAMBER LUNCH JON MOULTON We are delighted to welcome Jon Moulton as the speaker for our June Chamber lunch. Jon is globally renowned for his ability to identify business opportunities, particularly in turnarounds. He has invested in them for more than three decades, with considerable success. He is a former managing partner of Alchemy and has worked globally for that and other major brands. He operates from Guernsey and chairs the investing entities which use Better Capital.
Jon has clear ideas as to the challenges faced by Guernsey and which way the island should proceed in our post-Brexit world. He is also a major supporter of medical research and is a trustee of the UK Stem Cell Foundation. Venue: Old Government House Hotel Date:
Monday 18 June
Time:
12:00-14:00
Book:
Eventbrite/non-members welcome
FREE INSURANCE SEMINAR The importance of having tailored professional indemnity and directors and officers insurance will be explained at a free (for members) Chamber business seminar on 7 June.
Thanks to sponsorship from Cherry Godfrey, two visiting experts from Lloyds of London will travel here for the seminar. Non-members are also welcome to attend the event at a cost of ÂŁ15 per head. For further details please visit Eventbrite.
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G UE RN SEY C H AM B ER NE WS
OFF-ISLAND CONNECTIONS The Chamber team has been using its adventurous side to (hopefully!) good effect during the past few weeks through meetings with French counterparts, a trip to Sark and some business overtures to our Continental contacts throughout Europe. We will keep members up to date with developments in coming weeks and want to assure our membership that, in our imminently post-Brexit world, Chamber is highly aware of the need to build strong and broad relationships around the globe. There is an air of ‘new shoots’ about Sark and it’s not only the planted areas which seem to be enjoying some positive energy. Guernsey Chamber recently visited our Sark counterparts and other interested parties to see how we can work together for the good of the island. Sark Chamber’s president Tony Le Lievre shares his thoughts below on the current outlook for the island: ‘Here we are at the start of another season on Sark and the outlook appears to be changing for the better. We have had some ground-breaking movement behind the scenes from our new Seigneur and the Lieutenant-Governor who met with Sir David Barclay on Brecqhou in an effort to establish common ground which will take Sark and its economy forward. ‘We have also had some long-anticipated movement towards a land reform solution for Sark. Quite what final form that will take we don’t know yet, but being able to own
your property and raise a mortgage against it will make a significant impression on our fragile economy. There is a general feeling that there is something exciting to look forward to on those fronts.
‘Everyone is gearing up for a busy season with hotels, guest houses, self catering, campsites, cafés and restaurants dusting themselves down in preparation for the anticipated influx of visitors. We haven’t yet had any definitive movement regarding a Sark-based Customs presence, which would go a long way to improving our visitor numbers. The outlook is still encouraging and we eagerly await a positive outcome. ‘The island has a new festival on the calendar this year, scheduled to take place on 6, 7 and 8 July (details in the link to the right). It is a three day music festival put together to offer music fans an alternative to the hugely popular Folk Festival, which is taking a sabbatical this year. ‘We have every confidence this Summer Festival of Music will become another popular annual event and will give our visiting music fans a fun weekend alongside the Folk Festival, the Roots Festival and Opera Sark.
The Seigneurie is currently undergoing a change of direction whereby our new Seigneur and his wife are developing the island’s iconic building and its surroundings into a visitor-friendly venue that will include the availability of the venue for weddings and also guided tours by the Seigneur himself. ‘For the more adventurous visitor, kayaking, coasteering and various other outdoor activities are offered by Adventure Sark. There are also, of course, the old favourites like cycling, cliff walking, beach combing and a leisurely carriage ride around the island, which help people to enjoy Sark’s unique atmosphere and peaceful environment. ‘We are ready to welcome as many visitors as we can and we are greatly encouraged by the new events on offer this season which can only make the visitor experience better.’ ■
FIND OUT MORE @ SUMMER FESTIVAL www.sarksf.com ROOTS FESTIVAL www.facebook.com/sarkroots OPERA SARK www.sark.co.uk ADVENTURE SARK www.adventuresark.com
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GUERN SEY CH A M B E R NE WS
JOIN THE DOTS
Chamber Council member David Ummels has an interesting perspective on creativity and his unique approach is resulting in impressive rewards for the island’s health, art and education sectors and for its cultural diplomacy.
The entrepreneurial former investment banker believes that pigeonholing people as ‘creative’ or not does many a disservice. ‘It’s all about the ability to think laterally. That IS a form of creativity. So if you are working in a dry financial environment but are coming up with opportunities and solutions based on thinking differently, you are being creative.’ That focus enables the quietly-spoken Belgian to bring together people from all walks of island life and beyond and is proving impressively effective in achieving tangible results. While David launched his charitable initiative as Art for Guernsey, that ‘channel’ has been actively supporting other local charities, such as Arts for Impact. The latter is currently enabling art to be used as part of health. David sits on the board of Arts for Impact and has been offering financial support and strategic mentoring from day one. ‘We are currently installing a corridor of beautiful art in
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We understand that an average three-month rehabilitation spell can be shortened by several weeks if service users are more active, so being able to use art to assist with that is fantastic news. the rehabilitation unit at the PEH and are working with Mark de Garis and the team to encourage patients to walk more to look at it and to visit a nice kitchen area at one end. It might sound minor but walking more and looking up makes a huge difference to their posture and the speed of their overall recovery. We understand that an average three-month rehabilitation spell can be shortened by several weeks if service users are more active, so being able to use art to assist with that is fantastic news.’ Another interesting creative link for Art for Impact is in working with Agfa to make their diagnostic health machines look less intimidating for patients, and particularly children. This initiative was the result of Arts for Impact successfully redesigning the x-ray room of the PEH into a spaceship two years ago. ‘We
could have stopped there and called it a success but our board is entrepreneurial and includes the right mix of people. As we spotted their badge on the equipment, we decided to make a direct approach to Agfa to propose our design services. ‘It was a bold move for a Guernsey-based start-up charity to get in touch with a global corporation but we made the point that selling “spaceships” to hospitals might be easier than selling grimly designed medical equipment and they liked it. Since then Arts for Impact has partnered up with Agfa and our design services have been on their menu list that is offered to more than 500 hospitals. As a result, we were hired by NHS Exeter last year and successfully “disguised” two X-Ray rooms as a submarine and a jungle so that children in need of treatment are willing to be near them. Other opportunities are in the pipeline and that adaptation is now being seen as a possible NHS-wide initiative.’ The level of detail applied to anything initiated or pursued by Art of Guernsey and its offshoots is impressive. At the PEH, artworks will be hung at just the right height to encourage good posture among the patients viewing them and the subjects will be uplifting, without much abstraction.
G UE RN SEY C H AM B ER NE WS
‘We want people to be able to enjoy the “scenes” easily and relate to them.’ David’s passion for creativity in education has led to the launch of Art in School, an innovative art lending programme open to any Guernsey school willing to participate, as long as they use the artworks as starting points for interdisciplinary learning projects. It fits perfectly with the new ‘joyous and purposeful’ curriculum recently launched by Education Services. All the artworks are fully insured by Art for Guernsey and graciously lent by a group of local art collectors through goodwill. ‘It’s not just about the image itself, in fact, far from it. The pupils study how it is made, when it was made – for instance one school recently had a piece of work from 1600 and they then investigated the history of that time. The crossover into many parts of the curriculum (geography, history, geometry, architecture, creative writing, science, poetry, music) comes from creating projects around the piece and even making presentations to their peer group or the rest of the school. I find that immensely satisfying because, once again, it highlights the fact that creativity is not one defined area – it is part of all learning.’
The practical issues of displaying museum quality artworks in schools has been overcome thanks to help from amenable insurers who recognise that Guernsey is a secure environment. ‘They have been extremely helpful in considering the risks and showing an awareness that island life is different. I love Guernsey as does my family and we benefit from this safe environment.’
The main artwork commissioned for the recent Olivia Kemp exhibition, a very large drawing of the island, was recently personally selected by Prince Charles and borrowed by the Royal Collections for inclusion in the Prince & Patron exhibition that will take place at Buckingham Palace from 21 July until 30 September In June, Art for Guernsey will curate an exhibition at the Market Square showing hundreds of the best artworks produced by all the children from all the Guernsey schools participating in Art in Schools. The young artists’ work will be displayed side by side with some of the originals and will provide an opportunity for supporters and families to appreciate their talent. ‘There is also real, tangible value in the way that Art for Guernsey is spreading the word about the island and its beautiful environment which has inspired so many artists through the centuries. Eugen Gorean and Olivia Kemp, respectively artists in residence for Art for Guernsey in 2016 and 2017, are internationally renowned artists and real ambassadors for the island, regularly speaking about their experience in Guernsey in prime time television interviews, international art magazines, or national press.
very large drawing of the island, was recently personally selected by Prince Charles and borrowed by the Royal Collections for inclusion in the Prince & Patron exhibition that will take place at Buckingham Palace from 21 July until 30 September, so in a way, Guernsey will be at Buckingham Palace all summer!’ David is an active member of the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce’s council and his mix of art, charitable work and entrepreneurial spirit fits perfectly with the values that Chamber aims to promote. David Ummels will be speaking about all aspects of his art initiatives, including corporate, charitable and cultural diplomacy opportunities, at Chamber’s May lunch at the OGH on Monday 21 May. ■
‘The main artwork commissioned for the recent Olivia Kemp exhibition, a
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GUERN SEY CH A M B E R NE WS
BRIGHT FUTURES AHEAD
A new and innovative charitable institution for educational scholarship funding for young students and mature islanders has just been launched. Bright Futures aims to increase the economic achievement of the individual and consequently augment the island’s economy and skills. Established by Susie Crowder, the initiative is principally designed to provide financial support to Guernsey
residents of all ages who wish to upskill in areas relevant to the Guernsey economy. Bright Futures will contribute to the development of the skilled talent pool in order to facilitate economic growth and attract new business to the island. It will also raise awareness of the latest key trends in learning from across the globe and provide an annual skills analysis report that can be used by local businesses to plan strategically for where the skills gaps are likely to be. Susie said: ‘The world of work is changing faster and more dramatically than at any time in our memory. According to research from the World Economic Forum, some 35% of the skills necessary to thrive in a job today will be different in five years’ time. Reports suggest that 40% of employers globally are already having difficulty filling positions while, in advanced economies, it is estimated that as many as 95 million workers will lack the skills needed for employment. At the same time the length
of our working lives is rapidly extending. ‘Clearly, a variety of measures are needed to keep pace with the accelerating skills gap. An ongoing dialogue is required between individuals, businesses, governments and educationalists to identify the evolving skills requirements.’ In addition to funding students, Bright Futures is seeking to assist in changing the way we think about lifetime education and its importance in sustaining and growing our economy. ‘Such is the rate of change that we cannot rely on the traditional school system alone to meet the evolving skills requirements. Addressing the skills needs of the adult workforce will be important, including whether and how employers are developing their employees in response to the anticipated change.’ Further details of Bright Futures and how to apply will be released soon. ■
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE CONFERENCE A social enterprise conference being held in Guernsey in May will showcase social enterprises that are succeeding in making a positive change. The conference speakers will cover a broad range of topics. These include key messages for social enterprises, entrepreneurial mindset, mental health and drug and alcohol abuse. Alongide that will be the topics of 21st century learning, social impact projects and investments, domestic abuse and finding common ground for social good. The keynote speaker is Darren Robson, founder of the Ministry of Entrepreneurs Foundation. Also speaking are Justin Sykes, founder and CEO of Innovest Advisory, James Partridge, founder of Changing Faces, Dr Greg Lydall, psychiatrist and co-founder of Thrive2020.org and Gez Overstall, ecosystem manager at Barclays.
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The conference will incorporate sessions for attendees to be inspired, learn, discuss and debate. There will be an open panellist forum, as well as action groups which will host workshops with topics chosen by the audience. The action groups will be run by experts in their respective field. The organisers welcome social entrepreneurs, students, researchers, academics, social impact investors, change makers and those with a vision that includes conscious enterprise. The Social Enterprise Success Conference has been organised by Korinne Le Page and Nyasha Gwatidzo. It is taking place on Friday 18 May at St Pierre Park Hotel and is a joint venture of their shared vision of transforming peoples’ lives through conscious enterprise.
Darren Robson
This year the SES Conference is supporting Guernsey Disability Alliance (disabilityalliance.org.gg). All profits from the conference will go towards raising funds for the charity. For more information: www.socialenterprisesuccess.global To book your place: www.facebook.com/SocialEnterpriseSuccess
or search Eventbrite. ■
G UE RN SEY C H AM B ER NE WS
Sure’s approach to
innovation and digital transformation The telecommunications sector, although hi-tech, is traditionally not massively innovative. We bury glass cables under the ground or under the ocean floor, then figure out how to get the investment to pay back over years or, often, decades. We are similar in fact to the mineral exploration sector – find a seam of minerals, whether copper, zinc or tungsten, and figure out how to get them out of the ground. A lump of tungsten even once refined doesn’t do much, the innovation happens when it is transformed into something like a rocket engine nozzle or a nanowire for use in sophisticated electronics. Much like the lump of tungsten, the basics of communications, as hi-tech as it is, should be boring to its users – it just works; the dial tone on your phone, 24/7 access to the internet from your home or mobile they just work, without any labour required on the part of the user. So how do we at Sure approach innovation? We do that in two ways; one is to help equip our society with the tools to develop and innovate using our technology and connectivity. The other is to equip our staff
to enable them to transform our solutions and to transform our business. Sure is passionate about instilling digital skills in the next generation of our island, from providing free internet connectivity to many schools, through to inviting digital internship students to work with us during breaks from their studies. Sure is a longterm partner of the Digital Greenhouse, providing the connectivity and skills required to create a ‘virtual greenhouse’, and values the use of this fantastic facility for both our own internal innovation sessions and sessions that we run on emerging technology concepts for islanders. When we turn our attention to developing our own staff and business we have numerous tools to help us do this. For people just starting out on their journey into employment we have the Sure Academy programme. The Sure Academy runs for two years and takes our new interns through many areas of our business, while offering the opportunity to take professional qualifications along the journey for the six or so people that we have in the academy at any one time. We also run an innovation programme we call Project-i. Anyone in our business is free to sign up to Project-i and the last
cohort was around 17 people. We offer an intense two-day session on the stages of developing an idea to a minimum viable product. There are keynote speakers, tools, insights and cash to help the participants take their idea to a level that can be pitched to an investment board. The great thing about Project-i is the change in the people, not the product; we don’t care if the idea is directly related to communications or a new piece for a combine harvester, the important thing is the process of getting this idea out in the open and the journey to develop it as far as you can. From a digital transformation perspective, we have specific objectives covering our strategy, customer, technology, operations and culture, people and organisation. Finally, we measure our performance constantly. We measure our staff engagement weekly in the form of a short online poll. We measure our customer engagement through every transaction. In terms of digital skills, we measure the transition of our workforce over time, plus we have over a hundred digital KPIs that we measure every month to give us a true picture of our ongoing transformation. Oh, and we have a lot of fun while we are doing it! ■
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GUERN SEY CH A M B E R NE WS
RETAIL UPDATE Redefining the overall ‘experience’ of shopping and enjoying leisure time in the island, Guernsey Chamber is working with a selection of industry representatives and corporate groups to help ensure that this important GDP contributor to our economy is vibrant and successful in challenging conditions. Chamber brought over David Elliott, chairman of the Jersey Retail Association, to offer insight into the efforts in that island to secure the future of the industry and help it to thrive. A breakfast seminar included a broad cross-section of business representatives
from many parts of island life and David also spoke at the March Chamber lunch. Those present at both events accepted that the fundamental nature of retail has changed, partly as a result of the challenge of online shopping, and that it now needs to include an ‘experience’ element to enable it to overcome the price-led competition of the web and its convenience. Recent findings from a retail survey organised by the States Committee for Economic Development revealed a strong sense of loyalty among local shoppers who are supporting Guernsey business as a conscious decision, rather than moving entirely to online
shopping. It also showed that there is a need to broaden the range of goods on offer in Town. The full findings can be seen here: https://www.gov.gg/retailsurvey2017 Chamber’s retail sub-group, led by chairman Ian Burdekin, has been exploring ways in which islanders and visitors can best enjoy the island’s shops and hospitality sites. The group is also investigating potential avenues for strengthening the overall experience, possibly through the use of more events and a stronger link with cultural and artistic initiatives. If you have thoughts on this issue, please email Chamber and let us know: office@guernseychamber.com ■
G U E R NSE Y N E W M E M B E R S Plug’N’Go has been established to meet the growing need for leased and fully funded electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
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This enables a local authority requiring destination charging and businesses to offer workplace charging at zero risk and cost. Plug’N’Go offers charging points from 3.6 kw through to rapid charging solutions. Our mission is to provide a best in class electric vehicle charging infrastructure and to assist
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the electrification of transport, with the highest level of service and innovation. Our core values are to give the client and user a focused, tailored solution which is universally available and thus reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality. Contact: Irene Dooley Email: irene@plug-n-go.com Tel: 01481 722450 Website: www.plug-n-go.com
Get in touch to see how we can work together to deliver your business objectives across all platforms. Contact: Tony Tostevin Email: tony.tostevin@tpagency.com Tel: 01481 700070 Website: www.tpagency.com
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POLLET CHAMBERS LLP
Pollet Chambers LLP is a new firm of Guernsey advocates led by Advocates David and Diana Thompson. Our practice is focused on commercial and criminal law, plus some private client services. In all our practice areas we aim to provide high standards of service, offer practical advice and assistance, and to do so at a reasonable cost.
experienced. This helps us better understand our clients’ needs and requirements, and advise and assist them accordingly. Contact: David Thompson Email: david.thompson@ polletchambers.com Tel: 01481 730959 Website: www.polletchambers.com
We have many years of business experience in both the financial and commercial sectors and Advocate David Thompson is also a Chartered Management Accountant. We are therefore uniquely well-qualified and
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JERSEY CHAMBER NEWS
Executive Council Profile Adam Vibert
Chair, CHAMBER CONNECTION Having been born and raised in Jersey, I’m particularly passionate about ensuring the island remains a great place to live and work in the future. When I was presented with the opportunity to chair a new Chamber of Commerce committee called Chamber Connection aimed specifically at young professionals, I jumped at the chance and was very pleased to accept the role.
What is Chamber Connection? Chamber Connection was officially established in July 2017 and is dedicated to being a voice for people aged 1835 in local industry. We aim to provide opportunities for development, networking and political engagement across all sectors of commerce in Jersey.
It’s been great to see that so far attendees to these events have also been diverse, so we are already starting to help young professionals in different industries connect and build relationships with each other, which will be beneficial for island commerce in the future.
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Chamber Connection is not industry specific and as a result our committee is extremely diverse. To give some examples, we have representatives from agriculture, hospitality and tourism and social enterprise, and we also have some business owners on board. Being so diverse ensures a wide range of different opinions and perspectives are discussed and to date this has been helpful in establishing the key issues we should be focusing on. From a personal perspective, the diversity of the committee is something I have enjoyed the most. My day job as a transformational change consultant at BDO Greenlight has given me exposure to many different industries in the Channel Islands, but I’ve learnt a great deal working directly with motivated individuals doing brilliant things in sectors I have little previous knowledge of.
What we’re working on and where we are going Despite being a relatively new committee, we have already worked on many things and are making great strides towards meeting the objectives we set ourselves: • Create engaging and diverse opportunities for individuals between 18-35 to network and build useful working relationships within Chamber Connection and the wider Chamber network. • Create and maintain relationships with government and to be a voice for key issues affecting industry professionals aged 18-35.
• Increase the awareness of, and engagement in, the Chamber of Commerce by industry professionals aged 18-35. In December last year we hosted a sellout launch event and by the time you read this will have hosted our second event, an evening of Speed Buzzing networking. It’s been great to see that so far attendees to these events have also been diverse, so we are already starting to help young professionals in different industries connect and build relationships with each other, which will be beneficial for island commerce in the future. In terms of being a voice for key issues affecting the 18-35 demographic, to date we have helped conduct a survey with Chamber members on Jersey’s university funding proposals and off the back of this Chamber formed a response which was submitted to the Scrutiny Panel reviewing the proposals. We are also coming up with an action plan on how we can engage with our demographic to encourage voting and political engagement in the next election. Overall, I am proud to be part of an organisation that has lobbied on behalf of and promoted commerce in the island for 250 years. The creation of Chamber Connection demonstrates that the Jersey Chamber of Commerce is not only focusing on its future but the future of commerce and prosperity in Jersey in general. ■
Importance of Voting in the
May General Election Does your vote count? Yes, absolutely yes, unequivocally, yes and especially in Jersey. Why, I hear you ask, why should it make such a difference in Jersey? Well, let me plot some voting history for you, to prove absolutely that your single vote does matter and can make a difference. In 2011 Deputy Ben Fox was re-elected, beating Suzette Hase by just one vote. Just one vote. Quite literally the difference between you or I turning out to vote and putting a cross in a box. If ever you needed proof that your single vote does make a difference this is it and the example is not alone:
2014 • The Connétable of St. Mary was reelected beating John Le Bailley by just 16 votes • The Deputy of Trinity was re-elected beating Hugh Raymond, also by 16 votes • Peter McLinton unseated Deputy Rob Duhamel by just 26 votes
2011 • Jeremy Macon was first elected beating Tony Nightingale by 24 votes
• Tracey Vallois was first elected beating Glenn George by 17 votes So why is the general election so important to the Jersey Chamber of Commerce? As a lobbying organisation, reviewing legislation and policy proposed by government is at the heart of what we do and is what we were established to do 250 years ago. Quite simply, it’s our job as the largest independent business representative organisation in Jersey, to be the voice of business. To provide insight for the island’s politicians and civil servants regarding the impact their policies will have on commerce and highlighting the often overlooked unintended consequences. For lobbying to be effective, relationships have to be formed with each party willing, able and ready to listen to both sides of the debate. This sort of relationship building takes time and on the eve of a new government, now is that time when commerce and islanders alike must engage with all political candidates. At hustings, our would-be States members need to be pushed for their views on population, migration and taxes. Questions must be asked of how supportive they are
of commerce and to what extent they’re aware of current critical issues such as recruitment and the impact of Brexit. If we don’t engage now in order to make an informed decision later on election day (Wednesday 16 May) then we’ve only got ourselves to blame. If on 17 May we wake up to a new assembly of States Members who have little or no insight into commerce and have been elected by a handful of votes by the slimmest of margins, then those islanders who haven’t exercised their right to vote can have no cause to complain. To have the right to vote in a free, democratic society is something to be cherished and celebrated. It’s a privilege that some women gave their lives for so that others could enjoy the freedom to put a simple cross in a box. Your one single vote really does matter. Engage now and make it count on election day. Gillian Martindale-Parsons Chief executive Jersey Chamber of Commerce ■
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Celebrations of the 250th Anniversary of the Jersey Chamber of Commerce Marking the start of the year-long 250th anniversary celebrations, members of the seven Chamber of Commerce committees were invited to a special drinks reception. The seven committees are:
• Building & Development • Digital Business • Chamber Connection • Finance • HR • Retail & Supply • Transport & Tourism
Speaking about the event and attendees, Chamber chief executive, Gillian Martindale-Parsons, said: ‘There can be no doubt that Chamber would not be as successful an organisation, in terms of our lobbying and making a positive difference for the business community in Jersey, without the voluntary commitment from each of our committee members, who total around 100 business owners and senior directors. I am immensely proud to be part of Chamber and of the time and effort which all our committee members put into making Chamber so successful. The drinks reception was held at the Jersey Maritime Museum, a nod to our nautical history back in 1768.’ ■
SAVE THE DATE: Further details about our 250th gala black-tie dinner event, due to be held on Friday 19 October 2018 at the RJA&HS, will be released soon.
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An economic overview Speaker: Sebastian Burnside, senior economist, RBS Date:
15 May 2018 (please note, this lunch takes place on a Tuesday to avoid clashing with Jersey’s General Election)
Venue: The Pomme d’Or
At our May Chamber lunch, Sebastian will offer guests an up-to-the-minute economic outlook.
Timings: 12:15-14:30
May Lunch and AGM
Overview Sebastian Burnside is a senior economist at RBS. His insights help the bank’s strategic function understand how we need to change to meet the demands of an evolving economy and customer base. His analysis covers a wide range of
Hospitality in the Channel Islands and the challenges faced Speaker: Julia Hands, chair and CEO of Hand Picked Hotels Holdings Date:
13 June 2018
Venue: L’Horizon Timings: 12:15-14:30
JUNE lunch
DATES FOR 2018 CHAMBER LUNCHES
Overview Julia Hands is chair and CEO of Hand Picked Hotels Holdings which has two hotels in Jersey – the Grand Jersey Hotel and L’Horizon Hotel – along with St Pierre Park in Guernsey. At our June lunch, Julia will be sharing her thoughts on hospitality in the Channel Islands and some of the
11 July 12 September 10 October
topics affecting personal and corporate customers from demographic change and student debt, to macroprudential and monetary policy. Before joining RBS, he worked for telecoms regulator Ofcom and in consultancy. He holds degrees from the London School of Economics and University of Edinburgh.
Event sponsor:
RBS International
Wine Sponsor:
Dunell’s Premier Wines
Coffee Sponsor: Cooper & Co
challenges operators face. She will discuss factors that directly impact hospitality and tourism on the island including transport, rising costs and attracting and retaining talent. As an established operator and now Guernsey resident, Julia will also share her own inspiration for choosing to include the Channel Islands in her portfolio of country house hotels and spa resorts and demonstrate her passion and commitment to promoting the Channel Islands as a vibrant destination for business, corporate events and leisure breaks. Event sponsor:
L’Horizon Hotel
Wine Sponsor:
Dunell’s Premier Wines
Coffee Sponsor: Cooper & Co
Radisson Blu
14 November
Pomme D’Or
The Royal Yacht
12 December
The Royal Yacht
Radisson Blu
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J E R SE Y N E W M E M B E R S
Domino-Cabs was established in 1987 and operates predominantly in the west of the island covering St Ouen, St Peter, St Mary, St Brelade, St Lawrence and St John.
DOMINO-CABS LTD
We are first call for a number of large hotels and the majority of businesses in the west of the island and also have a very good island wide corporate section which is increasing year on year.
Are you getting the most out of your body and life?
HUMAN HEALTH CENTRE
Our concern is your personal and family health. We specialise in helping you feel, move and be your best throughout life. From new-born babies, high performing executives and athletes to our elderly walking more confidently.
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Domino-Cabs prides itself on being an integral part of the community and we look forward to increasing our clientele even further in the years to come. Contact: Ian Le Gallais Email: ian@domino-cabs.co.uk Tel: 01534 747047 Website: www.domino-cabs.co.uk
Our chiropractic assessment and care is tailored to your body’s needs and age, helping you and those you love to live your best human life from birth until death. Contact: Dr Thomas Faulkner Email: hi@humanhealthcentre.com Tel: 01534 747833 Website: www.humanhealthcentre.com
We work with people of all ages who want to get more out of their human potential whether in a health crisis, recovering from injury or wanting to increase their personal performance.
We are Park, leaders in recruitment in Jersey.
PARK
We accept online bookings (24hrs) and card payments in our cabs.
We have been helping shape careers in the island for over 35 years by placing professional candidates in permanent, temporary and contract positions at all levels. With our help, getting your career in shape is a walk in the park.
Contact: Toni Bracken Email: toni@park.je Tel: 01534 781518 Website: www.park.je
B USI N ESS D IA RY
BUSINESS DIARY MAY/JUNE
Key dates for your diary:
DATE
EVENT
TIME
VENUE
INFORMTION
Wed 16 May
GDPR drop-in clinic
12:30-14:30
Digital Jersey Hub
One in a series answering your GDPR questions.
Weds 16 May
Export seminar for businesses
12:30-13:30
Digital Greenhouse
Startup Guernsey event with a panel of experts answering questions from small businesses looking to export products off-island.
Thurs 17 May
Guernsey Chamber of Commerce annual dinner
19:00
Beau Sejour
This sold-out event will feature guest speaker Alastair Campbell.
Fri 18 May
The Surprising Power of Difference
12:00-14:00
Radisson Blu
The Diversity Network hosts autism experts at this networking event.
Thur 28 June
STEP Guernsey summer social
17:00
OGH
A relaxed networking event open to STEP members and non-members.
The Jersey Chamber of Commerce is the largest business membership forum in Jersey, representing businesses of all sizes.
Become a Chamber Of Commerce Member Member benefits: - Access to the most effective business networking community in the island, with regular networking events attended by more than 4,000 senior business people annually - Discounted Chamber Event tickets - ‘New Member’ promotion in Contact Magazine - Weekly communications, with links to the latest government reports & consultations that affect business - Dedicated Member email address listen@jerseychamber.com, to raise individual business concerns - Business listing on the Chamber website - Reduced rates on business services including obtaining Certificates of Origin & Letters of Credit - Member to Member discount offers - Reduced rate meeting room hire
For more information on membership please contact the Chamber Executive Team. 01534 724 536 | admin@jerseychamber.com
www.jerseychamber.com
COM M EN T
VIEWPOINT as seen by Richard Digard
Strategically speaking, the choices are clear… Two eminent speakers had some blunt advice for the islands’ business communities – don’t rely on others to start planning the strategic enablers for a prosperous future. Oh, and are you paying your staff enough? Richard Digard explains. Are you doing enough to support your island? Yes, you Mr Businessman. How are you ensuring that Guernsey and Jersey continue to have bright prospects and remain places where people want to come to live, work and play? And before you answer, please remember that it’s not enough to say you’re running a successful business. Especially if that’s based on maximising profits and controlling costs. Particularly if that relies on paying the minimum wage. Because if you do, you’re potentially not a great asset to Jersey. Or Guernsey. To explain: it’s not often either Chamber of Commerce invites a speaker along and the guest of honour ticks off his audience. But that’s what Charlie Parker, the then new chief executive of the States of Jersey, did earlier this year when he updated the business community on his first few weeks in office.
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Those comments didn’t make the headlines, however, because he had much more to say on the state of the public sector and how it had to change if Jersey (and, by inference, Guernsey) is to prosper in the years ahead.
The real, long-term solution to the problem, he said, was to make it more attractive financially for island residents to work in island businesses; to make the investments in capital and process improvements that would drive productivity gains needed to offset the additional costs No, they were far more nuanced and considered declining productivity, the widening gulf between the haves and the have nots and the systemic risks facing both islands, not least from Brexit.
‘In an advanced economy,’ Mr Parker said, ‘good employers pay more than the minimum wage and the living wage. And the benefits they offer to their employees are more generous than the statutory minimums. ‘Now, I understand that’s not where everyone is with regard to their business model. I also recognise that paying more can increase the costs of employment. However, if done carefully, it should also drive recruitment and retention, encourage greater productivity and allow for more disposable income to be spent locally in Jersey.’ The real, long-term solution to the problem, he said, was to make it more attractive financially for island residents to work in island businesses; to make the investments in capital and process improvements that would drive the productivity gains needed to offset the additional costs; and to invest, as an island, in the high-value, high-skill sectors that
CO M ME N T
would support the continued growth of the economy. Most of us get this, of course. It is just making it happen that’s the problem. And we’re not sure who’s actually taking the lead in these matters.
Politically, there is a lot of attention on the economy and Guernsey is especially focused on connectivity as it struggles with the adequacy of air and sea transport and its cost. Neither, it has to be said, is Guernsey’s Lieutenant-Governor. Vice Admiral Sir Ian Corder gave a similar high-level address to Mr Parker’s, but to Guernsey’s Institute of Directors. In the course of wide-ranging comments and insights, he said that: ‘Collectively, we must make intellectual space and time for a more rigorous discussion on the future strategic direction of the Bailiwick.’ The ‘we’ was firmly aimed at the business community, in part because politicians and civil servants are in the here and now and struggling with the day-today. So, if prosperity is essentially a business thing, where is the necessary level of skill and ability to be found to stimulate that strategic thinking? As we’ve said before, Guernsey and Jersey are in different places economically, although Standard & Poor’s remains perturbed that GDP in both centres is at best static. Politically, there is a lot of attention on the economy and Guernsey is especially focused on connectivity as it struggles with the adequacy of air and sea transport and its cost. I’d argue that Jersey should be worried too. Alderney’s experiences,
followed by our own and, now, those of Blue Islands, indicates that good connections are a fragile thing. I think it was the airline’s chief commercial officer, Tom Barrasin, who let the cat out of the bag when he referred to Guernsey as being a sub-scale market. In reality, perhaps it always has been. But that didn’t really show until the 2008 recession, when cost became such an issue and travel budgets were slashed. Do the Channel Islands look sub-scale to passenger ferry operators now that Condor is up for sale by the Macquarie investment fund that owns it? Especially since Macquarie has already shed its interests in the shipping services it had to the Isles of Man and Wight? Anyway, the real point here is what sort of future the islands want and how they are going to secure it. Mr Parker was throwing out some pointers but he already has his hands full reforming Jersey’s public sector.
As Sir Ian put it: ‘Guernsey’s future is going to revolve around agile, knowledge-based service delivery and entrepreneurship, most probably in financial services, but maybe elsewhere as well, complemented by high quality niche “destination” or “experience” tourism and perhaps production of specialist goods that are not too vulnerable to high transportation overheads. ‘A concerted push to determine the investments we need now in order to put in place the right strategic enablers, and give ourselves a head start on this, seems to me what is required.’ My reading of what Charlie Parker said to the Jersey Chamber of Commerce is that it was remarkably similar, because they were addressing concerns that are broadly the same. Indeed, I made mention here a few months ago about the fears Specsavers’ co-founder Doug Perkins had about the willingness of deputies to embrace and nurture business, so there’s a very strong, high-level theme to the advice we’re receiving.
Perhaps the most disturbing thing over the last 30 or so years is this. Despite all the political ambitions for these islands, the success that both have won has largely been accidental. Meanwhile, in Guernsey, Sir Ian Corder was basically asking (more diplomatically than this, admittedly) by which course were we headed and what needed to happen to get there.
The sub-text is a bit more troubling: if the islands can’t expect politicians to pick up the heavy lifting of strategic planning and the business community doesn’t accept the challenge, where will that leave Guernsey and Jersey in 10 years’ time? ■
Perhaps the most disturbing thing over the last 30 or so years is this. Despite all the political ambitions for these islands, the success that both have won has largely been accidental. We were in the right place at the right time with a massively fortuitous relationship with the British Crown, which has brought huge good fortune with, comparatively, zero cost.
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ZE DR A
SA NT AN DE R
IN TE RT RU ST
Select.je, linking talent with opportunity
MELISSA MCCONNELL
ESTELLE ARMOUR & STEVEN DUBBERLEY
PETER CHEESLEY
Melissa McConnell has joined Intertrust as a client director.
Estelle Armour and Steven Dubberley have been appointed head of mortgage sales and relationship director at Santander International.
Peter Cheesley has joined Zedra’s senior team as client director.
DE LO IT TE
‘Melissa’s expertise and wealth of knowledge of the industry is a great asset to our ever-growing business. Her ideas and plans will have a positive impact on our team and clients alike.’
Managing director, James Pountney, said:
Managing director, Ashley Cox, said:
‘They are highly accomplished in their areas of expertise and will be instrumental in the business moving forward and the new developments that we intend to deliver in 2018.’
‘Peter’s rich experience and business acumen combined with strong client focus stand him in good stead to drive our firm’s growth ambition including expanding our corporate services offering to new audiences.’
LO G IC AL IS
Head of performance and reward management, Tania Bearryman, said:
Peter has 25 years’ experience in the banking, legal and fiduciary sectors in London and Jersey. His new role will focus on developing key business relationships as well as strengthening the corporate services offering and supporting international clients. His brief also includes developing the fund administration business.
Estelle’s responsibilities include product design and working on mortgage sales stratety and processes. Steven’s include originating new to bank relationships and ensuring excellent client service provision and exemplary corporate governance.
C IC RA
Melissa has 16 years’ experience in offshore trust administration. She will manage a range of client portfolios, providing trustee and administration services to those clients that are required to defer their bonuses.
DAVID O’CARROLL & SARAH SANDIFORD
TIM RINGSDORE
ROY TRAVERT
David O’Caroll and Sarah Sandiford have joined Deloitte’s advisory team.
Tim Ringsdore has been appointed as a director at the Channel Islands Competition and Regulatory Authorities (CICRA).
Logicalis has appointed a new service delivery manager.
David is a senior manager while Sarah is associate director. David has seven years’ experience in advisory and financial services and is a qualified lawyer and chartered accountant. Sarah has more than 17 years’ experience working within compliance functions in Jersey and regulators in both Jersey and the UK. Partner, Andy Isham, said: ‘I am delighted to welcome David and Sarah to Deloitte’s Channel Islands’ advisory team. Their extensive sector experience will greatly benefit our business and support our service to clients.’
Tim is Jersey-born and returns to the island after two years in the British Virgin Islands as managing director of Cable and Wireless in the region. He was previously managing director at JT. Chairman, Michael O’Higgins, said: ‘Tim’s experience in global telecoms, and his intimate knowledge of the Channel Islands, is an excellent addition to our senior team. His career to date means he has a clear understanding of telecoms regulation and the function of regulation in general.’
Roy Travert joined through the Logicalis apprenticeship scheme, which helped him transfer skills gained through a 30 year career looking after customers and their cars into IT services. He is now responsible for communicating with customers and relaying updates to the security team. Security operations manager, Paul Johnson, said: ‘Logicalis welcomes people at many different career stages, from a wide variety of industries. Our apprenticeships give people who have never worked in IT the opportunity to learn the necessary skills.’
Select.je, 2nd Floor, York Chambers, York Street, St Helier, JE2 3RQ
hello@select.je
01534 88 88 66
www.select.je
Let’s get social!
HSBC has appointed Pawel Kusiak as head of financial crime risk transformation across the Channel Islands and Isle of Man.
WENDY INNS, SARAH LOCKER, VICKY MILLS & CORDELIA MILLER Hawksford has made four senior promotions. Within the private client team, Sarah Locker has been appointed as associate director while Wendy Inns and Vicky Mills have been promoted to director. Cordelia Miller, who is responsible for Hawksford’s legal and company secretariat function, has been appointed director.
Pawel said:
CEO, Michel van Leeuwen, said:
‘The islands and the expat communities we serve and operate in are set stringent standards by their financial regulators, and it’s a priority for HSBC that our customers and local communities are protected to the highest level.’
‘These promotions allow us to scale up and continue to deliver industry benchmark levels of client service to ever more clients and jurisdictions.’ Photo l-r: Sarah Locker, Wendy Inns, Vicky Mills, Cordelia Miller
& DU PH F EL F PS
G RE BD EN O LI G HT
Pawel will take on responsibility for ensuring that HSBC implements the changes needed to meet the requirements of financial regulators and enhance its culture toward countering financial crime.
ST A BA NDA NK RD
GREG BARCLAY Standard Bank Wealth International has appointed Greg Barclay as head of international wealth and investment, personal and corporate banking. Greg joined Standard Bank in 1992 and has spent the majority of his career working for the group in his native South Africa. The new role will be based in Jersey. Greg said: ‘Wealth International plays a key role within Standard Bank, serving many of our clients and providing crucial liquidity to the group. The bank has a clear focus: to be a universal financial services organisation, to be totally client-centric and to take full advantage of the digital revolution.’
N F HO UR AM M SIN ILY E G C & AR E
PAWEL KUSIAK
HA W KS FO RD
HS BC
...without the hard sell!
ALEXIS HALLIDAY-SANTOS
MALIN NILSSON
BRONWEN WHITTAKER
BDO Greenlight has appointed Alexis HallidaySantos as a consultant to work on operational improvement focused change projects.
Duff & Phelps has announced the promotion of Malin Nilsson to managing director.
Bronwen Whittaker is the new chief executive of Family Nursing & Home Care (FNHC).
Malin will now oversee the future direction of the firm in the Channel Islands. Since joining in 2007 she has focused on advising clients on regulatory matters.
Bronwen joins the charity from the States of Jersey’s Health and Social Service Department where she was deputy director of system redesign for the island’s community and primary care pathways.
Alexis has more than 10 years’ experience in human resources and managing change in the public sector, most recently within the States of Jersey Health and Social Services Department. Director, Allam Zia, said:
Global head of regulatory consulting, Monique Melis, said:
‘We are delighted to be able to bring Alexis’s varied skillset and experience to BDO Greenlight and our clients. She has a clear passion for delivering improved processes for customers and I have no doubt that our growing client base will appreciate her ability to deliver benefits quickly and effectively.’
‘Duff & Phelps’ dedication to growth is underpinned by investment in people and development, and Malin leading our efforts locally as a managing director emphasises our focus on being the leading compliance and regulatory advisor to our clients in the Channel Islands.’
Bronwen said: ‘With my background in nursing, I can utilise my skills and knowledge to further develop the services on offer at FNHC, improve the organisation’s fundraising capabilities and prioritise providing islanders with the highest level of care.’
PERMANENT | TEMPORARY | EXECUTIVE | TRAINING | ASSESSING | SELECTING
YOU N G BUSINE SS G ROU P
Making connections in Guernsey
IN THE DIGITAL AGE
The Young Business Group (YBG) is all about making connections. President Dene Reardon says that in the current and evolving digital environment, the importance of these connections remains as important today as when the group was formed nearly 60 years ago. Networking means many different things to different people. An opportunity to meet potential clients, colleagues, employees, employers, mentors and even new friends or acquaintances. In this digital age, creating opportunities for its members to develop the skills for making connections and providing an environment for fostering long lasting connections is what the YBG aims to achieve for its members. I have been a member of the YBG for six years and on its council as a volunteer in various roles for five years before becoming president for 2018. Initially I was introduced to the organisation by a friend, commercial manager at ITV, Gillian Mabbett, when she was taking over the presidency in that year. In my role as audit director at BDO, it is easy to let the numbers take over and this was an opportunity to get connected. The first event I attended was the launch of the Bill Green Award for Entrepreneurship.
I was initially slightly apprehensive, as with any new large group of people, and I was also looking forward to finding out what the YBG is all about. After being handed a cocktail on arrival, I received a warm welcome from the membership secretary and was introduced to a small group of friendly looking people for starters. This was the first of many events and, having benefitted personally and professionally from membership, I joined the volunteer council to help continue to make those connections and grow our membership. We frequently read in the media about young people and their attachment to their smart phones and their perceived reluctance to communicate face to face. Email communication has developed from being revolutionary in business communication to an over-reliance on its use for avoiding leaving our desks and having face to face meetings or discussions. Whilst digital technology changes the way we do business and run our lives, we will never get away from needing connections with each other. Different stages in our careers, businesses or personal lives need different connections and having developed those relationships, it means that they will be available at the right time.
Once connected, social media platforms come into their own, as members can connect online, provide recommendations or testimonials and demonstrate their growing network. Having 500 connections on a professional platform, however, does not necessarily mean that a person is converting these connections into meaningful associations. Being connected requires the skills to foster those connections and make them long lasting, which is where the benefit in a networking organisation lies. There are easily millions of articles, courses, webinars and various platforms that provide training or advice on how to build a network. As with any new skill, the key to development is experience and the monthly events held by the YBG are designed to provide a welcoming open environment that encourages individuals to find their way in making these connections. The next event of the YBG is a networking drinks event at Christies where we will be holding a networking clinic. Non-members are welcome for a taster session and can contact Sarah Allisette on social@ybg.gg to register. Our membership secretary, Nicki Harrisson from Travel Counsellors, is available on membership@ybg.gg to assist with any membership enquiries and for more information about events please refer to our website www.ybg.gg â–
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collascrill.com
WE ARE
TROUBLEMAKERS Every now and then it’s important to see the world from a fresh perspective, be willing to break the mould and make the bold moves first. We take the time to get to know you, your situation and what matters to you most - because anyone can give you an answer, but we’ll put our reputation on the line to find the answer that’s right for you.
To find out how a fresh perspective can help your business visit collascrill.com BVI // Cayman // Guernsey // Jersey // London // Singapore
G U FI ER NA N NC SEY E
O I
C O LL AS C RI LL
GUER N SEY P EOPL E
KATE STANFIELD
CHRIS ATKINSON
ADRIAN NORMAN
Collas Crill has appointed Kate Stanfield as the new group head of knowledge management.
Creative and digital agency Oi has announced that Chris Atkinson will be its executive team development consultant.
Adrian Norman is Guernsey Finance’s new London representative.
‘Chris helped each team build trust, crystallise growth opportunities, achieve goal clarity, create a culture of accountability and implement the disciplines of great execution that deliver results. We are very excited to have Chris on board and working closely with Oi’s executive team, focusing on the agency’s next stage of growth.’
Adrian will have a remit to further promote awareness of the island’s finance offering, to educate about Guernsey’s financial services and to connect London professionals with Guernsey practitioners. Chief executive, Dominic Wheatley, said: ‘Adrian’s roots are in Guernsey’s finance industry and his passion for his home island will make him a great addition to our team. Our longer-term future is founded upon our uniquely symbiotic relationship with the City as a major capital provider and a conduit to other economies.’
SU RE
BA BB É
LL P
‘In a constantly changing and evolving global legal market, knowledge management is more important than ever to improving efficiency and ensuring that our firm continues to deliver first class service to clients as well as meeting our objectives and strategic goals.’
Oi’s chief executive officer, Peter Grange, said:
AM RO
Group managing partner, Jason Romer, said:
Chris was a vice president at Microsoft for over 20 years where he focused on developing executive teams and coaching business leaders.
AB N
Kate will be responsible for further developing knowledge systems to support the firm’s business strategy across their seven offices. She has 27 years of experience working in a knowledge role within law firms.
MATTHEW HARRISON
TONY ABREU & EMMA BOUGOURD
JAN COLLINS
Babbé has appointed Matthew Harrison as associate in its trust and pensions practice.
ABN AMRO Channel Islands has announced the appointment of two new investment managers, Tony Abreu and Emma Bougourd.
Sure has promoted Jan Collins to head of enterprise products.
Tony has 25 years’ industry experience and is a Chartered Member of The Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI). Emma has worked in the industry for 13 years and is a Chartered Fellow of CISI.
It is a new role that has been created as a result of the increased variety and quantity of telecoms services that are available to businesses. Jan will manage a team that provides solutions from office phone systems to cloud storage and hosting.
Babbé managing partner, Andrew Laws, said:
Managing director, Graham Thoume, said:
Sure’s chief marketing officer, Alistair Beak, said:
‘Matthew is an established trusts and pensions lawyer with a wide range of expertise in the UK and offshore pensions world, evidenced not only by his extensive experience but also by his legal authorship.’
‘Tony and Emma are excellent additions to ABN AMRO. Combined, they bring a wealth of experience, strong analytical skills and understanding of the markets. Their expert knowledge will support our clients and ongoing business development.’
‘Jan has a lot of experience in the technical industry and more specifically the enterprise sector. His strong relationships with clients and technical knowledge make him the perfect candidate to head up this suite of products and solutions.’
Matthew has more than 12 years’ experience providing advisory services to trustees, tax advisers, law firms and their clients and has developed particular expertise in the law relating to UK, offshore and international pension schemes as well as private and commercial trusts.
BU TT TR ERF US IE T LD
LI VI NG RO O M
AM ST J BU OH LA N’ NC S E
G UE RN SEY P EOP LE
ALI MARQUIS
VIKKI BENNETT
DANIEL BISSON
Ali Marquis has been named as the new chief officer for the St John Ambulance & Rescue Service.
Livingroom has appointed Vikki Bennett as lettings manager.
Butterfield Trust has announced the appointment of Daniel Bisson as vice president, wealth structuring.
Vikki is rejoining the local estate agency, having previously set up their lettings department in 2012 and then working in the sales team before taking a career break.
Daniel brings with him more than a decade of senior-level experience in the wealth management sector. In his new role he will focus particularly on business development in the Americas. He joins Butterfield from RBC Wealth Management.
G EL UE EC R TR NSE IC Y IT Y
‘I am delighted and humbled, this is a great responsibility and an amazing opportunity. I am looking forward to serving the community and working with the committed and dedicated women and men of the service as we develop our range of pre-hospital care.’
‘Vikki brings a wealth of experience of the local and open markets to the lettings team and her island knowledge is encyclopaedic. Her enthusiasm, vision, financial services background and negotiating skills are all essential to the smooth operation of the lettings team and the whole team would like to welcome her back.’
Daniel said: ‘Having worked in a number of offshore jurisdictions, including Bermuda and Jersey, I’m looking forward to working with Butterfield’s highly regarded fiduciary specialists and helping to enhance the group’s profile across the world and assist with its continued growth.’
B C EDE RI L ST L IN
Ali said:
Livingroom managing director, Simon Torode, said:
IP ES
Ali is the first female chief ambulance officer in Guernsey and was formerly the deputy chief officer. She joined the ambulance service in 2006 following a successful career as a civil servant and human resource professional.
KENRICK BROOKS
MARK SYMONS
SHUVRA DEB
Guernsey Electricity has appointed Kenrick Brooks to a newly created role of head of sales and relationships.
Mark Symons has joined Ipes as a senior manager.
Shuvra Deb has joined Bedell Cristin’s growing litigation team as a senior associate.
Kenrick will take responsibility for the retail shop along with building and maintaining relationships with customers, improving the overall customer experience within energy sales, increasing product awareness and promoting Guernsey Electricity. Kenrick said: ‘It is an exciting time to join the company as the energy market is rapidly evolving and providing customers with the experience they expect will be central to our ongoing success.’
Mark will focus on leading and managing a number of key client relationships across the Ipes group. He will also be responsible for the new business team. Mark previously worked at Kleinworth Benson as head of client management in fund administration, head of custodian trustee and most recently head of private wealth management. Ipes CEO, Chris Merry, said: ‘Mark brings a wealth of experience and knowledge from his time with Kleinworth Benson and he will be a great asset to our team.’
A qualified BVI barrister, Shuvra has experience in a broad range of offshore litigation including commercial, corporate and trust disputes, with a particular interest in cross-border insolvency including all aspects of asset-tracing and recovery. Partner, Alasdair Davidson, said: ‘Shuvra is an excellent addition to our expanding Guernsey litigation practice. She brings with her a breadth of multijurisdictional experience, which complements the skills of the existing team at a time of increased demand in cross-border work.’
DI G I TAL & T E L ECO MS
TURNING THE PAGE ON GDPR
GDPR has been seen by many as a burden, but Jason Connolly, director of Next Generation IT, says the smart company can see advantages from handling information well.
GDPR has generated some positives for business, one of which is bringing into focus the value and importance of data. This focus has brought about the decision by many companies to invest in the protection and management of this most valuable asset. Having control over the information you manage and the platforms you store the data on will, if done correctly, bring about positive change in your business. Some businesses have begun to employ people in roles that relate, positions such as data protection officers, information officers and digital officers. Regaining this control and creating a value for money balance of internal accountability and external support has become the smart choice.
The recognition of the risks and the intelligence to adapt and look for the opportunities is what set apart the companies that will continue to gain from the changes. During the two years preceding GDPR, a lot of the focus was given to the potential fines. The smart businesses saw through these scare tactics and quickly began to concentrate their efforts on more productive thinking. The potential impacts of fines, direct compensation claims and, more importantly, the potential for reputational damage were understood by most businesses very early on, but companies that used these risks as levers
to gain funding and invoke change were the ones who quickly moved forward. The recognition of the risks and the intelligence to adapt and look for the opportunities is what set apart the companies that will continue to gain from the changes. If you haven’t recognised the opportunities then don’t worry, it isn’t too late. Here are some tips to get the ball rolling: • Gain control – Remember when IT was a black box in the corner, something you needed, like car insurance, but were too afraid to start unravelling the detail and small print. If you have been smart, you will have removed this knowledge barrier by strengthening your agreements with providers, potentially employing an information or digital subject matter expert on the company side of the fence and most importantly bringing the topic into clear focus at a board and management level. • Building trust – Some companies have used GDPR as a differentiator for their business. GDPR is all about the rights of the individual and committing your focus in a customer-centric way rather than just a transactional way. Moreover, advertising your transparent approach to data management helps your customers make informed decisions about your company. • Alignment – GDPR doesn’t just impact one part of the business or, as some people may have thought, just those in IT and compliance, it impacts the entire business. The smart businesses used
this as an opportunity to build bridges and stronger working relationships between their internal teams. For some, the alignment opportunity extended beyond just the internal, through to their external partners and providers. • Re-engage – For many, GDPR required the updating of T&Cs, legal agreements or the need to seek the consent of data subjects. This obviously led to businesses contacting the people who use their services. The smart businesses used this opportunity to engage with customers in a positive way and the more successful strengthened their relationships with customers. • Value for money – Getting value for money out of GDPR may have come as a surprise, but increasing efficiency, increasing quality, reducing service failures, increasing positive customer engagement and lowering data storage costs through data minimisation are just a few examples of how this can be achieved. The need to remain focused on compliance, even if you believe you have achieved it already, should continue. There will be plenty of precedents emerging and keeping an eye on this evolving subject is just as important as the race to get ready. Oh, and in case you haven’t heard, the new ePrivacy Regulation is on its way, so now is probably not the time for the smart business to rest on its laurels. ■
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Logicalis Hybrid Cloud, One Simple Solution You focus on your business, we’ll deliver the IT.
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Hybrid Cloud is the dominant IT model for consuming IT - delivering choice, efficiency, flexibility and control. Our Hybrid Cloud solutions provide your IT as a service in one simple solution letting you focus on your business. 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.
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Call +44 (0) 1481 737 000
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DI G I TAL & T E L ECO MS
PASSWORD PROTECTED
Tom Bale, business development and technical director at Logicalis, explains why changing your password regularly is not necessarily part of good cyber hygiene.
Brushing your teeth, having a shower and combing your hair are all basic hygiene activities which most of us do every day without thinking. Using a strong password, configuring devices correctly, and not clicking crazy links, are the cyber equivalents – the cyber essentials that keep us safe in our day-to-day online activities. Cyber hygiene covers personal behaviour – what we do as individuals that puts us at greater risk of cybercrime, or that helps keep us out of reach of cyber criminals. While failing to observe basic personal hygiene might upset the people around you, failing to follow cyber essentials could have more serious repercussions. Identity theft, raids on your bank account, loss of personal data, and emails being sent in your name to your contacts are all potential downsides that can happen if you let cyber criminals in. If this happens in the workplace, the consequences can be even more extensive – leading to compromised systems, data breaches, financial losses, and reputational damage. As the everyday cyber habits of staff can have such a large effect on the organisations they work with, cyber hygiene is an important part of cyber security. Passwords are an area where individual behaviour can affect a whole organisation. Good cyber hygiene is driving the use of strong passwords. However, while most cyber security policies recommend using unique, strong passwords that are hard for hackers to break, the frequency you need to change them is up for debate.
Most administrators force users to change their passwords regularly, e.g. every 30, 60 or 90 days. This imposes burdens on the user, who may use new passwords that are only minor variations of the old one. As hackers would generally use stolen passwords straight away, changing your password at set intervals has limited benefits. While it’s obvious you should change your password if there is any evidence of a security breach, changing passwords too frequently makes it harder to remember them, which makes it more likely people will reuse passwords for multiple accounts. GCHQ, the UK Government Communication Headquarters, recommends people do not regularly change passwords, but instead create strong, well thought out passwords. It is also vital to remember passwords are only one line of defence and you should also use multi-factor or two-factor authentication when logging in to anything remotely or online. Simplifying procedures to make them more user friendly makes it more likely people will adopt good practice, and make it part of everyday cyber hygiene. To help users cope with ‘password overload’, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) suggests only making people use passwords when absolutely necessary, allowing users to securely record their passwords and using technical solutions, such as two-factor authentication, to reduce the burden on users. The NCSC also recommends only asking users to change their passwords if you suspect they
have been compromised, and allowing them to reset them quickly and easily. Monitoring logins to detect unusual use also helps shift the burden of protection from users to administrators, making it easier for an organisation to control. If users are notified with details of all logins with their account, they can then report any they are not responsible for. Organisations can set systems to blacklist weak password choices, to prevent users selecting easy-to-guess passwords, such as ‘password’, and lock accounts after a set number of failed login attempts to reduce the risk of brute force attacks to gain a password. A lot of cyber-attacks are unsophisticated – they just rely on us failing to follow basic security procedures such as installing anti-virus software and using firewalls to secure your internet connection, or installing software updates and patches. Hackers can easily exploit information we put out about ourselves on social media by crafting phishing emails we’re more likely to open and act on, or using the information to guess passwords. When most of us are connected to the internet 24/7 through our smart phones, and the internet is the interface between us and our bank accounts, government services, and so many aspects of our lives, good cyber hygiene should be part of everyone’s routine. ■
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D IGITAL & T E L ECOM S
LEGO, PI & PARTNERSHIP… BUILDING DIGITAL FUTURES
Lucy Witham, head of digital at Economic Development, explains why the work being done at the States of Guernsey’s Digital Greenhouse is so important for the future of the island.
“The most dangerous phrase in language is ‘we have always done it this way’” Rear Admiral Grace Hopper What happens when you mix innovation, award winning tech companies, highquality digital products, energetic young people and a good serving of Lego together, throw into the blend a series of public/private hackathons, real hands-on digital internships, business development groups, FinTech/UX/Developer meets and of course a healthy serving of pizza? Welcome to the start of 2018 for the Digital Greenhouse. The beginning of 2018 has been an exciting, challenging and fast-paced start for the project and has marked successful agreement to continue to 2021. Opened in January 2016, the project was established by the then Commerce & Employment Department, to act as a focal point for diversifying the economy, particularly through the growth of the digital and creative sectors. There are few who would challenge the now commonly accepted prediction that the growth and speed of change enacted by technology on our lives is resulting in a paradigm shift in our employment landscape and economy for all future generations. We have all heard the claims that our current seven year olds will have 15 different jobs in their lifetime, a world away from their grandparents’ employment expectations. But how do we address these challenges? How do we not only prepare young people
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for this fundamental shift in employment, but also look at building knowledge sharing for those already in work? Shifting cultures, digitally upskilling at all levels within the business and switching people on to grow a much-needed interest in technology and innovation is not a simple task. Neither is it easy to measure! The digital economy spans an evergrowing number of sectors. In particular, Guernsey’s digital economy focuses on IT services, software engineers and developers, cyber security, digital creatives, artificial intelligence and automation, web developers, UX/CX professionals, data analytics and telecoms. However, we know that no sector will remain untouched by this fast growth of digitalisation and therefore, given the importance of digital careers for the island, it is pertinent that we raise the profile of the skills needed to harness future opportunities. At the Digital Greenhouse, we are working to make real the broad and ambitious targets of the States of Guernsey’s digital strategy; assisting the development of a pool of skilled individuals, a network to support innovation around the growth of the digital channel and to facilitate a knowledge sharing environment to lift the aspirations and activity of business locally. The focus on ensuring the pipeline of digital ‘talent’ is grown on-island to feed a ‘digital community’ is essential for the growth of our economy and we are steered by the active Digital Guernsey industry panel. However, we know that in order to reach these ambitions and meet business needs,
that developing Guernsey’s digital economy cannot be done alone. 2018 marks further development of working alongside industry to enrich opportunities for both businesses and the wider community. As we move through 2018, partnerships of purpose with a range of local and offisland businesses will continue to feed the ecosystem being developed on Guernsey.
It is this ecosystem through which we look to provide experiences for people that not only develop their skills in current platforms, languages and digital tools, but also to grow our future innovators. Through hands-on learning alongside our industry partners, we wish to develop a workforce to not only feed the island’s current employment pool, but to shape its future by harnessing skills that will diversify and move our economy forward. Our purpose is to develop opportunities to grow awareness, passion and skills in digital technologies in a fun and engaging way, assisting in diversifying the island economy. Please come and find out more at digitalgreenhouse.gg and work together with us to create our digital future. #digiskillsgsy ■
DI G I TAL & T E L ECO MS
DRIVING DIGITAL
Tony Moretta, CEO of Digital Jersey, explains the value of the digital sector to the island’s economy.
A thriving digital sector in Jersey is no longer just a possibility, it’s a reality. We have made significant progress, particularly in the last year. This is manifesting itself in employment, the number of businesses and the levels of interest in what we are doing here in Jersey, both on and off island.
and approved. These licences will in turn provide for a further 35 local jobs. At present Jersey suffers because once our digital companies get to around 20 employees, they either expand abroad or relocate, so it’s essential we ensure our growing businesses get the skilled workforce they need.
If we compare the first quarter of 2017 with the first three months of this year, at Digital Jersey we’ve seen the number of corporate members almost double to 29, individual members are up to 323 and we’ve gained over a third more small businesses.
In the first quarter of this year alone, four companies have been approved to relocate here and set up a digital business. We’ve also got a further six in the applications pipeline.
Meanwhile we‘ve got 24 desks rented in the Hub, compared to just nine this time last year, as entrepreneurs run their start-ups and small businesses in our co-operative space. The value of this networking is huge, we are constantly seeing individuals meet and collaborate on projects, new ideas being born and businesses growing. Our work permission licences are also doing well. We started a pilot scheme in July 2016 and by the end of 2017 had endorsed 61 non-resident working permissions with an average salary of £54,000 per annum. Those 61 non-resident roles are expected to lead to a further 121 local jobs as the businesses, and ultimately the island, benefit from bringing in highly skilled staff who are not only paying their taxes here, but are transferring their skills and enabling the businesses to grow. In the first quarter of 2018 we already have 17 licence permissions endorsed
We have launched a digital Startup scheme to bring innovative new businesses to Jersey. While we work hard to encourage on-island entrepreneurs – and this scheme includes them as well - there is a need to replenish and re-invigorate our skills pool. We lose some of our home-grown talent abroad and so we need innovative companies who can come to the island and become employers and tax payers. In the first quarter of this year alone, four companies have been approved to relocate here and set up a digital business. We’ve also got a further six in the applications pipeline. The start-up scheme isn’t a back door into Jersey, this is for genuine start-ups that can make a positive difference to our island.
proposition. Already we’ve had a lot of interest for this one-stop-shop. Jersey is the perfect self-contained environment to develop products and services in a safe, controlled, secure and smart way. We have gigabit fibre to all premises, near autonomous control of our infrastructure as well as a wealth of professional services. Once tested, companies can upscale globally and meanwhile we have benefitted in a whole host of ways. All of this has been achieved by working with our fellow agencies, Jersey Finance, Jersey Financial Services Commission, Jersey Business and Locate Jersey. It’s also possible because of the funding from our government and the recognition that we need to diversify our economy. All these achievements are significant, especially for the individuals who are creating these businesses and those they are employing, but we also recognise there’s still a lot to do. This year we are continuing to work on breaking down barriers for businesses, we are partnering with education and Skills Jersey to improve digital learning and we are pushing ahead with an off-island campaign to showcase Sandbox Jersey. There is still room for improvement, but our digital industry is growing and it’s working for the island. ■
This year we are launching Sandbox Jersey – the world’s first whole-island technology testing and development
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D IGITAL & T E L ECOM S
THE FUTURE OF WORK AND THE ROLE OF THE DIGITAL LEADER
Justin Bellinger, chair of the GTA University digital skills advisory group, discusses the imminent impact of the fourth industrial revolution on Guernsey and the importance of digital leadership.
As a society we are on the verge of the greatest and fastest technological revolution that humanity has ever witnessed. Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Robotic Process Automation are all technologies that are poised to transform the way that we work and live. At first robots seemed to be most disruptive in the manufacturing sector: welding our car chassis, canning our baked beans and weaving our linens. Now the machines are coming for our jobs; white collar jobs, the jobs that we perform best here in Guernsey on a global stage… Let’s take a look back in history to help guide us through this journey; the first Fortune 500 list of companies was published in the USA in 1955, in 2017 only 60 of the original 500 exist, the other 88% have either gone out of business, been acquired or simply have become niche businesses.
Apple and Google are arguably the world’s largest software vendors and, guess what, they produce hardly any software at all. Today we are in a period of increasing and accelerating disruptive change, it has never been easier to bring a new concept or technology to a global market. Nothing illustrates this better than taking a look at some or the world’s largest businesses: Uber, the world’s largest taxi company, owns no taxis; Airbnb, the world’s largest accommodation provider, does not own any property. Skype, the world’s largest
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telecommunications provider, owns no fixed communications infrastructure. Apple and Google are arguably the world’s largest software vendors and, guess what, they produce hardly any software at all.
through this transformation process, through new skills, new opportunities and the potential liberation from mundane tasks to concentrate on more creative and cerebral functions.
It is our responsibility as leaders in our organisations to understand how to guide staff, our greatest asset, through this transformation process, through new skills, new opportunities and the potential liberation from mundane tasks to concentrate on more creative and cerebral functions. This level of disruption is coming to all business sectors, we are on the verge of the fourth industrial revolution, where increasingly, machines will take the burden of everyday administrative tasks. Robotic Process Automation can be taught to complete administrative tasks and Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence are already seamlessly replacing many functions previously completed by analysts and support staff - not to mention the automation of customer interactions through chatbots and predictive analysis through business intelligence bots. Here in Guernsey, we are not immune to this disruption, it is essential that boards are prepared for the transformative impact that technology will bring to organisations; like it or not, strategies need to be implemented that help guide our business through this revolution, strategies that allow our staff and businesses to survive and thrive through this period of rapid change. It is our responsibility as leaders in our organisations to understand how to guide staff, our greatest asset,
Understanding the potential of digital transformation gives us greater business insights which can inform and improve our customer journeys, creating increased loyalty, affiliation and personalised customer service. Understanding the impact of disruptive technology by working through a digital transformation programme, not only allows us to understand where to focus our investments – not just in the IT sphere on new flashing lights and systems but on business outcomes – truly leveraging systems to work for us. We are pleased to announce that the GTA digital skills advisory group, along with the States of Guernsey, are in the latter stages of developing a unique and innovative development programme to increase awareness and knowledge of digital skills for senior managers, directors, and C-suite executives. We are working closely with the IoD Guernsey branch to ensure that the programme is relevant to local leaders. For more information please contact kate.sole@gta.gg ■
DI G I TAL & T E L ECO MS
Making sense of money
Liz Taylor-Kerr explains how she hopes her new website will help families instil good financial habits in future generations.
Money. It can bring freedom, choice and opportunity but can also instil fear and ultimately destroy lives. It’s a universal language without many fluent speakers, most learning through the school of ‘hard knocks’ rather than formal education. Financial literacy is an issue that affects every one of us, daily. It has implications for economic health for our families and the broader community, and yet isn’t prioritised at school or home, illustrated by only 38% of Brits knowing what inflation is. The world of money and investing is shifting – longer lifespans and the changing landscape of pensions mean investors shoulder more financial decisions. The overwhelming information and increasingly complex options available as well as low bank interest rates force people into decisions they are not comfortable making. The mainstream acceptance of bitcoin, blockchain and crowdfunding only add to the confusion.
How can you explain compound interest or inflation to your children when you’ve never been shown yourself? Children naturally look to their parents for answers to their questions but very few people talk about money with their children, often because they are not confident about the subject themselves. Opportunities present themselves every day – at the bank, the shops, the petrol station, and yet we don’t take
them. How can you explain compound interest or inflation to your children when you’ve never been shown yourself? The good news in Guernsey is that financial literacy is being introduced into the school curriculum, helping shape the financial future of the next generation. The bad news? This is no guarantee of improvement. Canada has a comprehensive financial literacy program as well as one of the world’s largest debt problems with adults owing $1.68 on average for every $1 they earn. In Australia, where financial literacy has been compulsory for years, 54% of adults have only the most basic understanding of the subject and a mere 28% understand inflation. Learning about money is not easy, but once mastered it can ease life’s burdens tremendously. Budgeting, setting future financial goals, buying a home and saving for retirement are essential skills. Just think what a gift it would be for your children to leave school with a solid knowledge of money and investing. What if you were given help to know what to talk about with your children and shown exactly what inflation was and why money in the bank is risky. If you could show children a
video about what the stock market is and why you should buy stocks when others were selling and sell when others were buying. If the children were incentivised to do ‘money’ activities and games by being rewarded with tangible objects. From September this will be available to you. The newly formed Talking Cents will help guide you through the minefield of financial literacy, a subject we are extremely passionate about. We will include free sessions for parents and a monthly membership to help families have open discussions on the subject. We are also speaking to the States to see if we can assist schools with the new curriculum being introduced this year. In the meantime what can you do at home to teach your children about money? Keep it simple. Take advantage of everyday opportunities to talk about money, with children as young as three. Talk about what money is, its value and the importance of saving. Be a good role model. Watch what you buy, set a family budget, donate to charity etc. Talk. You don’t have to discuss all the details, but openly talk about money. If you are interested in finding out more and want to join the waiting list, email contact@ talkingcentshub.com. Founding members will get great family lifetime discounts giving you one way to invest in your children’s future that will make a real difference. ■
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D IGITAL & T E L ECOM S
WHY USE A WEB PORTAL?
David Collings, managing director of Vega Solutions, explains how using a client web portal has the capability to increase your efficiency, improve customer service and help with your GDPR compliance.
Vega Solutions has been developing secure web portals and internet banking systems for financial services businesses in the Channel Islands and City of London for over 20 years. Our secure development platform and experience have benefitted businesses in wealth management, asset management, banking and pensions. In common with most other industries, we are seeing an increased desire for private clients to interact with their advisors online. Clients want access to up to date information wherever they are and whenever they request it. This need for information on the go is only going to increase as wealth passes to the next generations of wealthy families who will increasingly run their lives using technology. In our experience, wealth managers who currently communicate with their clients electronically are using email. Whilst email is convenient, we know it is not secure. The proliferation of cyber-crime is creating a real problem for email outside the organisation’s protective boundaries. Coupled with this, we have the introduction of the EU GDPR which is placing greater importance on securing personal data. This is difficult, if not impossible, with conventional email technology. Technology aware private clients know these email shortcomings and are filling the void with secure communication technologies like WhatsApp. Whilst convenient, this is a challenge for the
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wealth manager in being able to track and audit communications that happen outside of approved business channels. The solution is to deploy a web portal that creates a secure communications channel between client and advisor across multiple platforms. Businesses that adopt portals have a clear advantage over their competitors. Not only will they be offering an improved service to their clients, but they will also see real benefits for their back-office team.
By providing a richer, more interactive client experience an effective portal like Vega’s Sirius Portal can help attract and retain clients. Clients can communicate securely with their wealth manager or administrator using either free format messages or tailored forms that allow the client to provide the right information in the format that you need it. The portal can also be used to display current information about a client’s portfolio such as account balances, market values or latest valuations and reports. By keeping the data within the portal system ‘data leaks’ can be avoided.
It is also possible for the portal to kick off workflows and business processes so that you can increase your rates of straight-through-processing. This enables you to create the capacity to grow without employing more staff - vital in markets like the Channel Islands where skills are scarce. Providing information online through a portal reduces the number of client queries, freeing up your client facing staff to do more value-added work. It is also possible for the portal to kick off workflows and business processes so that you can increase your rates of straight-through-processing. This enables you to create the capacity to grow without employing more staff - vital in markets like the Channel Islands where skills are scarce.
Portals like Sirius can also integrate with one or more systems such as an administration system or a document management system. This integration can be used to initiate back-office administration workflows, reducing the need for manual processing or re-keying data. Vega Solutions is based in Berkshire but has very close links to the Channel Islands and is proud to be a member of the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce. We understand local businesses and can bring technology professionals with wider experience to solve problems with data and compliance. ■
D IGITAL & T E L ECOM S
PRIVACY MATTERS
Steve Desmond, business advisory director, BDO Limited, explains the scandal surrounding Facebook and Cambridge Analytica, and sets out how you can protect yourself and your data.
The 25 May 2018 implementation date of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is fast approaching . When I sat down to write an article that combined a digital theme and GDPR, I wondered where to start, and then along came Facebook and Cambridge Analytica. Thank you Mark Zuckerberg. It’s not been a good few weeks for the Facebook founder. At the time of writing, regulators are investigating the misuse of some 50 million Facebook users’ personal data. Private sector organisations are not currently required to report data breaches. GDPR will change this. The impact on Facebook’s currently plummeting shareholder value along with the reputational damage and the potential fine penalty for the breach, combine to form strong reminders of the vital importance of sound data management.
So what happened to Facebook? Cambridge Analytica had personality profiles on millions of Facebook users, using psychological profiles for a ‘big data’ approach to campaigning in the 2016 US Presidential elections. Cambridge Analytica obtained this data via an app that was developed by a researcher from Cambridge University called Aleksandr Kogan. Users signed in using their Facebook accounts to access a personality quiz. The app collected data from around 270,000 user profiles, such as name, location, age, gender, and their page likes. However, it also collected
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the same data from their friends, whose security settings allowed sharing their data through apps without any consent whatsoever, hence the grand scale. Now the terms and conditions of the app (bearing in mind the small subset who used it), apparently granted the right to use the data in broad scope, including selling and licensing the data. Facebook, however, understood the data was only to be used for academic research. This changed in 2013 when Kogan was approached by a UK affiliate of Cambridge Analytica, going onto change the app terms from ‘research’ to ‘commercial’ in 2014. Facebook is being accused of not policing who has access to users’ data. So next time the ‘accept’ button displays, this is a good reminder to read the terms. Carrying out a privacy check on your Facebook settings will confirm what information is being shared with friends or third parties. Also consider why an app allows you to log on using your Facebook or Google password. Change your password and use different ones for different apps. Facebook is not alone. The information Google holds on users is available to access through: https://takeout. google.com and a similar download app is available from Facebook. The story reminds us that if the service is free, then you may well become the product on offer. Data is valuable; it drives the targeted adverts we see when we
browse. Technology will evolve beyond the fitness and health apps that measure our sleep and exercise patterns and the location apps that track our movements. In the future, when ‘The Internet of Things’ is promised to integrate with household appliances, such as the fridge, even greater levels of visibility about our preferences and habits will be there. Whether it’s morally wrong for websites to know that you like a certain wine or the date of your wife’s birthday may be unimportant. This is how they fund the free service to you and me, with companies willing to pay for their adverts to appear on your device when you check social media. What is wrong is when users are deceived into sharing data they otherwise would not have shared, when users’ data is harvested, or used for a purpose other than that which we intended. Targeted advertising is one thing; attempting to influence unfairly is another. The acts of Facebook and Cambridge Analytica could not have been better timed to demonstrate the reason why GDPR has been implemented with its premise to hand control back to the user. It’s where the ownership of data is restored back to the individual. At BDO we are supporting our clients up to 25 May and beyond through readiness checks, impact assessments, breach response plans as well as on the overall governance of information. ■
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D IGITAL & T E L ECOM S
MAKING YOUR NETWORKS WORK FOR YOU
Vince de la Mare, head of sales at Sure International in Guernsey, explains how the team helps organisations of all sizes make the most of their communication networks.
As an inter-disciplinary team of technology experts, Sure’s professional services team works closely with our clients to firstly design and then implement the advanced communications services that keep island businesses working 24/7. From network design to security consultancy, from hosting solutions to CPE recommendations, the team enables organisations to function efficiently and effectively by giving them the tools they need to compete and grow, locally and internationally. Their knowledge, expertise and dedication to customer service are just a few of the reasons that Sure is the only company in the Channel Islands to have been awarded Mitel Silver Partner status.
Your consulting architects and engineers Perhaps the best analogy for the team’s work is to liken your company’s global IT solution to the process of building a house. Our consultants are the “architects” who create and modify the designs for building your home and their first step is always to liaise with you, the owner, to understand what they expect from the finished product. Along with a network audit, these initial conversations are the most important aspect of our role because they set out the parameters for the work. Once they’ve understood your requirements, they then head to the drawing board to translate them into a solution by scoping out the project and drawing up plans.
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Once the plans are agreed and finalised, the team’s role transforms from architect to the engineering consultant who provides advice and direction to our delivery engineers. Our professional services team not only ensures that the designs achieve all they are meant to but they also get to grips with any challenges that the project may encounter.
It is by combining the wide range of skills and knowledge at the team’s disposal that they’re able to deliver the highest quality communication and information systems to organisations across the Channel Islands and Isle of Man. When there are issues that need to be addressed (these can be anything from trying to ensure that a Wi-Fi network works effectively in all corners of a large granite building, all the way up to ensuring the security and operation of global networks with thousands of users located throughout the world), we come into our own.
Expertise and innovation Our team is comprised of consultant and engineering experts with knowledge and skills across a range of fields including voice, data, wireless and wired LAN’s, security, internet and global connectivity. If the solution includes Sure’s cloud services, then they work alongside our
cloud services team throughout the design and implementation phases to create the solutions that our clients need. Once the system design has been accepted the team works alongside Sure’s engineering team to install and implement the solution, oversee the testing programme and operate as the first port of call in the event of unexpected anomalies, before handing over to Sure’s managed services team who assume operational responsibility for the system. Every project our professional services team undertakes is different, a fact that’s reflected in the team’s knowledge and skills base. It is by combining the wide range of skills and knowledge at the team’s disposal that they’re able to deliver the highest quality communication and information systems to organisations across the Channel Islands and Isle of Man. The most efficient way to ensure you’re getting the most from your communications network is for our professional services team to undertake an audit of your systems and networks. The results of the survey can lead to a transformation in the effectiveness of your firm’s communications, so please get in touch to arrange a consultation. ■
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ADVERTIS IN G FE ATU R E
APOCALYPSE NOW IN GUERNSEY
The driving force behind Guernsey’s School of Popular Music has set up a new production company to help local businesses build creative campaigns for radio, television and online.
What is Apocalypse Studios? Apocalypse Studios is a brand new production company specialising in radio advertising, video production and band recording. Our creative team is made up of: Tyler Edmonds - studio manager Tyler has established himself as one of Guernsey’s most exciting entrepreneurs over the last few years. Tyler founded the School of Popular Music, the biggest music school in the Channel Islands, and also directs Spotlight LBG and co-directs two other emerging companies based within the arts scene. Tyler has worked on some huge campaigns and was recently nominated for the Bill Green Award for Entrepreneurial Spirit. His extensive knowledge of the music and recording industry, as well as his focus on branding and social media presence, drives the success of Apocalypse Studios. Peter Mitchell - writer Peter has been teaching music theatre, writing scripts and directing plays for over six years as well as writing music for various bands and groups. Peter and his family founded Music Box Dance and Drama locally and continue to offer the highest standard of mentoring. Peter’s vast imagination allows him to create a wide variety of different styles and genres for both songwriting and playwriting and is a classically trained musician. You can be assured to receive results of the highest quality when Peter is part of the creative team.
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Mikey Ferbrache - producer Mikey graduated with a BA (Hons) in production from the Brighton Institute of Modern Music and now teaches guitar and audio production to more than 50 students every week. Mikey has a wealth of experience from working in the UK with various clients and bands and has built a reputable portfolio for both audio and visual production work. His thoroughness and attention to detail is unrivalled here in Guernsey.
We appreciate the importance of brand identity and will work with you every step of the way to achieve something that is unique and relevant to you. What can we do for you? Here at Apocalypse Studios we create bespoke audio and visual for organisations. Whether you are looking for an advert on the radio to attract people’s attention, or a visual Facebook campaign to catch people’s eye, we’ll work closely with you to provide a package that accurately reflects your brand. We appreciate the importance of brand identity and will work with you every step of the way to achieve something that is unique and relevant to you. We look to build long-lasting client relationships and working from our purpose built studio we can create stand-out audio and visual advertisements especially for you.
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Who have we worked with so far? Specsavers ‘Useless Elves’ We were delighted to work with Specsavers on their national Christmas campaign last year. The ‘Useless Elves’ was a huge hit on social media and has been viewed by over a million people to date. Sarnia Mutual ‘Money’ Guernsey’s leading loan company were looking to grow their presence on local radio and working directly with our team we created a New Year campaign. The company were so delighted with the response that the campaign is now an ongoing partnership. Guernsey Mind ‘Express Yourself’ The local arm of the national Mind charity, supported by the Guernsey Arts Commission, were looking to create a strong campaign to symbolise the positive benefits of the arts to mental health. The campaign is due to launch in June 2018 and we are leading the visual and audio aspects of the launch. And finally... Here at Apocalypse Studios we specialise in building campaigns for our clients and our creative team are never short of exciting and innovative ideas. We are ready to work with you from that initial ‘light bulb’ moment to the end result. If you are looking to advertise on radio, TV or social media we can give you that edge to stand above the rest. Get in contact with us today and come and meet the team! ■
PLAYING THE GAME: CV & INTERVIEW SKILLS
Associate director at Situations, Nadine Gavey, outlines how important the right preparation is when it comes to applying for a new job, both for those looking for work for the first time and those already on the career ladder.
You cannot get a job if you don’t get an interview. You cannot get an interview if you don’t apply. Sounds simple doesn’t it? As students look towards their future after completing their education and studies this summer, I have been going into schools and colleges in the island offering advice and helpful tips on CVs and interview skills. I feel that it is valuable time spent with students who are looking to enter the world of work, as the right advice early on can make a big difference to the outcomes of job applications. Students also need to understand the role of the person shortlisting CVs so that they know how to pitch their application to end up on the ‘yes’ pile rather than the ‘no’ pile.
Advice to students on writing CVs has included looking at layout of documents, the importance of accuracy, adding personal statements and more details of any part-time jobs they have held so that the reader can relate to their skillset and see transferrable skills that can be valuable to their organisation. However, I feel that much of this advice is applicable for any job seeker. I would therefore suggest the following five tips for job seekers looking to improve their CVs:
you turn up to an exam having done no revision? What would happen if you did? You would most probably fail. So why turn up to an interview having done no preparation or practice?’ Interviews are all about practice as the more you do the more confident you get.
1. Show what makes you unique.
2. Practice your answers.
2. Choose a clear layout employers spend around 20-30 seconds scanning your CV.
3. Look the part.
3. Tailor your CV to your audience this greatly increases your chances of securing an interview. 4. Keep it error free - always check your spelling and grammar.
On that basis, the main advice that I would offer for interviews is: 1. Do your research - fail to plan, and you plan to fail.
4. Stay calm – plan your route, ensure you will get parking around the area of the building etc. 5. You should always have some questions for your interviewer to demonstrate your interest in the position.
5. Keep your CV up to date. Many students know what areas they wish to find employment in while others are unsure. Whichever is the case, coming up with a strong cover letter and CV in which they can sell themselves to potential employers is very important. Preparing that cover letter and CV is the first big step for students looking to be considered for employment so I put a real emphasis on getting it right first time. Students also need to understand the role of the person shortlisting CVs so that they know how to pitch their application to end up on the ‘yes’ pile rather than the ‘no’ pile.
A misconception held by many jobseekers is that an interview is just an informal chat. The comparison that I often use for students is: ‘Would you turn up to an exam having done no revision? The next challenge in finding employment is the job interview. A misconception held by many jobseekers is that an interview is just an informal chat. The comparison that I often use for students is: ‘Would
Succeeding in a job hunt is about making the most out of every opportunity, on paper and in person. Keep that in mind, and you will succeed. Good luck! If you would like to learn more about improving your CV or interview skills please contact nadineg@situations.gg ■
We really take the time to find out what makes you special, highlighting your unique strengths so you can realise your true potential. Come and talk to us and see how SUPER your career can be.
situations.gg
FROM BESTSELLER TO BLOCKBUSTER It’s 10 years since the publication of Guernsey-based novel ‘The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society’. Now the best-selling book has been turned into a major film so some of its stars visited the island for a very special local premiere. It’s an unusual sight to see Hollywood stars in St Peter Port, but for one day in April, Guernsey was a more glamorous place. Actors Lily James, Glen Powell and Tom Courtenay all made the trip to the island alongside director Mike Newell and producers Paula Mazur and Graham Broadbent. Screenwriter Thomas Bezucha attended the
premiere, as did co-author and niece of Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows. Director Mike Newell said: ‘It has always been important to us that we find a way to celebrate Guernsey as of course the island, its people and its fascinating history are the very inspiration for Mary Ann Shaffer’s novel and in turn, our film. The people of Guernsey were very helpful with all of
Alongside walking the red carpet at the premiere the actors visited Guernsey’s historic bathing pools and were guests of honour at Government House for an Arts Foundation Guernsey panel discussion.
BOOK A TRIP TO GUERNSEY
Guernsey with stickers on the books featuring the VisitGuernsey branding and website address.
VisitGuernsey has teamed up with Bloomsbury and WHSmith to maximize the opportunities for the island around the launch of the film. Bloomsbury has released a new film-jacket version of the novel featuring Lily James and showing Guernsey’s iconic Icart Point.
Mike Hopkins, director of marketing and tourism, said: ‘We’re delighted to be part of such a high profile promotion. The re-released book is being marketed heavily and will be highly visible. Having a nationwide retail presence and partnering with such renowned quality brands will further highlight Guernsey to new audiences with the aim of driving visitors to the island.’
An associated competition will offer the prize of a trip for two to
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our research as we worked to bring this story to the big screen and we couldn’t be more grateful for their support.’
G UERN SEY FILM
A TASTE OF GUERNSEY
The long-awaited release of the film undoubtedly offers an opportunity for local businesses. But while Visit Guernsey’s campaigns have been encouraging viewers to come to the island, some local producers have also been taking their wares off-island to take advantage of the film’s success.
Guernseyman Luke Wheadon was on the red carpet for the London premiere of the film – carrying a bottle of his own Wheadon’s gin. The locally produced craft spirit was the ‘gin partner’ of the movie, and the walk down the red carpet was just one highlight in a series of exciting events for the brand. The association with the film has been a fortuitous one for Luke, but it wasn’t one he even went looking for. He said: ‘Studio Canal approached me saying that they were looking for a gin partner for the movie and they were interested in finding a local producer. They came to see me at my distillery at the Bella Luce Hotel and I explained the background to the gin and the history of the hotel. From that they decided that we were a good fit.’
Once the association was in place, Luke was determined to do everything he could to help promote the film and the island. He said: ‘I told them just to tell me anything that they wanted us to do and we would help. We first gave them some miniatures of the gin to send to influential journalists. Then we attended the film’s press junket at the Soho Hotel. It was afternoon tea themed and we did a gin tasting as part of that. I was there, in my Guernsey, pouring Wheadon’s gin and tonics for the journalists.’ Luke and his wife were also invited to the London premiere of the film, where a bottle of Wheadon’s accompanied him down the red carpet. At the afterparty in Mayfair, the venue poured Wheadon’s gin as part of two cocktails he had designed for the event. He said altogether it has been an amazing experience that’s been a real boon for his business. ‘For me, as a local business, it has accelerated my plans to move into the UK.
The connections I’ve made through this mean that Wheadon’s gin is now listed with major online retailers so it is possible to buy this Channel Island brand all over Europe. We had been concentrating on creating a local brand, but the film has certainly accelerated any plans we had to expand. Studio Canal have been fantastic, and it’s been a wonderful experience.’ While gin is a good fit for the ‘Guernsey’ film, a more traditional accompaniment for cinema trips is certainly ice-cream – and that was something Guernsey Dairy has looked to take advantage of. When the stars attended the Mayfair premiere in April, Guernsey ice-cream was on offer – in specially branded packaging featuring the film’s imagery. Zoe Gosling, brand and communications executive at VisitGuernsey, said: ‘Ice cream and the cinema go hand in hand and this was an opportunity that couldn’t be missed. The island produces some of the best dairy produce in the world and we are so grateful to present it at such a prestigious event. It’s a fantastic way of getting the Guernsey brand in front of such a high profile audience.’ Now VisitGuernsey are hoping the publicity will whet cinema-goers’ appetite for the island, and for some more appealing local produce than a potato peel pie. ■
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ADVERTIS IN G FE ATU R E
ARRANGE AN EVENT TO REMEMBER The 4* Greenhills Country House Hotel and Restaurant is set in the heart of St Peter’s green lane network. For any event, guests will experience the calming atmosphere of this granite country house hotel, together with the highest standards of hospitality, service and cuisine. The elegant and adaptable spaces can accommodate almost anything, from intimate meetings for six to large dinner dances for 80 and everything else in between. The hotel prides itself on a flexible ‘can do’ attitude with the ability to go that extra mile. The AA Rosette restaurant, comfortable lounge and inviting bar overlook the terrace and gardens. Menu choices include
afternoon teas, lunches and drinks receptions, as well as dinners, exclusively designed for your event. The hotel’s chef is proud to use the finest Jersey produce, beautifully presented and served, from scallops handpicked in local waters, to the sweetest Jersey Royal potatoes, plucked from the ground that very day.
the 33 bedrooms are all finely furnished and charming, combining modern comforts with the elegance of an English country home. As you might expect of such a hotel, each room has its own distinctive character.
Ask to see the drinks menu with its wide selection of both traditional and more innovative wines and spirits including Jersey gins, beers and ciders.
Just ask if you are thinking of any event out of the ordinary – the hotel has hosted wine tastings, cocktail making, theme nights, charity events, private viewings of jewellery collections and cookery demonstrations.
For extra special events such as private away days with overnight stays, Greenhills can provide exclusive use of the entire hotel at certain times. Along with the rest of the hotel,
A friendly and attentive team, special surroundings and fine food and drinks will mean that any event will be remembered with pleasure, whatever the occasion. ■
DISCOVER YOUR NEW FAVOURITE FLAVOUR AT GREENHILLS Hotel: 01534 481042 Email: enquiries@greenhillshotel.com www.greenhillshotel.com
Got the nibbles?
ADVE RT I SI N G F EAT URE
HIT THE WATER Splash out, work out, wipe out and chill out, in the newly refurbished Merton Leisure Club & Aquadome! Seymour Hotels have invested £500,000 in the facility this winter and we are certain that no other leisure club in Jersey compares with the fantastic facilities available to Aquadome members. The Merton Aquadome combines a superbly equipped gym, a fantastic leisure centre (including swimming pools, spas, sauna and steam room), a Flowrider surf machine and a multisport ball court… Game on!
We have created a range of membership options designed to suit all ages and lifestyles, whether you are a family, couple or wish to join as an individual member. Our club memberships start from only £42.00 per month. This option includes full use of the gym, indoor and outdoor pools and all facilities within the Aquadome. Our premium membership from £46.00 per month includes all of the above, plus
unlimited fitness classes and a whole range of additional savings throughout the year. For full details of the new memberships visit our new and improved members’ website. Did you know we run swimming lessons? Or that we can arrange children’s birthday parties? … And that the Flowrider is available for private hire? For further information or to discuss your personal requirements please contact the Merton Leisure Club & Aquadome and speak to one of our team today. Telephone: 01534 767 774 Email: aquadome@mertonhotel.com Website: www.mertonaquadome.com ■
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CELEBRATE GREAT FOOD AT THE OGH
AL FRESCO DINING IN THE OLIVE GROVE
The perfect place for a wonderful lunch with a spectacular view. Relax with a chilled glass of Champagne and try our new Mediterranean menu. Enjoy a host of summer flavours in our very own sunny paradise in the heart of town. Take a long, lazy afternoon and treat yourself to a rustic pizza, a succulent rack of lamb or fish of the day cooked to perfection in our new Roccbox™ wood-fired ovens.
GREAT BRITISH GRAZING FOOD
Try our new Great British grazing platters, perfect for sharing with friends or colleagues. Classic steak and kidney pie, chorizo Scotch eggs and many more quintessentially British dishes prepared with only the finest seasonal and local produce for you to enjoy in The Crown Club or on The Terrace. Sit back, and enjoy a sophisticated evening of exquisite food and drink.
GUERNSEY IN THE LIMELIGHT
This year our beautiful island will hit the big screen with the adaptation of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Widely regarded as the most historic hotel in The Channel Islands, The OGH played its part during The Occupation as a Soldatenheim, or soldier’s home where officers and NCOs could come to relax and meet. We have discovered a wealth of information about the part played by the hotel and have collated it into our very own archive for our guests to enjoy. Come and learn more about our rich heritage while you sample dishes inspired by this period in history and served in our very own Occupation archive.
SOLDATENHEIM MENU Soldatenheim broth ~ Tian of Guernsey crab tomato jelly, ruby grapefruit, cucumber sorbet Guernsey bean jar ham hock, beef shank, haricot beans Vegetable bean jar (v) nettles, tomato, root vegetables
Roasted pork tenderloin black pudding, squash purée, potato peel pie
Guernsey Gâche “pain perdu” local liqueur gel, Guernsey Dairy ice cream
Pan seared local catch of the day charred fennel, potato peel pie, dill butter
Apricot and ginger syllabub Roquette cider jelly
Wild mushroom tart (v) shallot emulsion, poached hen’s egg
Guernsey Cheddar and Fort Grey quince paste, celery, oat cake ~ Coffee and handmade chocolates
St Ann’s Place, St Peter Port, GY1 2NU | T. 01481 724921 | www.theoghhotel.com
TO URI SM & H O SP I TA LIT Y
KEEPING JERSEY’S APPEAL
Andre Thorpe, head of marketing at Morvan Hotels, comments on the current state of Jersey’s tourist industry.
‘The wettest Easter for a number of years.’ ‘Reduced immigration causes workforce shortages.’
which also benefits the local population without the tourists many destinations would be dropped due to lack of demand.
‘Visitor numbers are up.’
The challenges for the local hospitality industry continue and as a former ‘golden goose’ some wonder if the good times will return. Many welcomed the introduction of low cost carriers; however it is a double-edged sword as it was these very airlines that gave the UK holidaymaker, still the prime market for Jersey, the opportunity to travel to more exotic places for the cost of a train ride to the south coast. The variety of destinations from Jersey are led by tourism demand
Outside forces are changing the industry with fewer seasonal and experienced staff coming to the island. The reasons are hard to identify but the uncertainty of the Brexit process and the fall in the value of sterling may be factors. The limiting of licences to employ non-local staff is affecting businesses as there are simply not enough locals who wish to work in the industry. Jersey is a pocket rocket with much to appeal to the incidental traveller with time pressures that may not enable them to make the longer trip. However, those
travellers are looking for good value, which is something the government appears to have ignored as our costs are increasing over competing destinations. But there is still plenty in Jersey’s favour. Activities on the water and land vary from relaxed to energetic. History ranges from Neolithic through medieval and Elizabethan to Napoleonic and 20th century conflicts. There are very few places where you can see the sunrise and sunset from the coast in the same day. The seawater quality regularly tops the league (sea lettuce aside) and there are many more choices for eating out than the average English town. ■
For business or leisure, there’s always a little something extra Royal Hotel David Place, St. Helier, Jersey, JE2 4TD T: 01534 726521 E: operations@royalhoteljersey.com W: www.royalhoteljersey.com
Wherever Life Takes You, Best Western Is There.®
TOUR ISM & H OSPITA L ITY
WORKING FOR BUSINESS
Karel Harris, managing director of the Sarnia Hotel Group, explains how meetings and conferences are now an important part of most hotels’ offering.
Sarnia Hotels is a long-established family group, and the three generations of our family who have managed the hotels have seen plenty of evolution in the market. One of the areas which has certainly changed is the demand for meeting and conference facilities, and hotels have adapted to meet that over the years. When I am away from Guernsey and I am asked about our hotels and particularly about those facilities, my first comment used to be that it was not a major part of our business. That is still true, in that we do not often host residential conferences; however these days all three of our hotels play host to a variety of presentations and meetings. We have upgraded and adapted our hotels with the demands of businesses and events in mind, and have learned
some lessons along the way as to what you need for a successful offering.
all visitors to a hotel, but is particularly important for business users.
Variety
Service
To be successful in hosting a wide range of meetings, conferences and events, you need to have a variety of different spaces in which they can be held. Someone organising a large seminar has very different requirements to the organiser of a small board meeting. The right size of room can make the difference as to whether your venue is appealing or not.
Good service is necessary in every area of a hotel’s business, and events are no exception. Those holding a meeting or conference expect to have professional, courteous and prompt service and it is important to provide it.
Equipment With the rise of technology in all areas of our lives, it is unsurprising that it also plays a large part in this area. It is important to have good audio and visual facilities for presentations and also for events. Good wifi is now looked for by
Disabled access Meeting and conference rooms need to be available to everyone who needs to attend the event. While the historical nature of buildings in Guernsey can make it very difficult to make sure every area is wheelchair accessible, it is helpful to have some spaces that can work for everyone.
THE SARNIA HOTEL GROUP Karel explains what the Sarnia Hotel Group can offer local businesses and visitors.
Les Rocquettes Hotel has the Johnson Suite which can be completely selfcontained with its own entrance and bar. During its recent redecoration, air conditioning was installed as well as new blackout blinds and a very good audio-visual set is in place. Our major kitchen refurbishment in 2017 gave us the opportunity to redesign our Acorn Room which is now a stylish area for seminars, training sessions or private dining seating up to 50. The Acorn Room has wheelchair access and the hotel has accessible toilet facilities.
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At Hotel de Havelet we have long been the lunch venue for one of Guernsey’s Rotary Clubs but following the creation of Copenhagen Bar and Grill, we can use the Wellington Boot for meeting and presentations, particularly in the quieter months. Additionally our Drawing Room makes an ideal setting for board meetings and smaller seminars. Moores Hotel is in the heart of St Peter Port, and the Conservatory Restaurant is often used for presentations and receptions. As The Hideaway does not open in the evenings, it can be
hired for private events such as smaller presentations, drinks parties and quizzes. Our Writing Room is also available for small board meetings and seminars. Our newest project should be unveiled later this month. The former Library Bar is being transformed into a modern British tavern. Its cellar, which has never been open to the public, is also undergoing a makeover. A new glassed-in wine storage area will offer a special area for private wine tastings and offer a new and exciting venue for small events. ■
OP E NING SO O N
A modern British tavern located at Moores Hotel in the heart of St Peter Port. This newly renovated restaurant will incorporate an open kitchen with
a chef’s table where you can watch the chefs at work and there will be
a new bar serving a wide choice of real ales. A fantastic contemporary take on a traditional wine cellar is also being created in the basement which will be an ideal space to simply relax in, enjoy wine tastings or even book out the entire space for a private party.
JB Parker’s, Le Pollet, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 1WH Tel: +44 (0)1481 724452 www.jbparkers.com Follow us @jbparkers
FOR THE
SPLASH OUT, WORK OUT, WIPE OUT AQUADOME
HEALTH & FITNESS
BALL COURT
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JOIN THE CLUB
AT THE MERTON LEISURE CLUB & AQUADOME We offer a fantastic range of membership options for families, individuals and corporate packages. Become a member today: www.mertonaquadome.com
CLASSES
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(ALSO OPEN TO NON MEMBERS)
Call 01534 767774 or email aquadome@mertonhotel.com www.mertonaquadome.com
TO URI SM & H O SP I TALIT Y
NEW HOME FOR JERSEY’S TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE Jersey’s visitors now have a new destination – the brand new tourist information centre.
16 April was the start of a new journey for Jersey’s Tourist Information Centre (TIC), which is now operating within St Helier’s Liberation bus station. Previously situated in the town centre of St Helier and then latterly at the same venue as the offices of Jersey Heritage in the Weighbridge, it has now moved to within the main bus station. The TIC provides information to visitors, giving them the opportunity to experience and explore more while on business or holiday on the island. This change of venue means that the staff are now employees of the bus company, rather than Visit Jersey. All have received intensive training, and have been chosen for their passion for the island. The role of the TIC has evolved over the years and has now become an integral part of the tourism process and visitor experience. This evolved approach makes the centre valuable to both the local community and visitors to our shores.
Following the recent relocation of the TIC to Liberation bus station, visitors will be provided with “hidden gems” and “insider information” to ensure they leave Jersey with lasting memories to share. As well as helping visitors with details of where to go and what to see, the centre staff will be able to assist with accommodation enquiries, parking regulations, airport and ferry times, eating out assistance and all manner of transport enquiries.
Our vision is that we want to make every visit to Jersey special, and our team members are on hand to greet visitors with our awardwinning customer service, in a fantastic central location Kevin Hart, director of LibertyBus, said: ‘We were really excited about the doors opening and being able to greet our first customers in the new TIC. Our vision is that we want to make every visit to Jersey special, and our team members are on hand to greet visitors with our awardwinning customer service, in a fantastic central location. Our team are all really passionate about what Jersey has to offer and can’t wait to share the story of #theislandbreak.
standards and have won many accolades in the Jersey Customer Service Awards over the last few years. Our island visitors are now benefiting from the new location, friendly service and great facilities.’ LibertyBus is working in partnership with Visit Jersey, and the TIC will provide visitors with improved access to on-island information throughout the year. It’s a one-stop shop for visitors to start their journey of discovery. The team will inspire visitors to explore the real heart of Jersey and share hidden gems to leave visitors with lasting memories. Keith Beecham, chief executive officer of Visit Jersey, added: ‘We are delighted that LibertyBus will be partnering with Visit Jersey to provide a warm welcome for our visitors. It will be the ideal first port of call for holidaymakers. The new TIC is in a convenient location run by multilingual, informative and passionate staff who will help our visitors get the most out of their visits.’ #theislandbreak ■
‘We, at LibertyBus, are renowned for our excellent customer service
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TOUR ISM & H OSPITA L ITY
FROM MUSIC TO MOTORING
As the islands move towards the tourist season, there is plenty going on here to attract visitors and entertain locals. Contact previews some of the events happening in Jersey and Guernsey over the next couple of months.
LIBERATION INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL 9-19 MAY As part of the Channel Islands’ annual Liberation day celebrations, Jersey is hosting its 10th Liberation international music festival. The festival’s theme is taken from the liberation of the island at the end of World War II as well as exploring artistic freedom and the power of music to liberate the spirit. This year’s festival stars more than 20 internationally acclaimed artists, performing beautiful, dramatic and atmospheric music in stunning settings throughout Jersey with a theme of joy and celebration. Organisers say they hope to capture some of the sense of excitement felt at the time of the liberation through the musical performances. They also want to reveal some of Jersey’s unique historical heritage through performing the music in locations throughout the island. Those performing in the festival include Russian violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky who, alongside Lawrence Power and Boris Brovstyn, will play a Brahms Sextet
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and Mendelssohn Octet at a Liberation celebration at Jersey Opera House.
locations referenced in the novel, while many walks will incorporate the history behind the island’s German occupation.
The festival is holding many of its events outside, and festivalgoers can enjoy a walk around the coastline above Corbiere lighthouse exploring Jersey’s wartime fortification and history while being serenaded by violinist Harriet Mackenzie. That will be followed by a concert in bunker M19 featuring Hungarian cellist Dora Kokas.
The tours will be led by 24 accredited gold and silver guides and islanders and visitors will be able to take part in morning, afternoon, evening and all-day excursions to explore the culture, heritage, nature and scenery of all four islands.
The festival will finish with a gala evening at the Opera House with the Jersey Chamber Orchestra and a new concerto commissioned from Errollyn Wallen. www.liberationjersey.com
SPRING WALKING FESTIVAL 12-28 MAY Guernsey’s spring walking festival will return to the Bailiwick this year for the third time. The guided walks are organised by the Bailiwick of Guernsey Guild of Accredited Guides, with support from VisitGuernsey. During the 17 days of the festival, it will offer more than 70 easy rambles, longer strolls and challenging routes across Guernsey, Lihou, Herm and Sark. Participants can choose from coastal, inland and town options. The 2018 event includes brand new tours to bring the story behind ‘The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society’ to life, following the film’s UK cinema release. Groups will visit key
This is the third time the walking festival has taken place and it is due to be the largest yet in terms of the number of new walks available. All the guides have undertaken extensive training, and there are around a dozen new guides involved this year. More than 300 people took part in the 2017 autumn walking festival so the spring festival is expected to be popular. Previous visitors to Guernsey for the festival have travelled from as far afield as the USA, Holland and Sweden as well as from the UK. www.visitguernsey.com
TO URI SM & H O SP I TALIT Y
INTERNATIONAL MOTORING FESTIVAL 31 MAY–3 JUNE The Jersey International Motoring Festival is the largest annual motoring event in the Channel Islands. It includes competitive sprints and hillclimbs for classic and vintage cars and motorcycles. There is also a full programme of events for touring cars and motorcycles. The festival will start with karting at Victoria Avenue on the Thursday evening before the drama of the moonlight sprint on the Friday night. The weekend will see hill climbs at Westmount and Mount Bingham As well as the events, the festival showcases the largest static motor show in the Channel Islands, featuring motor and ancillary trade stands and exhibits from all Jersey motoring clubs. The event is run by Classic Vintage and Modern Racing Club of Jersey Ltd which say the essence of the weekend is to create a friendly and relaxed atmosphere in the island. There are opportunities for car and motorcycle enthusiasts to use and display their “pride and joy” whether this be a veteran, vintage or classic, touring or competition car or motorcycle.
of manufacture up to 31/12/1979 are eligible along with motorcycles with a date of manufacture up to 31/12/1980. Alongside the race events, touring activities are organised over the weekend to make sure all participants get to enjoy Jersey’s scenery from the driving seat. http://jimf.je
VICTOR HUGO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 22-24 JUNE Leading world experts on Victor Hugo will be coming together for a weekend conference in Guernsey in June. The Victor Hugo in Guernsey Society is organising a three day seminar at Les Cotils to coincide with an exhibition of Victor Hugo’s paintings at the Guernsey Museum & Art Gallery and an exhibition at the Priaulx Library. Victor Hugo spent 15 creative years in exile on the island, living in a house in Hauteville in St Peter Port. The author and artist’s time in Guernsey has recently been in the spotlight thanks to luxury goods billionaire, François Pinault, donating €3 million to restore his house to its former glory.
lectures and exhibitions. The event will also include a number of tours to follow in Victor Hugo’s footsteps and see parts of the island which would have been familiar to him. A highlight of the weekend will be the performance of Victor Hugo’s play, ‘L’Intervention’ , which will be performed in English for the first time. The play is a one-act comedy with a social conscience. It was written in the vaudeville theatrical style popular in the 1860s in France, with themes of love and poverty that are timeless and complex. ‘L’Intervention’ was written in Guernsey in 1866 as part of Hugo’s Théâtre en Liberté but was not published until after his death. The premiere performance in English will be on 23 June and the evening will include a live performance of songs from Les Misérables. www.victorhugoinguernsey.gg ■
The hill climbs and sprint events also give car owners the chance to put a classic vehicle through its paces. Cars with date
Delegates from around the globe, including eight visiting speakers, will be coming to the island to take part in talks,
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www.pwc.com/jg
Transforming your business for a new global tax world
By 2020, how a firm deals with tax risk will be viewed as a competitive advantage, or disadvantage. Are you ready? If you need help navigating through the implications of this ever-changing tax landscape, talk to us today. To find out how our tax team can help you, contact: Debbie Payne Tax Director debbie.payne@pwc.com Tel: +44 (0)1534 838284
David Waldron Tax Director david.x.waldron@pwc.com Tel: +44 (0)1481 752081
Justin Woodhouse Tax Partner justin.woodhouse@pwc.com Tel: +44 (0)1534 838233
© 2018 PricewaterhouseCoopers CI LLP. All rights reserved. “PricewaterhouseCoopers” and “PwC” refer to the Channel Island firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers CI LLP, which is a member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, each member firm of which is a separate legal entity. PricewaterhouseCoopers CI LLP, a limited liability partnership registered in England with registered number OC309347, provides assurance, advisory and tax services. The registered office is 1 Embankment Place, London WC2N 6RH and its principal place of business is 37 Esplanade, St. Helier, Jersey JE1 4XA
TAX
MANAGING TAX RISK
Debbie Payne and David Waldron, tax directors at PwC in the Channel Islands, outline why businesses should be reviewing their approach to their tax affairs.
The last few years have seen a seismic shift in the global tax landscape. This significantly increases the risk to business from tax-related matters and requires a reassessment of your attitude towards tax risk and the controls which you have in place to monitor the position.
where it does not agree with the data they hold on their files and we are aware that HMRC has started to raise queries. This all means that having a process around collecting the data, and ensuring that it is consistent with other forms of reporting, is becoming increasingly important.
In addition to the transparency agenda, which introduced a number of new reporting requirements, there is also a continuing drive by tax authorities to counter tax evasion and what they see as aggressive tax avoidance. This has resulted in a number of pieces of new legislation including the UK’s Corporate Criminal Offence and the requirement to correct.
In addition, the OECD will be undertaking a review in 2020 to ensure that the tax authorities in the Channel Islands are monitoring business’s compliance with the islands’ increasing international obligations. As part of this, you can expect an increased focus from Jersey and Guernsey’s tax offices, including reviews of what policies businesses have in place to ensure compliance.
The costs of getting this wrong could mean that your clients are subject to lengthy enquiries by tax authorities, resulting in them incurring professional fees and diverting their time from other business activities. As a minimum, these mean businesses need to review historic tax filings and have policies and procedures in place to ensure that tax risk is managed. The focus is not simply on criminal activity. These changes require businesses to review tax filings based on, for example, historic undocumented industry practice to determine whether this is within scope. Where estimates have been used, there is a risk that the tax return needs to be re-filed. As anticipated, there is also increasing evidence of tax authorities using the data which has been provided. Tax authorities, particularly in the Nordic countries, are challenging balances included on reports
The costs of getting this wrong could mean that your clients are subject to lengthy enquiries by tax authorities, resulting in them incurring professional fees and diverting their time from other business activities. So, with this in mind, where do you start? The starting point is to assess your current risk management framework and controls around tax. This should provide a gap analysis so that the business understands its most significant tax risks and can then put in place a framework for managing those risks. As part of this, some of the key questions to consider are:
• How will data be interpreted by tax authorities and other stakeholders? The increased focus on transparency means that, in many cases, “perception is reality” so how the media or a tax authority reacts is critical. • Do you have the technology and systems in place to gather and report the data required? The increasing requirements from global tax authorities may mean that new IT systems are required to capture the data needed to undertake accurate tax reporting. • Do you have adequate governance and control frameworks to identify and manage tax risk? It will be critical to have a tax policy document setting out how the tax risks are identified within your clients’ structures and how they are monitored. Given the changes taking place in the global tax environment, you should be asking for copies of updated tax advice to ensure that the risks have not changed and that amendments are not required to operating models. In summary, you need to firstly ensure that your controls and IT systems are fit for purpose. Then you’ll have to decide whether acceptance of tax risk is part of your business model or whether you should look to outsource the reporting to a third party with the necessary skills to ensure information is accurate and to minimise the risk of challenge from tax authorities around the world. ■
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ASSET M AN A G E M E NT
CONCENTRATING ON WHAT MATTERS How can an investment strategy deliver the returns clients require? By focusing on the important elements that drive performance, says Harry Bazzaz, investment manager at Rocq Capital.
We were interested to read a recent study by global advisory firm Willis Towers Watson (‘Better Equities: Redefining Active’, 2017) which found three key factors that improve expected investment performance. These are: • Concentrated holdings to maximise long-term returns • Low turnover and suitable fund choices to limit the drag of costs • Appropriate diversification to reduce risk Concentration refers to the number of holdings a fund has and the weight given to the largest positions. A highly concentrated fund is likely to have relatively few holdings, each given a significant allocation. If done skilfully, a manager’s best ideas are emphasised rather than being diluted by other holdings.
Our average holding period, for example, is approximately four years. Using tax efficient vehicles and appropriate situs of assets is also a consideration so that there is no unnecessary tax leakage for investors. As an example, one of our emerging market equity funds holds 39 stocks from a potential universe of 837, selecting companies that are well-positioned to benefit from consumer trends in developing economies. Similarly, a US fund in our portfolios has only 22 positions compared to its benchmark’s 500.
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This philosophy can be extended into the way portfolios are put together. Once an attractive investment opportunity is identified, it can be given enough allocation to enable it to make a meaningful impact on the returns of a portfolio as a whole. A relatively small number of high quality holdings can be held, each with a significant allocation. Remaining invested for a number of years can allow themes to play out but also avoid the transaction costs associated with frequent trading. Our average holding period, for example, is approximately four years. Using tax efficient vehicles and appropriate situs of assets is also a consideration so that there is no unnecessary tax leakage for investors. Nobody can know how financial markets will behave in the future, but clients’ portfolios can be prepared to withstand different scenarios. Diversification is the concept of not putting all one’s eggs in one basket – making a range of investments that will behave and perform differently depending on what is going on in the world. This means understanding, under a range of circumstances, the interaction between the performance of various fund choices and the effect that a new holding will have on an existing portfolio. Different levers work at different times, with the goal being to reduce the risk of a portfolio dropping significantly in value, even under challenging market conditions.
An important element of diversification can be gaining access to ‘alternative’ strategies. This can be seen as an allencompassing definition of any asset class or strategy other than traditional holdings in bonds and equities. If utilised effectively, such an allocation can reduce risk while still delivering attractive returns within a portfolio as a whole. As an example, two of our key holdings have correlations with the rest of our funds of -0.13 and +0.20 respectively, indicating they have moved in quite an unrelated way to our other investments. With both equity and bond markets at elevated levels, and the first quarter of 2018 notable for a return of volatility in financial markets, a focus on this type of investment seems particularly pertinent now. While concentration and diversification may seem opposing ideas – a concentrated portfolio is not usually as well-diversified as one that holds hundreds of positions – an approach that combines the two forces can form an effective partnership: each fund may be concentrated in isolation, giving it the potential to perform strongly, but in combination with others risk is reduced for a portfolio as a whole. Adherence to this approach can result in a consistent, repeatable investment process that delivers steady positive returns – and provides the building blocks for clients’ portfolios today and in the future. ■
BY
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Rocq Capital is a trading name of Rocq Capital Management Limited (company number 36988) which has its registered office address at 2nd Floor, Suite 1, Le Truchot, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 1WD and is licensed by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission. This advertisement is not an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security. This advertisement is intended only to facilitate potential investors making enquiries of Rocq Capital in respect of its services and/or for copies of the scheme particulars of the Funds. The information referred to in this advertisement is subject to change and is not intended to be used as a general guide to investing and makes no implied or express recommendations concerning investments, as suitable investment strategies depend upon each investor’s circumstances and attitude towards risk. This advertisement does not constitute an offer or solicitation to any person in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorised or to any person to whom it would be unlawful to make such offer or solicitation. It is the responsibility of any person or persons in possession of this advertisement to inform themselves of and to observe all applicable laws and regulations of any relevant jurisdiction. Rocq Capital does not provide tax advice and all investors are strongly advised to consult with their tax advisors regarding any potential investment. Investors should consider whether an investment is suitable for their particular circumstances or seek advice from Rocq Capital. The price and value of investments referred to in this advertisement and the income from them may go down as well as up and investors may realise losses on any investments. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. Future returns are not guaranteed and a loss of principal may occur.
TRU STS
Two islands, two courts, two laws…
…and two different approaches to Hastings-Bass. Advocates Mathew Newman and Abby Lund of Ogier examine the differences in approach between Guernsey and Jersey to this landmark ruling.
The rule in Hastings-Bass gives the court discretion to set aside an exercise of power if a trustee failed to take into account relevant considerations when exercising the power, or took into account considerations which should properly have been disregarded. This rule has been at the forefront of Guernsey jurisprudence in recent months due to the two decisions in M v St Anne’s Trustees Limited and Re the Achilles Trust, resulting in what appears to be quite a difference in approach between the Channel Islands’ Courts, though this is largely as a result of Jersey having adopted legislation in respect of this area. In England, the rule in Hastings-Bass was revised by the cases of Futter v HMRC and Pitt v HMRC which effectively limited the protection afforded to beneficiaries to cases of ‘aberrant’ conduct. Some offshore jurisdictions (including Jersey) appeared to consider that the limitation of the rule was wrong in principle and should be reversed.
Jersey The States of Jersey enacted legislation in the form of the Trust (Amendment No 6) (Jersey) Law 2013 (“Amendment 6”), which effectively restored the breadth of the old Hastings-Bass doctrine. Articles 47G&H of Amendment 6 empowered the Court to set aside a transfer or disposition of a property due to a mistake provided (a) there was a mistake on the part of the settlor or person exercising a power, (b) the settlor or person exercising the power would not have entered into the transaction “but for” the mistake, and (c) the mistake was of so serious a
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character as to render it unjust on the part of the done to retain the property. Where a fiduciary power is exercised to transfer or dispose, the Court can set aside provided (a) the person failed to take into account any relevant considerations or took into account irrelevant considerations, and (b) but for that, would not have exercised the power, or not in that way.
Guernsey In M v St Anne’s Trustees Limited, M took tax advice regarding a proposed transfer, which confirmed there were no adverse consequences. It transpired the transaction gave rise to a significant tax liability and M sought Hastings-Bass relief. The Royal Court examined the Pitt and Futter cases, and held that as legislation (equivalent to Amendment 6) had not been enacted, there was no reason not to accept the approach in Pitt.
On the facts, the Court did not find the transaction unconscionable – instead it found that an ordinary person who made an investment with dire consequences on the basis of incorrect advice, would be obliged to take action to obtain compensation from their adviser. The Court declined to grant the relief as two policy matters identified in Pitt militated in favour of some restraint: (1) the need not
to put beneficiaries of trusts in a stronger position than other ordinary individuals, (2) the interests of not imposing too stringent a test in judging trustees’ decision making. The appropriate test was whether or not the Court found it unconscionable that the transaction should be left to stand. On the facts, the Court did not find the transaction unconscionable – instead it found that an ordinary person who made an investment with dire consequences on the basis of incorrect advice, would be obliged to take action to obtain compensation from their adviser. In Re Achilles, the Court took a different approach, though the trustee was in breach of fiduciary duty, and no legal or tax advice had been obtained by it, the innocent beneficiary was exposed to consequences in which he had played no part. The Court therefore agreed to grant the relief sought. The decision in M (though not binding) may well mean that Hastings-Bass relief is not as easily available as it once was (or as it is in Jersey), with a beneficiary instead being expected to sue his professional advisers for negligence. However, we understand there is an appeal to the Court of Appeal, and its decision will be binding on the Royal Court.
Conclusion In the event that the appeal in M is successful, it might not be considered necessary to enact legislation equivalent to that in Jersey. However, if unsuccessful, there may well be pressure from the trust and legal profession for the position to be enshrined in statute, to ensure there is no mistaking what the law in Guernsey is. ■
T RUST S
REGISTERS OF TRUSTS
David Dorgan and Alison MacKrill, partners at Appleby in Jersey and Guernsey, explain the EU’s recent directive in relation to registers of trusts.
Last month, as this magazine was being printed, the European Parliament was expected to adopt the EU’s 5th AntiMoney Laundering Directive (5AMLD), as agreed by EU Member States on 13 December 2017. In respect of registers of trusts, the following was agreed: • Member States will have to grant public access to information held on each Member State’s register of trusts, subject to a “legitimate interest” test, the conditions for which must be defined in law by each individual Member State. • Access to the register of trusts must also be granted to any member of the public in relation to a trust which holds or owns a controlling interest in a company that is not incorporated in the EU (and is therefore not included in any Member State’s register of beneficial ownership of companies); • Member States must put in place mechanisms to ensure that information on beneficial ownership in the registers of companies and trusts is “adequate, accurate and current”; and • Member States will have to ensure interconnection between each Member States’ registers of companies and trusts via an EU “Central Platform”. The UK government heralds the agreement on 5AMLD as being in line with the UK’s negotiating priorities, including public access to the UK’s register of trusts being subject to a “legitimate interest” test.
...the Government will consider how best to consult with interested stakeholders on how “legitimate interest” should be applied in the UK in view of the fact that many trusts are established for personal or family reasons. In a letter to the House of Commons’ European Scrutiny Committee on 17 January 2018, HM Treasury Economic Secretary John Glen said that the UK register of trusts is a valuable tool for law enforcement authorities that can access information held on it, but the Government is opposed to granting full public access to such information so as to protect individual privacy rights. Mr Glen continued that the provisional political agreement on these proposals gives Member States the right to define who should be considered to have a “legitimate interest” in information held on national registers of trusts. In this regard Mr Glen said that the Government will consider how best to consult with interested stakeholders on how “legitimate interest” should be applied in the UK in view of the fact that many trusts are established for personal or family reasons. Additionally, Mr Glen said that the proposals do not impose obligations upon trustees to register on national registers in multiple Member States which would be disproportionate and imposing needless costs upon trustees.
However, Peter Dowd, the Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury said, whilst speaking primarily about the UK’s new public Register of UK Property Ownership (which will identify the ultimate beneficial owners of UK realty held by all foreign entities capable of owning UK property, albeit it is expected that trust beneficiaries will not be named as they are already subject to beneficial ownership disclosure obligations), that the UK Government needs to tackle the introduction of full public registers of offshore trusts in the Crown Dependencies and the Overseas Territories. This comment seems to be in direct contrast to the current position adopted by both the UK Government and the EU pursuant to 5AMLD in that access to registers of trusts is required to be subject to a “legitimate interest” test. 5AMLD’s introduction will be staggered over two to three years as follows: • The enhanced access to registers of trusts will take effect in January 2020; and • The interconnected Central Platform of registers of companies and trusts is slated to take effect early 2021, the same year the Register of UK Property Ownership is due to come into effect. We shall wait to see what stance the Crown Dependencies and the Overseas Territories take in respect of registers of trusts both in terms of their introduction and their accessibility. ■
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MORTGAGES & L E ND ING
ISLANDS APART
Nigel Pascoe, director of lending, Skipton International, considers the difference in the property markets of Jersey and Guernsey.
One might assume that being a mere 43km apart, the islands of Jersey and Guernsey would have very similar property markets. But while 2017 saw Jersey’s House Price Index rise for the fourth consecutive year, the Guernsey market was only just finding its feet after a period of upheaval. Despite their independent governments, neither Jersey or Guernsey are immune to the political and economic effects from recent UK and international events. However, both property markets have weathered the recession remarkably well and remained an attractive investment for islanders.
In Jersey, there are restrictions on who can purchase property, requiring you to have lived in the island for 10 continuous years or to qualify as a high net worth individual. Much of the differences between the two islands can be attributed to their different legal structures, making the way property is purchased very unique. In Jersey, there are restrictions on who can purchase property, requiring you to have lived in the island for 10 continuous years or to qualify as a high net worth Individual. Guernsey is a little more welcoming with two markets, being ‘open’ and ‘local’. Those properties on the open market are available for anyone to purchase, irrespective of net worth.
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Guernsey’s rate of sales has remained unchanged for the last two years but a new proposed tax cap on open market purchases may stimulate more demand in 2018. This will see those purchasing property valued at £1.5 million or above benefit from a £50,000 cap on taxes for a four-year period. The difficulties faced by first time buyers looking to get a foot on the property ladder is also being addressed through the GHA’s partial ownership scheme and the reintroduction of the 100% loan to value mortgage by Skipton International. Jersey property reached a 10-year high in February of last year and ended 2017 with a 3% increase on the House Price Index. A steady run of positive results has encouraged more purchasers to place property on the market and I think we will continue to see activity pick up into 2018 for this reason. With employment rates at their highest in the island, residents are also feeling more financially secure, viewing property as a safe and secure long-term investment for their future. The stable economies of the islands make the property markets very robust, yet both face their own independent challenges as to how to make purchasing property accessible to one and all. Property prices in Jersey and Guernsey both outweigh the average salary earnings and with rental costs and purchasing costs high it is hard to save for the required deposit. Skipton’s Next Generation mortgages allow family members to assist with property purchases without making a financial contribution, allowing buyers to secure a home without having the full 20% deposit saved.
The outlook for both islands in 2018 is very optimistic with Guernsey set to continue on its upward trajectory and Jersey looking to maintain its current position. As one of the Channel Islands’ leading lenders, Skipton International knows both market places intimately. This knowledge coupled with our lengthy experience allows us to react more quickly to changes in the market and to better understand what challenges our customers face. With all decisions being taken on island, we can guarantee our customers a fast turnaround on applications and quick in-principal decisions. Our customer centric approach has earned us the Feefo Gold Trusted Service Award for 2018, the second successive year we have been recognised for our outstanding levels of customer service. The outlook for both islands in 2018 is very optimistic with Guernsey set to continue on its upward trajectory and Jersey looking to maintain its current position. With that positive news, we’re hoping to help many more islanders make their dream home a reality this year. ■
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Skipton International Limited (Skipton), registered in Guernsey: 30112, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Skipton Building Society. Skipton is licensed under the Banking Supervision (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 1994, as amended and is not registered in Jersey. Skipton is a participant in the Guernsey Banking Deposit Compensation Scheme. The Scheme offers protection for ‘qualifying deposits’ up to £50,000, subject to certain limitations. The maximum total amount of compensation is capped at £100,000,000 in any 5 year period. Full details are available on the Scheme’s website www.dcs.gg or on request. Skipton is not a member of the Jersey Deposit Compensation Scheme. To help maintain service and quality, telephone calls may be recorded and monitored.
We’re right at home with property law. Our property department is dedicated to providing client care and affordable tailored solutions that meet and exceed your expectations. We deal with all aspects of property, including planning and housing, and we can help with your will too.
Please call us for a free, confidential, no-obligation chat to see how we can help you.
Ferbrache & Farrell LLP Somers House, Rue du Pre St Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 1LU
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www.ferbrachefarrell.com Ferbrache & Farrell LLP is a limited liability partnership registered under Guernsey law. The registered office of Ferbrache & Farrell LLP is Somers House, Rue du Pre, St Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 1LU. Our register of members can be inspected at our offices during normal business hours.
Guernsey law, redefined.
M O RTGAG E S & L E N D IN G
GUERNSEY PROPERTY UPDATE
As spring arrives in the island, managing partner at Ferbrache & Farrell, Alastair Hargreaves, considers whether Guernsey’s property market is also seeing new life.
Many years ago, it was Victor Hugo who described in his poem “Printemps” that the months of March and April were ‘with a sweet smile’, May as ‘flowering’ and June as ‘blazing’; in all, his poem says the year’s best months. As we might expect, this time of year is traditionally a period of increased property market activity as the grip of winter is loosened and the weather markedly improves. The green fingered amongst us will also be busier, no doubt!
Previously, we have likened 2017 to being like ‘London buses’, that is to say, very little new property legislation since 1987, and then a quick succession of new rules. In this short article, we look at the property market generally, including lending, and any trends that might be presenting themselves. Given the wide breadth of content, we at Ferbrache & Farrell are very grateful for all the industry assistance and commentary that has kindly been provided to us in the preparation of this work. By way of background, in a property legislation context, 2018 has been preceded by a busy 2017. Previously, we have likened 2017 to being like ‘London buses’, that is to say, very little new property legislation since 1987, and then a quick succession of new rules. These include the long-awaited access to neighbouring land law, the rules relating to
the treatment of high hedges and a complete overhaul of the levying of document duty. The access law, for example, has had an almost immediate simplifying effect by often removing the need for remediating conveyances. Before that new law came into force, a property without certain rights would need the owner to approach a neighbour for the express grant of the missing rights. Sometimes that approval was never given, other times it was given but at a price. Now (in certain cases), that step is no longer needed, which potentially reduces both transaction time and costs for the parties involved. The new Island Development Plan was adopted by the States of Guernsey in November 2016, and there is no doubt that it has contributed positively to how planning law is administered in Guernsey; partly through a move to a single Plan from the old Rural and Urban Area Plans. The Planning Service supports a collaborative approach and an open dialogue, which in turn allows any potential issues to be flagged up early in the application process and dealt with wherever possible. A summary of legislation affecting Guernsey property would probably not be complete without a brief mention of the new Population Management law. Whilst easily able to form the subject of many articles, the new Employment Permit Portal (for example) does simplify the previous housing law arrangements, and our experience is that the granting of permits is intended to be more straightforward.
Within reason then, anything that can make a property transaction more frictionless is to be welcomed. Concerning the market itself, historical statistics show that the number of property transactions so far this year is broadly similar to this time last year, but significantly better than this time in 2016. As a legal practice, we would not wish to stray into the professional territory of our estate agent colleagues, but we understand that there is measured optimism regarding the state of the market generally. In the local market, we are told that although prices are tending to be steady, there is still a good level of activity with no reason to think that it will change. In the open market, we gather that there has been an increase in UK enquiries due to the so-called ‘Jeremy Corbyn’ factor, with sales up and a very busy rental market. Concerning lending and mortgages (again with the valuable assistance of professionals in that sphere), banks appear keen to lend. A recent example has been a major high street bank entering the Guernsey mortgage market, and a number of new mortgage products are being looked at across the lending spectrum. The spring news then is positive, with many reasons to be encouraged. Hopefully, as Victor Hugo would say, “the year’s best months to come”, although we welcome good news all year round. ■
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MORTGAGES & L E ND ING
THE MORTGAGE SCENE
Peter Seymour, managing director of The Mortgage Shop, sets out the factors that are affecting obtaining a mortgage and buying a property in Jersey.
Despite the slowdown caused by Easter holidays, there has been little respite for everybody in the property market in Jersey, where transactions at all levels are continuing to keep estate agents, lenders, valuers and lawyers busy.
delays of up to two weeks. This is frustrating but unavoidable, as nothing much happens with the rest of the process until a mortgage application has been formally approved.
This is good for the island, as the beneficial effect of these transactions will ripple down through the economy, providing essential income by way of stamp duty for the States of Jersey, and seemingly unlimited employment and opportunity for everybody from carpet fitters, plumbers, carpenters, builders, and architects to building suppliers and retail outlets.
The time that it takes from having an offer accepted by an estate agent to completion through the Royal Court on a Friday afternoon is usually six weeks. Vendors will sometimes push for a shorter time than this, and it is worth remembering just how much work goes into a transaction from the host of experts and professionals who become involved.
THE COMPLETION PROCESS
The purchaser should have already sought advice on how much he can borrow before he even thinks of looking at the market LACK OF CHOICE IN THE MARKET We are told that there is little choice in the market and that some purchasers have struggled to find a suitable property inside of 12 months, even longer, so it is inevitable that asking prices are generally being achieved, and that prices are starting to creep up. The States’ House Price Index recorded a 3% increase in overall prices during 2017, and it will be interesting to see by how much this figure will be exceeded during this year.
LENDERS’ BACKLOG Some lenders currently have a backlog that has been caused by holidays and illness and this is causing
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The purchaser should have already sought advice on how much he can borrow before he even thinks of looking at the market, although if he hasn’t done so, and if he decides to visit all of the banks in the island, then he will encounter delays of up to a week or more with the busier lenders before he can book an appointment.
BANK OR MORTGAGE BROKER The criteria that each lender uses will vary significantly from one bank to the next, with multiples ranging from 4.5 to seven times gross income, differing views on peripheral income such as overtime and bonuses, and quite rigid rules on outgoings such as nursery and school fees,
debt and hire purchase. An increasing number of purchasers therefore prefer to use our services at The Mortgage Shop as we will look after everything through to completion, ensuring that best in market interest rates are always obtained. With the mortgage approved, the lender will then instruct a professional surveyor to undertake the valuation for mortgage purposes – there aren’t many of them and they are usually very busy. With the valuation completed, and if the property stands up to scrutiny not only in respect of market comparisons, but also structure, good repair and with no significant faults or concerns, the mortgage offer letter is then issued. In the meantime, lawyers will have been instructed to act for the vendor, the purchaser and the lender. At this stage things should flow quite smoothly, although problems with the title of the property, missing boundary stones, an encroachment from an adjoining property, rights of way and a multitude of other niggles can cause delays before everybody is satisfied that the property is fit for purpose and the transaction can proceed. By this time a minimum of seven different participants have been involved so it is small wonder that anything shorter than the six-week completion period can sometimes be difficult to achieve. ■
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IN SUR AN C E
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS INSURANCE - MYTHS AND CLAIMS Tim Mitchell, practice leader – professional risks at Rossborough Insurance, explains the myths surrounding directors’ liabilities, and how you should look to protect yourself from potential claims.
The risk landscape for senior executives of companies has changed dramatically over the past decade. With those changes continuing unabated, companies, their directors and officers are exposed to a far greater range of risks than previously, especially where there is multijurisdictional exposure. The use and importance that this business critical insurance plays as a risk mitigation mechanism is frequently not fully understood or appreciated.
Common myths surrounding directors’ liabilities Directors have limited liability Many wrongly assume they are covered by their company’s limited status. A director is an agent of the company, so if you’re sued for negligence your liability as a director is potentially unlimited and your legal defence bill alone can easily have tens or hundreds of thousands on the end of it. Then there is also the compensation bill to consider. The company will indemnify me What if legally it can’t, or it chooses not to? If the company does choose to indemnify you, a lack of funds may cut their support short. Maintaining a steady cash flow is hard enough for any business without an expensive court case soaking up resources. When the cash runs out, you could be left with the bill.
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Directors of small businesses don’t need cover Just because it’s not a large business, doesn’t mean mistakes can’t be made. If something goes wrong, directors of small businesses are as liable as any other. If anything, the directors are an easier target because they sometimes lack the support of full time legal, compliance, human resources, or risk teams. I don’t work for that company anymore A recent court case has ruled that a director’s liability can remain for 10 years after resignation. If no insurance policy is in place, it’s unlikely your former employer will indemnify you. Do you have financial resources to fund a potentially financially crippling legal defence? It’s only designed to protect directors Wrong. Anyone who holds a key position or provides information that a board relies on when making decisions can be implicated. Health and safety, MLRO and data protection officers amongst others should be protected by a comprehensive directors and officers (D&O) policy.
Claims are likely to materialise from: 1. Regulatory investigations – Claims associated with regulatory investigations against individuals. 2. Director vs company – Allegations that individual directors face from their own companies or shareholders.
3. Criminal – Allegations and investigations made against the directors and officers of a company. 4. Defamation – Often bitterly pursued by the individuals or companies who feel aggrieved by comments or actions allegedly taken against them. 5. Contract disputes – Arise from dispute with suppliers and customers following allegations of non-performance or nonpayment. 6. Corporate insolvencies – Claims made by creditors in the event of a corporate insolvency following retrospective scrutiny of company transactions, accounts and the actions of individual directors. 7. Harassment – Allegations made against the directors and officers of a company for abusive or threatening behaviour. 8. Privacy and data breaches - Cases where management have accessed personal emails and messages. This is a growing problem due to company data being stored on personal devices and personal data being stored on company devices. The list continues. In summary, you need to understand and ask questions about the insurance policy you look to be protected by. ■
B USIN ES S IN TH E COM MU NITY
BUS BOOK BENEFITS AUTISM
The Amazing Club is a weekly club for young people aged 11 to 18 with autism and it is hoped that those attending the club will gain greater confidence in social situations.
The title, The Amazing Journey: Puffin Explores Guernsey by Bus, is an entertaining training guide explaining how buses can give young people a sense of self-reliance and more enjoyment of Guernsey.
club will gain greater confidence in social situations. Independent travel is one thing that can lead to the young people being less socially isolated and build their self-esteem.
of the island’s community to continue our work. We are very grateful to Jon and CT Plus for donating the proceeds of this lovely children’s book to Autism Guernsey.’
Sheila Cameron of Autism Guernsey said: ‘This thoughtful fundraising by CT Plus will let us offer the Amazing Club members some additional supported activities and outings so they can enjoy getting out and about with friends. This is something most teenagers take for granted and we know the Amazing Club will really benefit from.’
The States’ champion for disabled islanders, Deputy Sarah Hansmann Rouxel said: ‘I’ve heard first-hand how important accessing the island and gaining independence can be for disabled islanders, those with learning difficulties or on the autism spectrum, especially to those who can’t drive. Having access to buses and giving children the tools to access them safely is a great project. I’ve enjoyed reading various drafts of the book and seeing it in its final form is fantastic.’
A new children’s book, written and illustrated by local residents Jon Ozanne and Trudie Shannon, is raising funds for Autism Guernsey.
The story follows a young puffin who sets out on the bus for an adventure around the island. It is part of an initiative the bus company has created to support young people’s independence in travel, work and life’s journey. Members of the CT Plus staff go into schools and youth clubs across the island to lead travel training classes, ensuring that all youngsters are informed and confident in travelling by bus.
The Amazing Journey: Puffin Explores Guernsey, a tale about a young puffin who sets out on the bus to go on an adventure around the island, can be purchased from the Town Terminus kiosk and other outlets for £3 per book with every penny going to the charity.
Author Jon Ozanne is public relations and marketing officer at CT Plus. He said of the book: ‘It is great to have a character who experiences their first independent travelling, supported along the way by his family. The images are exactly how I imagined the puffin on his adventures.’
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Author Jon Ozanne with the book
The idea for the book came about following a request made by youngsters attending Autism Guernsey’s Amazing Club. The teenagers wanted to know more about catching the bus to and from the club, as this can be a particularly daunting prospect for those on the autistic spectrum. CT Plus has worked closely with the club to help them overcome their concerns.
Autism Guernsey provides support and assistance to islanders living life on the autistic spectrum, through a range of clubs, drop-in sessions and support workers. Catering to all age groups the charity aims to help those on the spectrum lead full, positive and inclusive lives.
The Amazing Club is a weekly club for young people aged 11 to 18 with autism and it is hoped that those attending the
Julia Watts, manager of Autism Guernsey, said: ‘Autism Guernsey receives no statutory financial backing; we rely on the support
Jon is also participating at this year’s Guernsey Literary Festival, and will be reading excerpts of his book to children at the Library on 12 May. He said: ‘I am delighted the story will be finding new audiences thanks to the Guernsey Literary Festival 2018. Creating a space in the Guille-Allés library and seeing the story come alive is something I’m very much looking forward to. ‘The story and the model for fundraising for autism is something Jersey is now also interested in. With this and a sequel planned, I hope we will be seeing a lot more of Puffin and his bus adventures.’ ■
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B USIN ES S IN TH E COM MU NITY
Jersey branch of the Royal British Legion to benefit from the 2018 Barclays Jersey Boat Show
Ipes’ charity events raised £4,600 for Home-Start Guernsey
Staff at Zedra in Guernsey had an action-packed day of fundraising
JT chose environmental charities to support across the islands
Skipton Community Fund donated to the Citizens Advice Bureau in Jersey and Guernsey
Centre Point Trust managers in Jersey achieved new qualifications with Lloyds Bank Foundation funding
AFM supported Guernsey’s Little Chapel with specialist lighting
The Channel Islands Co-operative Society campaign supported Easter food distributions to vulnerable families
Resolution IT celebrated their 10th anniversary with 10 challenges and raised over £10,000 for Guernsey charities
Standard Chartered Bank employees voted for Jersey Hospice Care to benefit from marathon
Butterfield set up reusable coffee mug partnership in Guernsey
Equiom announced sponsorship of Relay for Life in Jersey for the fourth year
Limited edition Guernsey cheese raised more than £2,500 for children’s charity, Ernie’s Angels
B USIN ES S IN TH E COM MU NITY
GREAT MINDS
THINKING ALIKE The Guernsey Chamber of Commerce is working with Guernsey Mind to support its workplace initiatives and help it break down the taboos around mental health and wellbeing. Contact has been finding out about this busy local charity’s current projects.
With some innovative corporate and community initiatives, Guernsey Mind continues to push the boundaries ever wider in ensuring a positive attitude to mental wellbeing in the workplace and out of it to break down the stigmas associated with mental health. Jo Cottell heads up the employee wellbeing service at Guernsey Mind and says that more and more companies are recognising the benefits of good mental health practices in the workplace. She believes there are sound business reasons for adopting positive strategies.
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‘Businesses with strong wellbeing strategies and cultures report improved attendance figures, higher morale and reduced staff turnover. We can help businesses take a proactive approach to supporting mental wellbeing by offering a range of consultancy and training services. In the last 12 months we have worked with more than 20 businesses and organisations offering a range of services to help improve workplace wellbeing, and it’s really encouraging that more and more businesses are now identifying mental health as equally important to physical health, and are keen to learn more about how to support their staff.
‘We run the Mental Health First Aid training, accredited by Public Health England, and have trained over 60 first aiders since launching the programme in mid-2017. We are running a number of these courses again this year, and already most are fully subscribed. Our aim is to train one in 10 of the population as mental health first aiders.
‘We train managers to recognise common mental health problems, understand how staff might be feeling, and how to support those going through a difficult time or who are returning to the workplace, and we also run sessions for staff on mental health awareness and how to look after your own wellbeing. We can also offer mental health audits to businesses and then make recommendations about the changes an organisation could think about adopting. These can be anything from staff training or policy development to simple, practical organisational changes.
‘This year we are increasing the awareness of the importance of looking after everyone’s mental health at work, and providing support networks, training and information. Employers can contact us about a range of workplace mental health issues – training, advice, mediation, for example. Please talk to us to find out how we can help.’
‘We are continuing to run our ‘Wellbeing in Mind’ course as part of the Guernsey College of Further Education night class programme too. This gives an introduction to a number of topics relevant to workplace and general wellbeing, such as mindfulness and nutrition.
The charity is also about to launch its 1,000 Minds campaign. This aims to create a meeting of minds and voices – 1,000 to be exact – to pledge three actions in a year to make a difference to the landscape of local mental health.
B USI N E SS I N T H E CO M MUN IT Y down stigma at work and at home. The champions will all sign up to utilise their skills and experiences to forge a strong and committed community of mental health campaigners.
Guernsey Mind’s vision is of a society that has a positive mental attitude towards mental wellbeing and where the community embraces respect for all. This could be something as simple as attending one of Guernsey Mind’s events, sharing news items on social media or taking the more difficult step to talk openly about your own mental health experiences. Guernsey Mind will be launching the campaign in June and is inviting 150 existing mental health champions, who represent a wide crosssection of the community, to sign up.
Guernsey Mind will run an annual event celebrating our champions and recognising what they do to promote good mental health and wellbeing in the community. The 1,000 Minds project aims to achieve three key objectives:
So far the charity has attracted mental health champions from the corporate world, Team Talk - promoting positive mental health in sport, the Hope Singers community choir, mental health first aiders and representatives from the mental health and physical health services. There are also blue light champions - drawn from the emergency services, walk and talk champions, champions from the arts and those promoting good mental health for men and women. All will be standing up to making a difference to mental health on the island, to break
1.
To raise awareness and reduce stigma about mental health;
2.
To encourage a positive attitude towards mental wellbeing; and
3.
To promote champions to look after their own wellbeing.
Guernsey Mind’s vision is of a society that has a positive mental attitude towards mental wellbeing and where the community embraces respect for all. Guernsey Mind pledges to do the following: • Keep in touch - the mental health community will be invited to sign up to Mind’s Facebook page and
provide the charity with an email to be added to our mailing list. • Highlight our champions’ work - we will produce a blog to keep everyone informed of what the champions are up to on the news, views and events front. • Support our champions’ work - we will provide information, events and keep in regular touch with our Champions to help them reach their three pledges and to undertake a positive intervention for their own wellbeing. Emily Litten, executive director of Guernsey Mind said: ‘Our 1,000 Minds initiative is a recognition and a celebration of a new dawn of mental health awareness in Guernsey and the people who are making it happen. We want to make it as easy as possible for our champions to achieve their three pledges and will organise events and opportunities throughout the year such as our Team Talk heptathlon, Mental Health First Aid training, Hope Singers Choir, Stop Male Suicide and Express Yourself campaigns. If you want to sign up to become a champion and attend our launch, please get in touch.’
GET IN TOUCH For further information about Mental Health First Aider courses and our Employee Wellbeing Service: Jo.Cottell@guernseymind.org.gg For our SMS, Team Talk and Express Yourself campaigns: Laurel. Letocq@guernseymind.org.gg For Hope singers, Walk and Talk and 1,000 Minds: Jill.Chadwick@guernseymind.org.gg The proceeds from the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner on 17 May with guest speaker Alastair Campbell will be donated to Guernsey Mind. ■
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INTERV IEW
MEET THE
BOSS
As CEO of Condor Ferries, Paul Luxon has the responsibility of ensuring islanders, visitors and freight make it safely to and from the islands. He told Contact how he stays calm when things get rough.
What does an average day involve for you? There is no average day at the office in this role. When I joined Condor Ferries almost two years ago, I made a promise that I would get out and about continually. So every week I travel around our port network of Guernsey, Jersey, St Malo, Poole and Portsmouth onboard our four-ship fleet our two conventional ships, Goodwill and Clipper, plus our two high speed craft, Liberation and Rapide. And yes, I sometimes fly too. When I catch the comment, ‘not travelling by boat today?’ I always smile thinking about the many miles I have travelled already that week by sea. What’s your favourite part of the job? Genuinely trying to make a positive difference to the services we offer our Channel Islands’ population, and meeting so many of the experienced specialists working across the Condor network in a huge variety of professional fields. What do you least enjoy about the role? A combination of not being able to make our improvement plans happen even more quickly than we are doing, and not having more hours in the day. I enjoy working hard and being busy, but we have so many new projects and initiatives that more time would be a godsend.
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Condor has had some difficult times over recent years, including just before you took over as CEO. Did that discourage you from taking on the role? No, although of course I thought it through very carefully, as everyone does when joining a new organisation. I saw a long-standing local company (Condor celebrated its 70th anniversary last October) that had invested £50m into its business to reinvest in the fleet, and had then had a pretty torrid time of it for 18 months for a whole variety of one-off and unusual reasons.
traffic. Each is no less important than the other, although the people reliant on each of the three segments often are only focused on and interested in the part of our services they use the most. We however have to maintain the balance across all three demanding areas to deliver a service that works for all ferry users. And yes, I am fully aware every day that our freight clients and passengers are reliant on us for the sea part of the essential island ‘digital, air and sea connectivity’ needs we all rely on to function successfully economically.
From weather conditions to strikes in France, Condor can face challenging working conditions. How do you handle the difficult times? To use a shipping metaphor, rather as the tide comes in and out twice each day, every day a ferry company will see new challenges come in on a daily basis. By its very nature Condor operates around the difficult Channel area and so weather, sea conditions and sailing complexity is an everyday event for us - so best to keep smiling and tough it through.
How do you think your colleagues would describe you? … now that’s a question only they can answer, but I hope they might recognise and accept that I work very hard, care about what I do, am very determined, but with a smile on my face!
Condor provides a vital link for the Channel Islands, do you feel the responsibility of that? We segment our business into three main areas: essential daily freight cargo; islander lifeline travel with their cars; and tourism
If you could have had an alternative career, what would it have been? What you mean apart from a Formula One racing driver, or Ryder Cup golfing star, or Wimbledon tennis pro? No time for regrets, seize the day in what you have chosen to do, and do it in the best way you possibly can! ■
Before your daughter meets her future husband, you should meet Ben.
Why? Because Ben can introduce you to Ravenscroft Investment Management. At Ravenscroft we understand the individual investment needs of each client and believe there is an investment for everyone, which is why you can start your own plan with a minimum investment of just £5,000. So if you’re thinking about saving for your daughter’s wedding day, it’s worth meeting Ben. To find out more about Ravenscroft Investment Management’s products and services call Ben on +44 (0)1481 732769, email him at bbyrom@ravenscroftgroup.com or visit www.ravenscroftgroup.com
INVESTMENTS FOR EVERYONE Guernsey: +44 (0)1481 729100 Jersey: +44 (0)1534 722051
www.ravenscroftgroup.com
Ravenscroft is a trading name of Ravenscroft Limited (“RL”) (company number 42906) and Ravenscroft Investment Management Limited (“RIML”) (company number 49397) both of which have their registered office addresses at P.O. Box 222, Level 5, The Market Buildings, Fountain Street, St Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 4JG. The business address for Ravenscroft Limited’s Jersey office is PO Box 419, First Floor, Weighbridge House, Liberation Square, St Helier, Jersey JE2 3NA. RL is licensed and regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission to conduct investment business and the Jersey Financial Services Commission to conduct investment and funds services business. Ravenscroft Investment Management is a trading name of RIML. RIML is licensed and regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission to conduct investment business. BullionRock is the trading name of Ravenscroft Precious Metals Limited (“RPML”) (company number 54550) which has its registered office address at P.O. Box 222, Level 5, The Market Buildings, Fountain Street, St Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 4JG, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ravenscroft Limited. RPML is registered with the Guernsey Financial Services Commission as a Non-Regulated Financial Services Business.
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