September / October 2014
Michael Byrne
CICRA - its successful pan-island business model LUXEMBOURG, MORE THAN A RADIO STATION A look at how this tiny jurisdiction has one of the world’s biggest funds industries
PAN-ISLAND BUSINESS MODEL
A VIEW FROM WITHIN
Chief executive of CICRA explains why its pan-island approach could be replicated and looks ahead to the 4G rollout
Tracey Ellis gives us a glimpse of life ‘back stage’ in a five star hotel
G U E R N S E Y ’ S
B U S I N E S S
M A G A Z I N E
Cash management working as one It’s perfect when everything works in harmony. When you can access a range of leading integrated cash management solutions shaped around your needs and facilitating the control of money throughout your organisation. To experience optimum efficiency with everything working as one, simply call 0207 574 3247 or speak to your Relationship Manager. Alternatively, you can find out more by visiting us at barclays.com/wealth/cash
Wealth and Investment Management Barclays offers wealth and investment management products and services to its clients through Barclays Bank PLC and its subsidiary companies. Barclays Private Clients International Limited, part of Barclays, is registered in the Isle of Man. Registered Number: 005619C. Registered Office: Barclays House, Victoria Street, Douglas, Isle of Man IM99 1AJ. Barclays Private Clients International Limited is licensed by the Isle of Man Financial Supervision Commission, registered with the Insurance and Pensions Authority in respect of General Business, and authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK in relation to UK regulated mortgage activities. Barclays Private Clients International Limited, Jersey Branch, is regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission. Barclays Private Clients International Limited, Jersey Branch, has its principal business address in Jersey at 13 Library Place, St. Helier, Jersey JE4 8NE, Channel Islands. Barclays Bank PLC, Isle of Man Branch, has its principal business address in the Isle of Man at Barclays House, Victoria Street, Douglas, Isle of Man IM99 1AJ. Barclays Private Clients International Limited, Guernsey Branch, is licensed by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission under the Banking Supervision (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 1994, as amended, and the Protection of Investors (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 1987, as amended. Barclays Private Clients International Limited, Guernsey Branch, has its principal place of business at Le Marchant House, St Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands GY1 3BE.
Welcome to Contact as we head towards Q4 I write this in the third week of August, having just returned from my summer holiday, but knowing that by the time you are reading it, autumn will be commencing. So we are already three quarters of the way through the year - a frightening thought for those of us with businesses that run on the calendar year. What does the last quarter of 2014 have in store for all of us? We remain hopeful for a gradual improvement in the economy and we recognise a desire in the island to look forwards rather than backwards, though I temper this comment having looked at the news in August, which suggests signs of uncertainty in the economic outlook in Europe and the UK. This is in addition to mixed messages from Mark Carney at the Bank of England regarding interest rates. If he finds it challenging to get a handle on the economic outlook, imagine how the rest of us feel. This issue of Contact features an interview with Michael Byrne the new chief executive of CICRA, the island’s competition watchdog. High on its agenda are doctors’ surgeries, 4G deployment and various other projects.
We also look at the telecoms sector particularly considering the implications of 4G to our business community, according to the newly appointed licensees. Communication is our lifeblood and so speed, price and accessibility will be of interest to all. On a different note, Alex Bridle of the Guernsey Event Company considers how local companies can make best use of the impressive range of events that take place on the island, for entertaining clients. ‘Wellbeing at work’ is another area of interest to us all. It grows in importance as we become more aware of the benefits, both sociological and economic, of looking after our employees. Employees rightly expect and desire their workplace environment and health to be of paramount importance to their employers. Lastly by the time this magazine hits your desks, Chamber’s new website will be up and running. Do please look at this and make use of it. It is a major investment for Chamber and a project of which we are rightly proud. I hope that benefits will flow through to our members and the corporate sector generally, as we use it to inform, assist and encourage feedback on the subjects that concern our business community. Go to www.guernseychamber.com
Editor Trish Grover editor@collaboratecommunications.com Advertising sales Julie Todd sales@collaboratecommunications.com Design & production Mojoe joe@mojoecreative.co.uk
Contact is produced six times a year by Collaborate Communications. To receive Contact magazine call Julie Todd on: communications 01481 715 222 or email: sales@collaboratecommunications.com www.facebook.com/ContactmagazineGuernsey @collaborateCI
www.guernseychamber.com office@guernseychamber.com 01481 727 483
Suite 1 16 Glategny Esplanade St Peter Port Guernsey GY1 1WN
Contact is published by Collaborate Communications. Copyright 2014. 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. 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.
@GuernseyChamber GuernseyChamber
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FE AT U R ES
39
20
53
Michael Byrne
Luxembourg
Grumpy old (wo)man
CICRA - its successful pan-island business model
From medium wave to the crest of a wave
With Linda le Vasseur
70
Contents 6 Business news 14 Chamber news
80
If I were in charge
All in a day’s work
With Mark Cooke
With Tracey Ellis
20 Michael Byrne 24 Wellbeing in the workplace 39 Jurisdictions - Luxembourg 43 Telecoms 53 Grumpy old (wo)man 57 Family law 61 Business in the community 70 If I were in charge 73 Corporate hospitality 80 All in a day’s work
CONT RIBU T O R S James Arklie - writer
Simon Boucher-Harris - photographer
Gemma Long - writer
John O’Neill - photographer
Nichole Sweetsur - writer
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BUSINESS NEWS
Family firm invests in the future Family-owned Le Mont Saint Garage has unveiled extended, refurbished premises following eight months of building works plus a significant investment. The expansion was driven by the need to increase capacity in both the service department and the showroom. The investment reflects the dealership’s confidence in the future of Guernsey’s motor trade and the island’s economy as a whole.
Managing director and founder, Dave Beausire, explained that the increased number of vehicles on the roads has brought greater servicing requirements which, coupled with the ever more complicated tests required by manufacturers, had driven the need for the service expansion. ‘We also needed to improve the display area for the three brands we currently represent,’ he said. The expansion has meant an increase in staff at the family-run dealership. Dave believes strongly that the motor car
Ben Clarke, owner of Arcade Creative, becomes creative director of Oi as part of the new structure and he will be responsible for managing and growing the agency’s creative and digital teams across Jersey, Guernsey and London.
Acquisition, rebrand and 10th anniversary for Oi. Marketing communications agency Oi has acquired award-winning agency Arcade Creative in Jersey. 6
Ben has won numerous Chartered Institute of Marketing and industry awards in recent years for campaigns for Jersey Heritage and Longueville Manor, and has extensive creative and digital expertise. He commented: ‘It’s great to be joining Oi and working with some good friends and very talented people. It’s exciting times ahead with expansion plans across both the islands, then London next year. So I am looking forward to getting stuck in.’
will always play a major part in people’s lives, whatever the future may hold – whether this be electrical or solar power or further development of hybrids – and feels the dealership is perfectly placed now to respond. ‘In business, you cannot rest on your laurels and throughout our 27 years in this industry we have moved with the times and adapted to market conditions to become, and remain, a leading force.’ Pictured from left to right: directors Peter, Jackie and Michael Beausire, managing director, Dave Beausire.
‘This deal has been almost two years in the making,’ said Peter Grange, Oi’s managing director. ‘Ben is unique in the Channel Islands when it comes to his position, expertise and experience. His career has seen him working at a leading London branding agency, across some of the Channel Islands’ leading creative agencies, to most recently developing advanced website, app and digital marketing campaigns.’ The deal coincides with Oi celebrating its 10th anniversary and unveiling a new brand identity. Pictured left to right, the new Oi management team: Ben Clarke, Katie Sebire, Peter Grange and Heather Townsend
B U S IN E S S N EWS where they may need to improve to better meet their customers’ needs and we encourage customers to use this report to help them decide which mobile provider they choose in the future.
The results are in… Findings from the CICRA survey of customer satisfaction with mobile service providers Sure, JT and Airtel-Vodafone were published last month and the results indicated that there is work to be done.
‘Competition encourages telecoms operators to improve the quality of existing services and introduce new and innovative services into the market in order to retain existing customers and win new business. However, for competition to be truly effective customers need to have information such as the results of this survey.’
The survey, undertaken by Island Analyisis, asked customers to give their opinion on the quality of service, billing and the level of customer service they had received from the three operators. The headline results showed 60% of respondents rated quality of service as satisfactory or highly satisfactory with Airtel-Vodafone achieving 82%, Sure 59% and JT achieving 49%; 29% of those surveyed had cause to contact customer services in the past six to 12 months, with a quarter of those (26%) reporting their experience to be dissatisfactory or worse. While only 7% of those surveyed had changed provider in the last year, a quarter (24%) suggested that they would be likely or very likely to change provider in the future with just over a half (52%) citing pricing and
CICRA has taken steps, in response to concerns raised by local consumers, to ensure that, from 1 October 2014, mobile operators are no longer able to change a customer’s mobile contract during the fixed term of the contract. special offers as the main reason for seeking to change. CICRA director, Louise Read, said: ‘There are marked differences in the quality of services rating achieved by the three operators. We encourage operators to use the results of this survey to identify areas
It has also worked with operators to reduce the incidence of bill shock and is pleased that Sure and JT have voluntarily introduced caps to roaming charges. CICRA has also placed a condition on operators seeking 4G spectrum, that customers must have the ability to control the cost of their mobile phone through the use of a data cap.
RBC gets the gold
Alan Hunt from RBC (pictured right, alongside Peter Rose also of RBC) commented:
RBC Wealth Management has received the first Gold SKA certificate to be awarded in the Channel Islands for its efforts to reduce the environmental impact of refurbishments at its Canada Court office in St Peter Port.
‘It is very encouraging to see our efforts rewarded with such a prestigious accreditation. In addition to ensuring that all the products used in the project were sustainably sourced and energy efficient, a major challenge was making sure we could reuse or recycle the waste generated by the refurbishments.’
Operated by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, the SKA rating is an environmental assessment tool to help developers target the environmental issues most relevant to their projects, in order to achieve the most sustainable result possible. The certification is notoriously difficult to achieve, and is only awarded to the most sustainable refurbishment projects in the British Isles.
Over 90% of the total waste generated was either recycled or, in the case of furniture, donated to other organisations. More than 40 office chairs were donated to Guernsey charities, and 534 square meters of old carpet was shipped to a recycling depot in the UK instead of going into the Mont Cuet landfill.
events from
Tel: +44 (0)1481 728686 Email: info@eventguernsey.com
eventguernsey.com
B U S I NES S NE WS
island and they are looking at a raft of different ideas to promote Guernsey as a recognised, and reputable hub for this sector,’ said GTA University deputy chief executive, Simon Le Tocq (pictured). ‘As part of that, it is important that we have people with the right skills and we recognise that young people, who are currently out of work but who have grown up with technology at their fingertips, already have the technical knowhow and it’s a case of channelling that and expanding their understanding.’
Gem PR & Media celebrates 1st birthday Gem PR & Media has had a successful first year of trading. Since its inception in August 2013, the company has gone from strength-to-strength, offering a range of public relations, media buying and press services. Managing director, Gemma Long (pictured), said expansion of the business at such a fast pace had always been the plan. ‘We have created a model that provides our clients with a strategic and sustainable approach to their PR, copywriting and media buying needs and we are really excited about future developments within the company.’
Coding training to enhance skills of local jobseekers
Martin Bridle, Job Centre manager at Social Security, said it was important that those islanders out of work were supported in their efforts to learn new skills.
Jobseekers are being offered the opportunity to learn computer coding in a joint initiative aimed at upskilling unemployed islanders. The Job Centre and the GTA University Centre are piloting a seven-day coding course for a dozen people currently looking for work.
‘This is an excellent example of the public and private sectors working together for the benefit of unemployed islanders and Guernsey as a whole. This is an area that will interest a number of jobseekers and we are confident that these new skills can be an asset to future employers,’ he said.
‘Commerce & Employment has highlighted digital industries as an area of enormous potential growth for the
‘The outcomes of the training course will be evaluated and, if it is successful, then consideration can be given to running the initiative again.’
From the outset, Gem PR & Media has also supported the local community offering PR support to The HUB, Young People Guernsey and more recently to the Youth Commission, in order to help these charities gain the financial and volunteer support they require.
by managing director of the North American region Emilio Miguel, and will serve as a hub for JTC’s growing network of intermediaries in the USA and a further gateway to the fast-growing Latin American market.
‘The HUB has been extremely fortunate to be supported by Gemma and her team at Gem PR & Media. We have benefited significantly from the very proactive and professional PR advice, resulting in key relationships with corporate supporters, as well as profile-raising articles across the media,’ said Jane St Pier, chair of the Youth Commission and one of the founders of The HUB.
Paul Mower, director of the New York office (pictured), will be joined by Nydia Deyne who moves from Citibank to take up her role. Paul is looking forward to the new challenge.
‘As a relatively new charity, it has been key to our viability that we convey our message clearly to the Guernsey community and this has been possible as a result of Gem PR & Media’s experience of CSR and PR in the Bailiwick.’
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Further expansion for JTC JTC Group has opened a second representative office in the USA, adding New York City to its well-established presence in Miami. The New York office will operate as part of JTC Group Americas, headed up
‘I’m delighted to be part of JTC’s exciting growth plans and the New York office will allow us to access the client and intermediary community in one of the world’s leading financial centres. Many Latin American and international clients have close ties with the city and it provides an outstanding platform from which to offer our suite of private client, corporate, fund and real estate services.’
B U S IN E S S N EWS
the rules relating to the management of the Guernsey pension structure, RATS. The principal objectives of the suggestions are to explore whether the cost of pension provision for islanders could be reduced, as well as creating opportunities for individuals to manage their own pension investment.
Guernsey retirement annuity trust scheme’s (RATS) rules under review The GFSC is seeking feedback from islanders on its suggestions for revising
Currently, other than employee contributions to an occupational pension scheme, retirement annuity schemes and retirement annuity trust schemes offer the only means by which islanders can make tax efficient savings to fund their retirement. However, these schemes can be expensive to run and offer little flexibility to islanders wanting to make their own investment decisions over their pension fund. The GFSC has therefore decided to consult on potential changes that could be made to the RATS rules in order to reduce the costs and open up opportunities for the
development of self-invest pensions without any reduction in the protection available to a member. Members of the public and pension providers are invited to give their responses to the questions set out in the consultation paper, which is available on the GFSC website. After the end of the consultation period a working group of pension practitioners and commission staff will be set up to consider the principal themes and proposals emerging from the consultation. Director general of the commission, William Mason, said: ‘I very much hope that Guernsey consumers will welcome the commission’s efforts in this area to simplify regulation and improve the value for money of pensions. I would encourage as many people as possible to respond to the consultation rather than regarding it as merely a technical consultation for industry experts.’
B usiness Diary
Coming up… A few key business events for your diaries Date 12 Sept 15 Sept 16 Sept
Event
Time
Venue
Booking / Information
AO Hall FinTech seminar
1400 - 1700
OGH Hotel
www.aohall.com
Chamber monthly lunch David Kingdom, chairman, Kingdom Architects + Planners
1200
OGH Hotel
events@guernseychamber.com
Rise and Shine networking breakfast
0800
Muse
Tel Anne 07911 721759
B2B Guernsey Business networking event
0800 - 1900
Beau Sejour
www.ec-jersey.com
AO Hall fraud conference
0830 (all day event)
St Pierre Park Hotel
www.aohall.com
17 Sept 26 Sept 8 Oct 14 Oct
Visit Guernsey Industry seminar
0900 (timings TBC)
St Pierre Park Hotel
events@guernseychamber.com
Rise and Shine networking breakfast
0800
Muse
Tel Anne 07911 721759
20 Oct
Chamber monthly lunch Julian Box Chief executive, Calligo
1200
OGH Hotel
events@guernseychamber.com
19 Nov
Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner Guest speaker Richard Eyre CBE 1900
St Pierre Park Hotel
sophie@eventguernsey.com
If you would like your event included in our diary please email details to editor@collaboratecommunications.com
TH E C U S T OME R SE RVI C E AWARD S
The Livingroom Customer Service Awards
Rousse Kiosk @RousseKiosk Jul 4 Great night last night @TheCustSerAward Well done all the winners and to everyone that was nominated :)
There was a great turnout for the awards ceremony in Market Square in July. Here are a few of the highlights.
‘Winning this award feels great. I am so grateful and overwhelmed. It feels amazing to be recognised and hard work rewarded.’ Archana Sharma, La Grande Mare Hotel, winner, Judges’ Special Award
Deputy Mary Lowe @DeputyMaryLowe Jul 3 @TheCustSerAward well done to all those shortlisted for tonight’s awards. Congratulations to all the winners
‘The team is so pleased to have been successful in ‘Best Team’ and we are all incredibly proud.’ Neil Fellows, Lloyds Bank, winner, Best Team Award
T H E CU S T OM E R S E RV ICE AWA R DS
Guernsey Market @ Guernsey_Market @TheCustSerAward is a brilliant event for Guernsey,
This Is EPIC @ ThisIsEPIC Gsy Jul 3 Well done to all involved in the @LivingroomGSY 2014 @TheCustSerAwarda really nice evening.
‘The awareness of your incredible achievement as founders of these awards is huge and widespread – you have done our island so much credit and it is most certainly recognised – WELL DONE!’
‘As you will agree although extremely proud winners this is about all who strive to provide their customers with what each and every one deserves.’ Andy, Seafresh, Overall Winner 2014
P EO P LE
Justine Gaudion, Barclays
Adam Cole, Appleby
Cem Bars, C5 Alliance
Justine is Barclays’ new head of local markets in Guernsey.
Adam has been called to the Guernsey bar and was recently sworn as Advocate of the Royal Court, the first lawyer in Appleby’s Guernsey office to complete the qualification process since the office opened in 2010.
Cem has joined C5 Alliance as client relationship manager in the company’s growing sales team.
Justine has been with Barclays for 28 years working in a number of senior roles. She will now lead the team of premier and local corporate relationship managers in addition to the personal banking team based in the St Peter Port branch. Evan Gavas, head of core business said: ‘Justine’s extensive experience at Barclays means she has a deep understanding and great knowledge of the business locally. It’s fantastic to see someone with such a longstanding relationship with the business, progress so successfully into one of our most senior customer-facing roles.’
Adam works in the firm’s litigation and insolvency group and practises all aspects of commercial litigation, contentious insolvency and trust issues. Prior to joining Appleby, Adam worked for CMS Cameron McKenna in London.
Cem has more than 10 years’ experience across the entertainment, media and technology industries, including a period working in Australia with computer technology company Dell. Marc Lainé, managing director in Guernsey said:
Jeremy Le Tissier, Guernsey partner, congratulated Adam: ‘This is the culmination of a great deal of hard work and dedication on his part and he should be proud of his achievement.’
‘Cem brings some highly relevant experience. His true talent lies in his ability to communicate with business decision makers in their own language. This allows him to unearth a more realistic picture of a potential client’s requirements and match those needs with the most effective solutions we can offer.’
David Becker, Deloitte
Olivier Dorey - Dorey Financial Modelling
Thomas Fysh, Medical Specialist Group
David has been promoted to partner at Deloitte LLP and will continue to work in the organisation’s Guernsey office.
Olivier has joined Dorey Financial Modelling as an investment analyst.
A highly qualified and experienced consultant breast surgeon has joined the Medical Specialist Group. Thomas Fysh, is the new addition to the team at the Bulstrode Breast Unit.
David joined Deloitte 18 years ago as a graduate and qualified as an accountant in 1999. Since then he has become a financial services audit specialist and also leads the offshore insurance practice and the Guernsey real estate group. John Clacy, lead partner in Guernsey, commented: ‘David can be fantastically proud of his achievements and his promotion to partner is just reward for his efforts. I look forward to working with David in driving the Guernsey office forward over the next few years.’
Olivier has a strong technical background with a degree in mathematics and a masters in computing and software engineering. He has held a number of senior positions in the IT industry. Martyn Dorey, managing director, says Olivier is a perfect fit for his team: ‘Our business is about illustrating the behaviour of assets against liabilities, reducing the risk of insolvency and enhancing the value of a client’s assets. Olivier brings excellent skills and technical knowledge to our growing company and we are delighted that he is joining the team.’
London-born, Thomas studied at the medical school at Guy’s & St Thomas Hospital. Although trained in a wide range of general and emergency surgery, Thomas has sub-specialty training in reconstructive and oncoplastic breast surgery. His appetite to gain a high level of knowledge and expertise in his chosen field has led him to train in cosmetic and symmetrising breast surgery, while he has also achieved masters degrees in surgical technology and surgical education.
COMPANY SECRETARY (permanent)
FUND ADMINISTRATOR (permanent)
This role requires at least two years’ co sec experience and ideally ICSA or STEP. Duties include liaising with boards, arranging meetings, preparing board minutes and packs and updating computer records.
An international financial group seeks a staff member to assist with managing client relationships, being the first contact for client requests, new business take-on, general administration and client billings. Relevant fund experience is required.
For further information on these positions please visit www.
Realise the potential of your people PE OPL E
Vanessa Lawlor, Bedell Cristin
Claire Marquand, JTC Group
David Waldron, PwC
Vanessa Lawlor has joined Bedel Cristin as an associate, moving from the BVI where she gained extensive experience advising on a wide range of matters.
Claire has been promoted to senior compliance manager for JTC in Guernsey.
David Waldron has been appointed director in PwC’s Guernsey office.
With more than 10 years’ compliance experience in the financial services sector, Claire has previously worked for Ardel Fund Services, which JTC Group acquired in 2013, Clydesdale Bank International and Active Compliance Services.
David leads the Guernsey tax business, with a primary focus on providing core tax compliance and advisory services. He works very closely with PwC’s UK firm, particularly in the areas of operational taxes and is the primary contact for all FATCA-related issues across the PwC network.
She is instructed regularly by major financial institutions, public and private corporations, and high net worth individuals on sales and acquisitions, IPOs, liquidations and company restructures. Mark Helyar, managing partner, commented:
Paul Duquemin, managing director in Guernsey commented:
‘It has been a sustained period of growth for the firm. Vanessa’s appointment brings further strength and depth to our Guernsey offering and will help us meet the requirements of an increasingly diverse range of blue chip clients worldwide.’
‘We are delighted to announce Claire’s promotion. She has worked very hard to achieve this and it is very well deserved. At JTC we pride ourselves on the quality of our people and Claire has consistently delivered a high level of service to both our clients and to the Group.’
Brendan McMahon, senior partner, in the Channel Islands, said: ‘I’m delighted to be able to recognise David’s specialist knowledge, absolute commitment and contribution to PwC. His knowledge will prove invaluable at a time when the local financial services industry is facing significant market and regulatory challenges.’
Kieran Burt, Guernsey Gas
Lisa Evans and Rupert Iles, ABN AMRO
Nicola Hopkins, Browns Advocates
Kieran has been appointed assets manager for Guernsey, Jersey and Manx Gas.
Lisa and Rupert have been promoted to managerial positions at ABN AMRO.
Advocate Nicola Hopkins has joined family law firm Browns Advocates
Kieran has worked for Jersey Gas for 19 years and, for the last five years, as operations officer. He will now become responsible for managing the assets in all three islands in a safe, efficient and sustainable manner.
Lisa’s new role will involve supporting the client relationship management team with client requests for lending, from discussing the proposal to obtaining approval and putting the facilities in place. Rupert will be involved with the preparation of financial information to meet management and regulatory reporting requirements.
Nicola moved to Guernsey in 2002. She is highly experienced in all aspects of family law and has a particular interest in mediation.
The bank’s managing director Graham Thoume said the promotions were well deserved.
Commenting on the appointment, Adrian said:
Kieran is looking forward to the opportunity of working in all three islands. ‘It’s exciting to be managing the assets in three very different locations. They all have their own unique characteristics and it’s going to be very interesting to learn how that impacts on our assets and the way in which we manage and maintain them.’
‘ABN AMRO prides itself on having knowledgeable, hardworking managers who can lead teams through good and bad times and I am confident that Lisa and Rupert are fully capable in this respect.’
Browns was established in 2012 by Advocate Adrian Brown and specialises in family law, providing advice in all areas of divorce, separation, children and finances.
‘We are delighted to welcome Nicola to Browns and know that she will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the firm.’
TRUST ADMINISTRATOR (permanent)
COMPLIANCE CONTRACTORS
This vacancy out of town involves administering a defined portfolio of trust clients, completing documents, maintaining statutory records, bookkeeping and liaising with third parties. If you have two years’ trust experience, call us to find out more.
We have a wide range of contracts/temp assignments available in the compliance, AML and CDD fields and we are seeking candidates with several years’ compliance experience plus ideally a relevant qualification.
situations.gg, email team@situations.gg or call us on 710639
CHAMBER NEWS Chamber’s summer events Over the course of the last couple of months, Chamber events moved from the seminar room to the great outdoors. First, there was a visit to the Victorian walled garden at Saumarez Park which is being carefully restored by The Guernsey Botanical
Trust. Raymond Evison conducted the tour and made a brief presentation on future plans for the garden. A great time was had by all – particularly as there was a traditional Victorian breakfast served up afterwards. ‘I had not seen the garden for a few years so found the transformation amazing. The attention to (Victorian) detail was impressive and the future plans are to be admired.’
Said Jane Tulier, personal trainer.
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The second visit was a tour of Guernsey Electricity, which was a sell out. The 30 attendees were shown around the station and had the opportunity to put questions to Guernsey Electricity’s corporate strategic director, Sally-Ann David afterwards. This was a really interesting look behind the scenes.
CH AM B E R N E W S
Contact caught up with Tony Rowbotham to find out how he is enjoying his new role as Chamber president, and if he has any regrets about taking on the job! ‘Regrets? None so far but it’s been an interesting and busy first three months,’ said Tony. ‘I took the job on as the GST debate was emerging so it’s been in at the deep end.’
Review seems limited in scope and perhaps should have had a much more comprehensive remit. For example, I wonder whether or not the States has considered revisiting the matter of corporate taxation?
Chamber has been working with the other local business associations, GIBA and CGi, on the GST issue and this ‘joined up’ approach is something that Tony believes is of real benefit.
‘The States needs to look at its own cost base and perhaps take the example of the private sector which has had to find ways to reduce overheads in order to remain profitable and competitive. As roughly one in six of our working population is a public servant I am convinced there must be efficiencies to be made. Reducing the head count, rationalisation and reorganisation would all help and perhaps the States should be considering outsourcing as an option. Property maintenance, gardening, street cleaning are just a few functions that immediately spring to mind. The UK government claims that outsourced projects and services have delivered savings of up to 30%. I wonder – could Guernsey achieve the same?’
‘There are differences between the associations of course, but there are many areas of common interest. Lobbying government with a common voice can only strengthen our position. ‘The GST issue has polarised opinion. From a Chamber point of view its introduction would be damaging to business, particularly small businesses and sole traders of which there are a large number in the island. Companies will face an onerous administration challenge, which will create an additional financial burden. This will have to either be absorbed or passed on to customers. I am particularly concerned about the tourism and retail sectors which already face fierce competition.’ Tony believes that there are savings to be made within the Guernsey public sector that should be considered before the States introduces new taxes. ‘There are two main issues, the first being whether the argument for the need for additional revenue has been made effectively by Treasury and Resources. I see no real evidence that it has been. Secondly, the Personal Tax, Pensions and Benefits
Tony is very positive about the developments Chamber has made with regard to its communications strategy. ‘We introduced a new-look magazine in January and have now also launched the new Chamber website. The new site is the perfect platform for Chamber to interact with its members who can post comments, news and give feedback to Council on any of the issues affecting businesses in the island. This will ensure that we are able to represent members’ views accurately when we are lobbying government on their behalf. I would encourage everyone to visit the site and use it to full advantage.’ For Tony, the challenges that Guernsey faces
in the immediate future relate to how the island finally comes out of recession. ‘Guernsey was affected by the global downturn about three years later than most of the rest of the world. The challenge now is for Guernsey to come out of recession as soon as possible. We cannot afford to lag behind by three years when it comes to our recovery. The public sector needs to share this fiscal responsibility with the private sector by ensuring that it provides the platform from which Guernsey’s business sector can operate successfully. Infrastructure issues such as air links must be on the top of the agenda. ‘The other area which must be addressed is the speed with which we introduce new legislation. Guernsey has to be able to do so within a six-month period if it’s to survive on the global stage. Peer to peer lending is a current example of where Guernsey is being ‘fleet of foot’ and this type of initiative, as it taps into our highly skilled workforce, is the way to deliver tangible benefits to the economy. ‘The island can boast some great examples in the past, of being innovative and ‘first to market’ with products and services, but in my view there is a real danger of complacency creeping in. Plenty of competitor jurisdictions are snapping at our heels, keen to take our business. They can see our weaknesses and exploit those. We have to make sure that doesn’t happen.’ So Tony’s verdict on being president after three months? ‘I am very pleased I took on the role. It’s going to be a hectic couple of years I am sure. It’s a challenge – I have always found those difficult to resist!’
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C H AM B ER NE WS This was at a time when Frankfurt was marketing itself aggressively to the international business sector and London was at risk of losing potential business opportunities. ‘It was essential that government and business spoke with one voice’, he explained.
GST a ‘disaster’; number of public service employees ‘outrageous’ These were two of the more controversial comments from former Lord Mayor of Westminster and chairman of the Turkish /British Chamber of Commerce, Dr Harvey Marshall, who was the guest speaker at Chamber’s July lunch, sponsored by JT. As a member of Westminster Council, Dr Marshall played a pivotal role in the public/private sector initiative known as London First back in the 90s, which aimed to encourage businesses to develop in the city.
‘It was a great example of a collaborative approach between public and private sectors and involved London Docklands Development Corporation, the three London authorities as well as people such as Sir John Egan, the CEO of the British Airports Authority and Colin Marshall, CEO and then chairman of British Airways. We worked together to create a cohesive message to the outside world to promote London as a great place to visit, live and do business.’ Dr Marshall puts much of the initiative’s success down to strong leadership and stability and he thinks that is something Guernsey could learn from: ‘Business needs stability and particularly tax stability. I understand that GST is likely to form part of Guernsey’s long-term financial plan – this is the beginning of a slippery slope and could be a disaster for the island. It is a real disincentive to businesses setting up here and will create onerous levels of
This year’s guest speaker will be Richard Eyre CBE (pictured) the current chairman of the Internet Advertising Bureau. Richard’s career began in advertising when he became the first Media Director of BBH. In 1991 he became Chief Executive of Capital Radio leading the move to acquire radio companies outside London and playing a role in building the industry’s revenue share.
Date for your diaries Chamber’s annual dinner takes place on Wednesday 19 November 2014 at the St. Pierre Park Hotel, St Peter Port.
He was recruited to be Chief Executive of ITV in 1997 where he took on a demotivated and declining network. He published aggressive audience targets and built a new network team to achieve them annoying three Prime Minsters when he moved News at Ten in
costly bureaucracy and administration for existing operations.’ Dr Marshall believes that there are real savings to be made by culling the staff numbers in the Guernsey civil service: ‘I understand there are around 5,000 staff in the public sector which is outrageous for an island of this size. In Westminster we employed 4,000 and managed a population of 250,000 plus the additional 1 million who travelled in each day to either work or visit. If you need more money – that’s where to start. ‘There are some great opportunities to develop business for the island and some big deals to be done but Guernsey needs to be speaking with one voice rather than having six or seven organisations or departments giving out conflicting messages’, he said. ‘Why not call it Guernsey First?’ Dr Marshall is the Turkish British Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman and past Lord Mayor of Westminster. He is a third generation removed Guernsey man, whose great grandfather Hilary Martel lived on Glategny Esplanade. He was elected to the Westminster Council in 1990 and was Lord Mayor of Westminster in 2001-2002.
pursuit of this goal. He is now a full time non-executive director for a range of organisations primarily in the media and technology arenas. He has chaired the Eden Project and is currently the chairman of the Internet Advertising Bureau communications group, Next 15 plc and the Media Trust. Tickets for the event are £70 each or £840 for a table of 12 and can be booked by emailing sophie@eventguernsey.com, calling (01481) 728686, or downloading the table booking form at www.eventguernsey.com. Price includes Champagne reception, three-course dinner and an open cash bar.
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CH AM B E R N E W S His talk is entitled ‘Play your cards right. What the top 1% does differently’. James will provide tips to raise personal awareness and boost business skills.
B2B Guernsey 2014 Taking place on 17 September, this day-long event follows on from its Jersey equivalent held in June this year, which attracted approximately 300 people. There will be 30 participating companies taking small stands in the exhibition area and the local business community is invited to attend the various events in the day’s programme free of charge. The key objective behind B2B Guernsey is to create a platform for local businesses to meet potential clients, build business leads and promote their products and services via networking and face-to-face interaction. Chamber is hosting a panel debate in the middle of the day, which will focus on a number of key issues currently facing local companies, including the thorny topic of GST. Panelists will represent a cross section of the island’s business community, and the session will be facilitated by Guernsey Press business editor, James Falla. Other events during the day include a Rise & Shine Breakfast Club/StartUp Guernsey speed networking breakfast, where participants will pair up to be given two minutes each to pitch to each other. This is the type of activity that business people, particularly sole traders and new operators, are increasingly using as a means to increase their client and supplier base. One of the day’s highlights is a presentation by guest speaker and leading business consultant and ‘troubleshooter’, James Borg.
Later in the day the CGi will be hosting a ‘meet & greet’ networking session with light refreshments, open to members and non-members to find out more about the organisation and the opportunities it offers to local businesses. Julie Settle, managing director of event organiser EC Events, is looking forward to a successful day: ‘In these tough economic times, this type of event is a great opportunity for buyers and decision makers from all size and sector businesses to evaluate what is available in the market, streamline their supply base and generate some new business leads. There are networking opportunities throughout the day, either over coffee at the Sueco Café, which is open all day, or at one of the more structured networking sessions.’
The day at a glance Wednesday 17 September Beau Sejour 8 – 9 am Speed networking event 9.30 am Presentation ‘Reducing waste in business’ Jim Anderson, Public Services Dept. 11.30 am Presentation ‘Why Xero?’ Tony Chick, Xero 12 – 12.45 pm Chamber of Commerce panel debate - GST 1 – 1.45 pm Keynote speaker James Borg ‘Play your cards right. What the top 1% does differently’ 5 – 7 pm CGI ‘meet & greet’ Exhibition and café open all day. Whilst all sessions are free of charge, pre-booking is required for the breakfast networking session and James Borg’s presentation. Please visit: ec-jersey.com
About James Borg Influenced by an academic background in economics and psychology, James Borg’s knowledge was honed in a career that spans the spectrum of advertising, marketing, sales, work psychology, training and journalism. He now spends his time as a business consultant and ‘troubleshooter’ as well as providing training workshops and master classes covering interpersonal skills, body language awareness, persuasion and memory improvement. He appears on BBC radio and contributes to national newspapers and magazines on communication and business topics. He still finds time to pursue his longstanding travel and sports writing. In 2009 he was chosen as a Harvard Business Review contributor. He is keen to work with Guernsey businesses and anyone interested in arranging a talk or seminar with him can contact him at jamesborg9@aol.com
Event participants include: • AFM • Airtel-Vodafone • BDO Guernsey • Channel Island Lines • Commerce & Employment Dept • David Jackson • EC events • Galaxy Computers • Guernsey Post • Heillmdr Solutions • Ibex Education • Joys Productions • Network Insurance • Personal Best • Reduce Reuse Recycle • Rossborough • Spike Productions • Strong Signal • Sueco NB this list changes on a regular basis
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AWAR D S F OR AC HIE VE ME NT
Taking Guernsey by storm a force to be reckoned with ‘Sometimes it takes a trophy to make you realise what you have achieved. Someone else has recognised your work. Winning the award brought us so much credibility and trust.’ Co-owner of Storm Force Fitness, Jon Le Tocq, attended his first Guernsey Awards for Achievement gala evening supporting a friend who was nominated for one of the awards. He looked at the businesses which had been shortlisted and thought, ‘we could match them.’ A year later, Jon was presented with the trophy for the NatWest Best New Business Award. It’s that kind of belief, that has propelled Storm Force Fitness to where it is today. Starting off just four years ago, it has grown from running outdoor fitness camps, to training rugby, cricket and squash teams, and offering fitness retreats overseas. Jon has the appearance of your typical gym owner and by his own admission is a fitness freak. A fractured spine aged 17 saw him enter the world of fitness as part of his rehabilitation and he got a job at a gym where he was studying and completed a three-month personal training course. He has never looked back. On the face of it Jon runs a gym but just running a gym doesn’t win you an award for achievement. ‘The underlying foundation of the fitness industry is not working,’ he says. ‘Most gyms today take your money, offer you their equipment and then leave you to get on with it. Fitness though cannot be put into a box. Exercise has to be looked at in conjunction with other elements of your life such as nutrition, mind-set, stress levels and lifestyle.’ Jon believes passionately in the science of fitness. He doesn’t just want to help people lose weight, he wants to change lives.
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At the 2012 awards gala evening, he looked at companies like Livingroom, who won three awards, and saw how they had invested heavily in customer service. ‘The awards made me look at what we could do for each person and how we could take them from a place where they started off thinking about getting into a fitness routine to where they could look at themselves and say ‘I have my life back and I love it’.’ Jon entered the awards believing that, if nothing else, he would be forced to learn about his business and analyse every part of it.
Exercise has to be looked at in conjunction with other elements of your life such as nutrition, mind-set, stress levels and lifestyle ‘Filling out the nomination form helped me to focus and work out exactly what it is that we do. Some take the attitude that if I am not going to win what’s the point? But entering forces you to get uncomfortable. In business you often know things aren’t working in certain areas but tend to ignore it. Entering the awards highlights the stumbling blocks and hurdles you need to overcome and you become a better business person because of it.’ For those who say they haven’t got the time to devote to entering the awards, Jon believes they are exactly the people who need to put their names forward.
‘If you don’t have time to enter then your organisation isn’t running the way it should be. Taking a long hard look at your business highlights the inefficiencies as well as telling you what you are doing well. Too many people start off in business doing something they love and then end up running flat out doing things they shouldn’t be doing.’ For anyone thinking about entering this year’s awards Jon’s advice is simple. ‘Just do it. Winning an award really made me see what I had achieved. To be judged by respected business people who have been there and understand what has actually gone into achieving our success was fantastic. I am massively proud of what we have achieved and the awards helped me to see that.’
The Guernsey Awards for Achievement 2014 Six main business awards • NatWest Best New Business award • BWCI Innovation award • Healthspan Excellence in Marketing award • Investec Sustainability in Action award • Condor Ferries Employer of the Year award • Commerce & Employment Business of the Year award Contact Natalie Davidson on (01481) 728686 or email natalie@eventguernsey.com for more information on the awards or to book a table at the Guernsey Awards Gala Evening on Thursday 5 February 2014 Be in it to win it. www.awards.gg
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M I C H AE L BYR NE
Michael Byrne CICRA- its successful pan-island business model
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M ICH AE L B Y RN E
Michael Byrne was appointed as interim chief executive of the Channel Islands Competition and Regulatory Authorities (CICRA) in April and his post was made permanent in July CICRA regulates telecommunications, post and electricity in Guernsey and is also responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Guernsey competition law. Michael has worked with the regulator for nine years and knows the top job delivers variety, challenges and excitement in equal measure. For now, it appears the telecommunications sector is where much of the current activity is centred. Originally from South Africa, Michael moved to the UK in the early 1990s. He was a maths and statistics graduate with initial plans to forge a career in computer science. Instead his path took him into economic modelling for the UK’s Office for National Statistics and then, subsequently, into competition and regulation in the UK’s terrestrial, satellite and cable TV markets. Prior to coming to Guernsey he worked at Ofgem where he was involved in regulation and competition investigations within the UK’s electricity and gas markets. He moved to Guernsey with his family in 2005 working initially as CICRA’s head of economic regulation. Contact spoke to Michael about telecoms in the islands and the specific challenges of running a pan-island operation. ‘The islands have many differences of course but there is much in common as well. We are often dealing with the same companies across Jersey and Guernsey; the telecom operators are a good example. Many of the legal practices also straddle both islands which makes life more straightforward when we are dealing with competition legislation in particular,’ Michael explained. ‘Obviously the more that the policy objectives and priorities are aligned in the
two islands the easier it is for CICRA to define its own work priorities but, to be honest, the most difficult environment in which to work is probably not when there are differing views but when there are no clear priorities. Clarity is the real key to make everything work better and more efficiently.’
political agenda. There was a real sense of the energy and commitment. I am sure the fervour in the States of Jersey will be continued after the new States is elected there in October. That’s a real positive for any regulator since it helps guide us on where our own emphasis should be.’ Michael has witnessed a sea change in the telecoms sector and its public perception in recent years and sees the quality of service provision and fair pricing as key tools in Guernsey’s sales kit when the island is promoting itself in the international finance arena.
Pre-financial crisis the key driver was quality. That has changed significantly and, while businesses still want and need quality service provision, the market is a lot more cost-sensitive With this in mind Michael acknowledges an increasing political investment in developing government policy in telecoms. ‘Two years ago, following the Guernsey elections, there was a clear drive towards prioritising telecoms development and making sure that this sector was high on
‘Pre-financial crisis the key driver was quality. That has changed significantly and, while businesses still want and need quality service provision, the market is a lot more cost-sensitive. Companies are increasingly aware of the bottom line and the cost of telecoms is an important component of that. Connectivity is the lifeblood of any island community but, for somewhere like Guernsey, the ability to deliver great service at realistic cost can give us real competitive advantage against other island jurisdictions - if we get it right.’ With three local companies now having been awarded 4G spectrum, consumers will benefit from improved speed and capacity for transferring data in the very near future. ‘Demand for capacity is growing exponentially,’ Michael said. ‘Gone are the days when a household had one PC with the ensuing daily battles between family members for access. Love it or hate it the norm is now everyone watching movies, playing games and ‘chatting’ to friends on their own individual devices; school children use tablets in the classroom and need internet access to complete homework assignments.
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M I C H AE L BYR NE
We are a small team at CICRA but we are able to draw on the expertise of individuals across the two jurisdictions without having to employ specialists in both locations ‘I am looking forward to seeing the development of new innovative services that utilise spectrum.’ Michael is quite positive about the timetable for the deployment of 4G. ‘As part of the bidding process operators have committed to a roll out timetable. It’s now down to them to install the infrastructure necessary to run 4G. We are working with Ofcom to ensure that the public has access to these services as soon as possible.’ Michael believes collaboration between the three operators (Sure, JT and Airtel-Vodafone) will be vital. ‘All three operators need to work together for maximum efficiency on some immediate issues; they need to mitigate the risks of interference with DTT (digital terrestrial television); the spectrum that provides 4G services is pretty close to that part of the spectrum which delivers digital TV and this type of issue needs to be resolved. Again this need for a ‘joined-up approach’ was made clear in the bidding process and we’re seeing positive signs from the operators in this regard. ‘Another issue we face is that the spectrum the operators already have is not aligned across both islands in all cases. This will need to be resolved to ensure better quality signals and improve efficiency. Sure in Guernsey and JT in Jersey, as incumbents, inherited a significant amount of spectrum
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- some of which they are now required to release. So there are a number of technical tasks for them to complete but, as long as these are resolved in a timely manner, and the successful applicants have the necessary devices in place, I am confident that 4G can be rolled out and available in the first half of 2015.’ Michael sees competition in the telecoms space in the islands as crucial for all users but particularly the business community. ‘We need an environment where operators respond well to market demands and create innovative business and pricing models in a cost-effective way. As the regulator we need to ensure that competition exists so that no one operator can allow the market to stagnate. ‘Having two operators in the island (accepting that Airtel-Vodafone operates predominantly in the mobile/wireless market) is excellent for an island of this size and offers consumers clear advantages.’ Telecoms might be keeping Michael and his team pretty busy but the other regulated utilities are also important. Electricity outages are a ‘hot topic’ for many considering the island’s external reputation as a place to do business. Michael is positive about our track record in that regard but does suggest that parts of the policy should be reviewed. ‘There are definitely increased demands on electricity supply. Data centres need large amounts of power capacity; their complex
cooling and other maintenance systems place certain demands on supply. However, from an outage point of view, we fare pretty well. When we had the complete system break down in 2012 we were up and running again after only a relatively short delay. We actually recovered more quickly than Jersey although, interestingly, if you take a long-term view, Jersey has had less minutes lost than Guernsey in the past 10 years. Michael noted that the security of the electricity supply was critical. ‘If two of our main sources of electricity fail we are still able to function. This criterion is pretty high and we have been operating under this policy for some time. It may be something that we need to review with the States, as the policy makers in this area, and with Guernsey Electricity in the near future to ensure that it is still fit for purpose.’ Looking ahead, Michael sees some exciting prospects and developments on the horizon. ‘The introduction of 4G, the development of spectrum, processing speeds – these will all create a myriad of opportunities. There are potential developments in all sorts of areas which is a fantastic proposition for Guernsey plc from a marketing point of view. ‘Our appetite to do things ‘on the move’ seems boundless and we’re reluctant now to wait until we get home to get something done. It won’t be long before it’s commonplace for our smart devices to operate using ‘wearables’. I have seen
M ICH AE L B Y RN E
demonstrations showing the details of the person you are looking at in real time on your optical screen. Scary and exciting at the same time!’ As for broadband Michael believes that this is an area where government may have to invest to keep up with what’s happening elsewhere in the world. ‘I know there is a level of concern with regard to the quality of broadband that we get and this is something that we are trying to quantify. While our research is only at the early stages it appears that the issues may not lie in the infrastructure but elsewhere. ‘In places like the UK, New Zealand or Australia there is significant public sector investment in this area complementing investment from the commercial sector. ‘My feeling is that, to offer world-class broadband services, the States may need to supplement commercial incentives by working closely with the operators to maximise the exciting potential that exists to develop business in the island.’ The priorities for CICRA over the next few months clearly surround the roll out of 4G but there are other tasks ahead. ‘The trend towards smart mobile technology will displace much of what we previously used fixed line services for. This has been a trend that will continue and accelerate. There will be an overlap of the two technologies and how we at CICRA regulate
that will be something that we will be addressing over the next few years.
frameworks, that are the hurdles - it requires commitment from all to make it happen.
‘We also need to get more fixed line competition in place. Having just one fixed line supplier is restrictive and places Guernsey a long way behind other jurisdictions. People need a choice. You can divert calls through other providers but you ultimately still have a relationship with the one fixed line provider. This is an outdated model for consumers in terms of telecoms and it needs to change.
‘We are a small team at CICRA but we are able to draw on the expertise of individuals across the two jurisdictions without having to employ specialists in both locations. The efficiencies and potential cost savings are obvious. The experience has been a positive one for the staff. The whole team is seeing itself more and more as working for the Channel Islands rather than an individual jurisdiction.’
‘We have already issued notifications to the local operators that we will require a wholesale line rental product to be available by 1 June 2015 to give operators enough time to get things moving and make the necessary changes to the supply of fixed lines. I am keen to get this process underway. These things can sometimes take too long.’
For Michael himself that means spending part of his week in a Jersey hotel.
CICRA’s pan-island business model seems to have been a success though it brings challenges. Michael believes that it’s something that could be replicated successfully in other areas. ‘The synergies across the two islands are huge and there must be further scope for similar structuring in other sectors. We could come up with all the potential obstacles, and all the reasons not to do it, but it would be much better if we took a much more positive approach. We should assume that a pan-island structure will work unless there are strong reasons to the contrary. It’s not the formal elements, such as the differing legal
‘To fulfil a role like mine effectively, and with management responsibility in two places, you have to be invested in both; the staff need to see you rather than have an email relationship. I spend two or three days a week in Jersey and I probably know the St Helier High Street even better than St Peter Port!’ Although now living a long way from his native South Africa Michael is settled in Guernsey and is enjoying all the local lifestyle has to offer. ‘I knew we had made the right decision when my son – at the age of around 12 – thanked me for bringing him to Guernsey.’
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W ELLB NSG ON IN THE ACE A F OEI CU F INAWORKPL NC E
According to mental health charity Mind, British businesses lose an estimated £26 billion each year in sickness absence and lost productivity. Over 30 million workdays each year are lost through work-related back, neck and shoulder pain alone and stress is the number one reason for long-term sickness leave. There is also the growing problem of obesity. It’s estimated that 16 million workdays are lost each year to obesity and obesity-related illnesses and these figures are expected to rise.
Wellbeing in the workplace programmes should create healthy working environments for employees and also improve systems so that staff feel supported with any health issues. The result will be a healthier workforce that is more engaged with their company and for the employer results include increased productivity and reduced absenteeism. Wellbeing is an important factor in fostering a good relationship between the employee and their employer. Whilst it’s common for organisations to have some staff wellbeing activities in place, few have developed a strategic and consistent approach.
Nick Seneca Jankel, an author, psychological coach and founder of Ripe & Ready, a wisdom and wellbeing company that runs empowerment and leadership training, says:
So what are the cornerstones of a good wellbeing programme? According to Nick there are four guiding principles to consider:
‘It really is important for businesses to understand how to promote and sustain staff wellbeing for financial as well as moral and cultural reasons. The majority of employees don’t feel engaged in their organisations and don’t trust their bosses. According to one survey, if given the chance, 60% of European workers would choose a different career.’
Inclusivity and diversity - there is no one-size-fits-all. People need to choose the tools and techniques that work for them;
Stress and stress-related illness is cited as being one of the biggest health issues that companies face. Mind believes that with greater awareness and mental health support, businesses could save one third of those costs, around £8 million a year. But no single factor should be looked at in isolation. ‘Both the physical and mental wellbeing of staff is of equal priority. Stress (mental) drives physical illness. And physical illness drives stress,’ explains Nick.
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Normalisation - mental and physical wellbeing is not a luxury or ‘weird’. It is a basic human right and key to performance;
Empowerment - most people have the power within to change their health and wellbeing. Rather than patronise or act as a paternalistic Victorian, help individuals find their own path to wellbeing; Integrity – Don’t do this to look good or to tick boxes. People will know and it may end up backfiring. Do it because it is both the right and the smart thing to do. Taking a more strategic approach starts by assessing and determining the organisation’s wellbeing needs. Every business is unique and so is its staff, so it’s important to establish
the priorities before designing a wellbeing programme. Staff communication is also key as is monitoring, measurement and reviewing the set-up to then make further changes and improvements. Nick agrees that it’s imperative to place employees at the heart of the process. ‘Ask employees where they feel most challenged, stressed and worried and start to look at the things that can be changed; and also help them accept and deal with things that can’t.’ He cites an open-door policy and initiating a cultural shift to allow people to express their wellbeing concerns as being vital. Engagement amongst the organisation’s leadership is a key success factor. Introducing the opportunity to learn stress-reduction techniques such as mindfulness, exercise programmes, desk ergonomics to tackle back health and help prevent repetitive strain issues, healthy eating promotions and open-door policies are just a few options that most businesses can consider. ‘Organisations of any size can develop a robust approach to employee wellbeing,’ says Angela Ferguson, senior consultant at Guernsey-based OSA Recruitment. ‘As well as boosting productivity and employee health, these kinds of policies help businesses to attract and retain the best talent.’ Angela concludes: ‘Guernsey is an ideal environment for organisations to create healthy workplaces. We have a strong sense of community, a beautiful environment and fewer stresses like a long commute. There is nothing to stop us from leading the way in creating one of the healthiest and happiest workforces in Europe.’
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W ELLB NSG ON IN THE ACE A F OEI CU F INAWORKPL NC E
Experience counts Contact spoke to Nick Guillemette of Prime Practice to find out a bit more about…chairs To the uninitiated, a chair is a chair, right? Actually, wrong! A chair – in particular an office chair – can take a great deal of strain.
heating facilities and staff rest areas, but do they give much thought to the equipment and furniture their employees use extensive periods of the day?
Working in an office typically involves spending a great deal of time sitting, whether over a computer or in the board room, and that position adds stress to the structures of the spine.
With over 30 years’ experience working in local commerce Nick Guillemette was only too aware of the impact long-term sickness on key employees has on businesses and was keen to find solutions – so Prime Practice was established in 1991, to offer sports and remedial massage, acupressure massage and ergonomic assessments.
Back issues cause more sickness absence from work than any other illness. Luckily, a growing number of employers now recognise the value of looking after an employee’s health at work. The less time off work, the greater the productivity, after all. Guernsey’s new employment laws mean employers have a ‘duty of care’ for the working environment to be safe, so consulting an expert is essential. Guernsey employers are, overall, excellent at catering for the environmental comforts of their staff with air-conditioning, correct
Nick originally trained at Claire Maxwell-Hudson School of Massage in London and is a member of the Massage Therapy Institute Practitioners Association. He is also one of the original Bowen Therapists in Guernsey and over the last 15 years he has attended many advanced courses on different Bowen techniques incorporating in-depth studies of anatomy and physiology, which has increased his knowledge of how the body works.
Since 1997, Prime Practice has been supplying quality office chairs to many local companies of all sizes, including the States. In addition, Nick advises businesses on the best ergonomic use of office equipment to help minimise work-related illnesses and reduced productivity. On-site massage is another area where Guernsey organisations are leading the way. Companies are increasingly offering staff a regular 20-minute reviving massage, to improve overall wellbeing. This investment has seen huge benefits to businesses, with staff feeling more valued, and with productivity levels seeing real increases. With an ever-growing trend for ‘hot-desking’ and people spending more and more time at a computer screen, Nick has one piece of valuable advice: ‘Don’t sit for too long. Everyone should get up and walk about once every 30 minutes to mitigate future problems.’
Quality Office Chairs Postural Seating Advice Group or Individual Workstation Assessments Prime Practice focuses on ergonomic advice in postural seating, offers workstation assessments and supplies quality office chairs. Over the past 20 years Nick Guillemette has been providing this service, together with massage therapy techniques, on site when requested.
Taking care of you at work Visit www.primepracticeguernsey.co.uk, telephone 07781 156118 and follow us on facebook
W E L L B E IN G IN T H E WORK PL AC E
MSG serving the Bailiwick An insight into how businesses can best take advantage of corporate health insurance Encouraging organisations and individuals to take up private medical insurance is enabling the Medical Specialist Group to improve secondary healthcare for the whole community. MSG’s first duty is to ensure that it meets the requirements of its contract with the States of Guernsey to provide a high standard of care for all Bailiwick residents. Thereafter, many of the MSG consultants hold private clinics outside normal office hours and by doing so they are freeing up daytime appointments for non-private patients, thus enabling everyone to be seen more quickly. Most corporate health insurance policies will contribute £100 per employee towards companies sending staff for health-checks – yet the insurers tell us that few local companies take advantage of that benefit.
This is a missed opportunity to reduce sickness absence and identify health-related risks to your company – particularly as you are effectively paying for it anyway. The MSG can help local companies to get the best from their medical insurance policies by providing specialist health checks – again benefiting Guernsey as a whole, by reducing the burden on the Health & Social Services Department and the Social Security Department in funding the cost of treatment for conditions that develop due to the absence of early detection. One example is its Men’s Health Clinic for busy men who may be worried about their health, but work commitments make it difficult to attend an appointment. Consultant Owen Cole provides specialist advice in a private setting with extended appointment times and can tailor investigation and treatment to suit the
PRIVATE HEALTHCARE
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individual or indeed provide reassurance that all is well. The Men’s Health Clinic takes place on Wednesdays from 6.30pm; an appointment of between 20-30 minutes will cost £190 (a follow-up appointment of 15 minutes will cost £130). However, companies who are clients of Rossborough Healthcare can benefit from a reduced fee of £100 per person for a check-up with Mr Cole – and so the full cost is covered by their insurance policy. Encouraging your staff to have a check-up at the MSG can help them towards a healthy lifestyle, while also reducing the impact of staff health problems both on your business and on the economy of our island. The MSG is also hoping to launch a ‘Well Woman Clinic’, so that busy women too can access a private health-check by a specialist and at a time convenient to them.
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Investment for life What is the only investment guaranteed to pay out within the first three months and have a solid return for the rest of your life? Jon Le Tocq of Storm Force Fitness tells us more Apple stocks? Well, that might be a good option, but there are only so many iPhones. Electric cars? The verdict’s still out on that one, so guess again. You see the only ‘investment’ you can make, which has been proven to pay out, and in this case in terms of the quality of your life is… your health. I am not going to be launching into some spiel about how you have to live off lettuce leaves and sell your soul to diet drinks. I’m certainly not going to bore you to tears and suggest you spend hour after boring hour on an exercise bike or cross trainer. I can’t stand all of that nonsense. Let’s face it, we all lead busy lives, whether it’s putting in 50 hour weeks in the office or rushing around trying to keep the family ‘plates’ spinning. Having the time to invest in ourselves often gets pushed down the list as other priorities take over. Do you know what I used to hear all the time from people when they came to see me, the number one issue? ‘I just don’t have the time to stay in shape/ lose weight/be healthy/get my fitness back.’ Time was the one ‘thing’ I couldn’t get back for them. But what we could do, with a little bit of planning (in fact a lot of planning as you’ll know if you’ve ever started a building project!) was to give them everything they wanted: • A rapid way to lose unwanted weight and inches and stay in shape • Toned, strong muscles that didn’t involve 28
hours of weights machines (or being surrounded by grunting men in spandex) • The ability to drop stress levels dramatically and increase health and energy • A supportive community with no worries about intimidation
that work with your life and your commitments so you never need to eat boring, plain ‘diet food’ again. In fact your body will be so nourished within a few weeks, you’ll wake up feeling amazing and be firing on all cylinders at work. Less bloat, less wobbly bits and more energy. Novel, isn’t it?
I’ve been back in Guernsey for four years, and in that time our award-winning team has helped hundreds of people reclaim their body, health and so much more beyond (relationships, self-esteem at work and confidence in themselves).
Stress? At Storm Force, we don’t just look at the ‘simple stuff’. We formally assess your stress status and optimal mindset (we’re really good at this bit having been trained by the world’s leading personal trainer). Once we’ve helped you implement a few simple changes, not only will you feel less stressed, but you’ll be sleeping better, get ill less often and, as an added boost…the libido gets a ‘bump’ too! Forgive the pun, couldn’t help myself.
This year we decided to create something for our island that was a little bit special. With what we’re designing for you, you can be in and out in less than an hour. That includes the time in takes to change, workout, shower and grab a drink from our new smoothie bar.
So, if you want a professional team to look after your health, fitness and wellbeing as well as you would manage a £2billion portfolio, then you might want to head down to the brand new Storm Force Fitness centre in Smith Street when it opens in September.
‘But Jon, how am I going to get this amazing new healthy, toned, fit and de-stressed body in less time than it takes me to read the Guernsey Press?’
We are deliberately limiting our memberships to 400 (and just 200 on opening) so we can ensure that the levels of service, availability and cleanliness are maintained.
And we’ve figured out how to get the results we’re famous for in just 30 minutes. Sounds too good to be true doesn’t it? Until now it was!
Good question! Well, I and my team of award winning coaches, personally oversee every person who comes to Storm Force. The personal and group fitness sessions are up there with the very best but it’s not just ‘exercise’ with us. That’s just ONE piece of the puzzle. Nutrition? We’ve got you covered. We create diet plans
We are truly trying to make a difference to our island’s health, and do you know what? If you get hold of me on social media before we open, I’ll pop you something a little special in the post (until we run out…). Become part of the Storm Force Fitness family and watch your life erupt!
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The health benefits of massage Contact talked to Hayley Fox of Bella Spa about the positive effects of massage and its role in workplace wellbeing Massage has long been linked to stress reduction and relaxation and increasingly research has validated its role in workplace wellbeing. A recent study by Cedars Sinai Medical Center in the USA, showed that regular Swedish massage, carried out over a five-week period, reduced levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. Levels of oxytocin, the ‘bonding hormone’ increased and, interestingly, participants in the study also showed a slight increase in white blood cells. Massage works well to reduce muscle tension, help stress-related insomnia, ease headaches, reduce anxiety and improve digestive disorders - all common complaints frequently heard around the office. A study published this year in the Scientific World Journal also investigated its effects on lower back pain and there have been studies on its uses to relieve chronic pain and repetitive strain injuries. Hayley Fox of Bella Spa agrees: ‘The positive effects of massage are sustained and cumulative and it’s a treatment that fits into workplace wellness programmes very well. Employees respond very positively to massage, it fosters a belief
that their employer is mindful of their wellbeing and has a very positive effect on both their physical and mental health.’ The health benefits of massage are numerous as Hayley explained. ‘Massage can improve muscle repair and tone, plus by relaxing and lengthening the muscles, posture and mobility are improved. It increases blood flow, lowers blood pressure, improves the action of the lymphatic system to aid toxin removal, stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system which encourages cell repair and improves immunity. It can also balance hormones and counteract adrenaline.’ Swedish massage and aromatherapy treatments are known for their relaxing and soothing effects on the body, whilst deeper movements are popular with more active members of staff to release tight muscles and stiffness. Anyone sitting at a desk and working in front of a computer for long periods will experience tension and muscle stiffness in the neck, shoulders and back region. This, coupled with the ever-increasing problem of stress, means that human resources staff need to respond with employee wellness measures.
Tight muscles can impede blood flow, which will result in tiredness and loss of concentration and increase the likelihood of repetitive strain injuries. On-site massage programmes are good value as many staff can benefit, plus they improve employee morale and, when combined with other measures, can help to see off other long-term wellbeing issues. Bella Spa offers a number of corporate care packages and works with organisations to either offer employees massage vouchers to use at their convenience or to set up regular ‘wellness at work’ days. ‘These always cause a buzz in the office,’ said Hayley. ‘The feedback we get from office workers is always positive – it’s a treat but one that has real health benefits.’ Of course wellbeing packages don’t have to just deliver health benefits. Female employees, particularly time-poor working mothers, appreciate other beauty-based benefits. ‘Setting up a pamper day with mini treatments like manicures or fast facials really does deliver a feel-good factor, especially around Christmas time. It’s a thoughtful gesture that employees love, plus it’s definitely more healthy than cakes or money put behind the bar,’ said Hayley.
The positive effects of massage are sustained and cumulative and it’s a treatment that fits into workplace wellness programmes very well.
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To find out how our professionally qualified team can help your business and your staff - contact us today. T: 01481 728824 E: info@focushrs.com
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W ELLB NSG ON IN THE ACE A F OEI CU F INAWORKPL NC E
Sitting is ‘the new smoking’ Richie McCurdy of Island Posture Centre looks at the Scandinavian solution to making the workplace a healthier environment The standing solution
Nearly three-quarters of all office workers say they suffer ill health as a direct result of poor workstation set-up.
Most of us now spend a staggering nine hours a day sitting down. That might be at work, in the car or on the sofa in front of the TV. Add another seven hours sleeping and that means most of us spend only one third of our life on our feet.
Ensuring a good workstation set-up and providing postural guidance is vital for the prevention and management of pain and injury in the workplace. The aim of the workplace risk assessment is to identify and analyse any factors that may cause health problems or reduce performance. Factors may be related to posture, design or a work area or design of equipment.
These prolonged periods of inactivity increase our risk of obesity along with a list of other conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, muscular and back problems, deep vein thrombosis, brittle bones, depression and even dementia.
Why use an independent assessor?
Experts are now describing sitting down as ‘the new smoking’, a ticking time bomb of ill health waiting to explode. Spending less time sitting down really can add years to your life. That is the most important message. Unfortunately, it also seems to be the hardest one for people to believe. Standing can prevent and alleviate back problems, which are commonly caused by spending too much time sitting or sitting with poor posture. Researchers from the University of Chester found that if you stand for three or four hours five days a week, over the course of a year, it’s the equivalent of running 10 marathons. One potential solution is an adjustable sit-stand desk that allows workers to alter the height and work while sitting down or standing up. Sit-stand desks are already common in Scandinavia, where people have the right to work standing up. In the UK they are usually seen as a treatment tool for people who already suffer from back problems, rather than a way to prevent issues in later life. At Island Posture Centre, our aim is to convince employers, schools and employees to follow the Scandinavian lead on workers’ rights to sit and stand. Studies show that it could improve productivity by 10%. C
Protect your business and become more productive
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Consider the scenario of someone sitting on an inappropriate chair. Over the course of three years a back problem appears, deteriorates and a therapist eventually suggests that it may have been caused by the offending piece of office furniture. The employee contacts a personal injury lawyer who recommends suing for compensation. If there is no record of a risk assessment, the case can become very difficult to defend.
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Are you sitting comfortably?
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There are broader reasons why an employer should ensure the working environment is a healthy and safe one. It is not only the sign of responsible employers but also helps them to comply with their legal duty to ensure health and safety policies and procedures are in place.
Research suggests that it costs the UK more than £6 billion each year in the loss of output and profitability due to work related musculoskeletal disorders caused by poor working conditions.
An experienced ergonomic assessor can give a holistic assessment and practical advice to individuals with backache, repetitive strain Injury (RSI) or other underlying medical issues. Island Posture Centre works with the most innovative product supplier of workplace ergonomics. As office equipment suppliers, they collaborate with architects and interior designers to supply the best ergonomic products and also maintain that all-important pleasing contact-magazine.pdf 1 28/07/2014 10:14:39 aesthetic appearance.
With many people working at desks, a properly designed workspace and the knowledge of how to have a good posture is becoming increasingly more important.
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Don’t rely on your insurance company or self assessments; protect your company and be a responsible employer by having a workstation assessment undertaken by a professional assessor. Richie McCurdy, MAFHP MBTPA M: 07781146007 E: info@islandposturecentre.com
www.islandposturecentre.com
Just like you, we’re open for business. And just like you, we understand the importance of funding and finance for your business. If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, expanding, or taking on a new venture, our specialist Relationship Managers are here to support you with all your business banking requirements.
Talk to your Relationship Manager or Gary O’Neill, Head of Business and Commercial Banking, Guernsey +44 (0) 1481 706622 GaryONeill@rbsint.com natwestinternational.com/business
The Royal Bank of Scotland International Limited trading as NatWest (NatWest). Registered Office: P.O. Box 64, Royal Bank House, 71 Bath Street, St. Helier, Jersey JE4 8PJ. Regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission. Guernsey business address: PO Box 62, Royal Bank Place, 1 Glategny Esplanade, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 4BQ. Regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission and licensed under the Banking Supervision (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 1994, as amended, the Insurance Managers and Insurance Intermediaries (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2002, and the Protection of Investors (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 1987, as amended. NatWest 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. Details are available from: Website: www.dcs.gg. Telephone: +44 (0)1481 722756. Post: P.O. Box 380, St Peter Port, GY1 3FY. Deposits made in a Guernsey Branch will not be covered by any equivalent scheme in any jurisdiction outside of the Bailiwick of Guernsey. Under the scheme (s) customers are entitled to make only one claim per licensed entity regardless of the number of brands or trading names contained within that licensed entity and customers are entitled to make one claim only per licensed entity in the jurisdiction where the deposits are held. Therefore as NatWest brand is operated by RBS International it is not licensed in its own right. A person with a deposit in NatWest and a deposit in RBS International would thus only be entitled to make one claim. Over 18’s only. (Security may be required.) Calls may be recorded. Internet e-mails are not necessarily secure as information might be intercepted, lost or destroyed. Please do not e-mail any account or other confidential information.
W ELLB NSG ON IN THE ACE A F OEI CU F INAWORKPL NC E
Health and safety on the move Tim Rawles of Strong Signal explains how active health and safety management is vital for wellbeing in the workplace
Ensuring your employees have a safe working environment is not an easy task.
the company’s health and safety co-ordinator, explained why:
You need to assess risks proactively and constantly, carry out site visits, track staff training and qualifications, maintain premises, manage maintenance and servicing requirements and keep accurate accident and sickness records. This can prove to be extremely time-consuming. So just think how much easier it would be if you had one IT solution to help you monitor and record all of this on a day-to-day basis.
‘Hard Hat is now an integral part of the management of health and safety at RG Falla. As well as helping us keep compliant and centralising documentation, we can track everything from staff training needs to plant maintenance schedules. Using a local software supplier made it easy to explain our requirements face-to-face, and any requests for fine-tuning were turned around very promptly.’
With a great deal of input from its clients, Strong Signal has created Hard Hat - a bespoke software solution you can use in the office, out of the office and on the move. It provides active health and safety management to help protect the wellbeing of your workforce. For example, the system will let you know, at the click of a button, if a company vehicle is due for a service, if a sub-contractor has up-to-date public and employers’ liability insurance certificates, if a member of staff needs a refresher first aid course or indeed whenever any follow-up action is required.
Investing in health and safety is a clear signal to your employees that their wellbeing is important to you. They will feel more secure in the workplace knowing that fire safety, first aid and other risks relating to the workplace, are taken seriously.
Having centralised records is clearly important in managing a company’s health and safety for other reasons too. With all the data in one place trends can be analysed, actions can be tracked to conclusion, reports can be generated at any time and, of course, there is a clear audit trail. Hard Hat is easy to access on the go so you can enter information on site rather than having to write notes and then enter the same information again when you get back to the office. Local building firm RG Falla uses the system to monitor all of its sites and Andy Ricketts,
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Maintaining high standards of health and safety in the workplace, whilst keeping associated records up-to-date, can also bring about other benefits for your business. If you are seen to be taking health
and safety seriously, your reputation will undoubtedly be boosted and your customers will know they are dealing with a professional and caring organisation. You should also see a reduction in emergency repairs to equipment, sick pay and time lost due to accidents. In addition, having a strong health and safety regime can help reduce your insurance premiums (a scaffolding company in the UK cut its premiums by half ). Investing in health and safety is a clear signal to your employees that their wellbeing is important to you. They will feel more secure in the workplace knowing that fire safety, first aid and other risks relating to the workplace, are taken seriously. As Hard Hat is locally developed and supported, it can create a truly bespoke system to meet each company’s health and safety goals and requirements. Then, once up and running, advice and assistance are only a phone call away. We are very proud of Hard Hat, and we’ve enjoyed working with our clients to build a solution that meets their needs. Like all our systems Hard Hat is developed using a world-class mobile database platform, which means it can run on PCs, Macs and mobile devices.
Strong Signal will be on stand 11 at the B2B Event. See page 17 for further details
Safety is in your hands Hard Hat is a centralised record keeping and pro-active management tool, which includes: Asset servicing history and reminders Risk assessments Training history and reminders Accident book Action tracker Site visits Hard Hat is developed and supported locally, and can be customised to meet your exact needs.
For a free demonstration
Call 01481 700616 Discounts available for Chamber members
Reduce Staff Absence | Save On Insurance Premiums | Give Staff The Best Protection
Visit our stand at B2B Guernsey on 17th Sept at Beau Sejour
STRONGSIGNAL.CO.UK Strong Signal is a trading name of Tiara Software Consultants Limited
Hard Hat is developed by
NE W MEMBER S FEATUR E Mindful Guernsey is one of Chamber’s new members. For many, the concept of ‘mindfulness in the workplace’ a bit of an unknown. Contact found out more about this growing phenomenon. What do hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, Bill Ford, the executive chairman of Ford Motor Company, and Ray Dalio, the billionaire founder of hedge fund firm Bridgewater Associates, have in common? They all take time out of their day to meditate and practice mindfulness. Their business interests may be diverse but they all agree that the practice of mindfulness has helped them to achieve their phenomenal success. Understanding the concept of mindfulness is clearly the first step in making the business case for its integration into any organisation. Nicky Jenkins of Mindful Guernsey explained it in simple terms: ‘Mindfulness is simply becoming aware of what you are thinking and feeling in the moment, learning to be with whatever is arising, developing the capacity to notice and accept what it is, without judgment, then moving forward with a wise mind, developing the ability to respond rather than react.’ Blue-chip companies are starting to sit up and take notice. AOL Time Warner, Apple, Unilever, Nike, Goldman Sachs and British Telecom are just a few of the large organisations that have introduced mindfulness into the workplace. How mindfulness training can enhance leaders’ and employees’ focus, resilience, compassion and creativity was discussed at the last World Economic Forum in Davos. Harvard Business School is offering mindfulness courses and even the Bank of England has got in on the act with meditation taster sessions. So why is mindfulness causing such a buzz in business? Our work environments are filled with distractions and ever-increasing and diverse workloads, along with social media, make for a state of partial attention. When the pressure is on and our attention is not 100% on the job in hand, even the smartest employee will make poor decisions.
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A loss of concentration results in a loss of productivity. One of the main benefits of mindfulness is to bring a wandering mind back to the present and to give the practitioner the mental space to tackle a task with clarity and 100% focus. Another useful way to think of the practice is being able to put a pause between your reaction and your response to a situation, which generally results in better decisions and actions. As with the introduction of any new programme or system into an organisation it’s important to look at the business case, and in the case of mindfulness at work there is strong evidence to back up the theory.
It enhances the decision-making process, fosters creativity, builds resilience to stress and helps our approach to complex problems ‘There is a growing body of scientific and empirical research to support the benefits,’ explained Nicky. ‘The practice of mindfulness helps employees to focus and concentrate, it enhances the decision-making process, fosters creativity, builds resilience to stress and helps our approach to complex problems.’ Interestingly, research into neuroplasticity has shown that regular meditation practice increases grey matter density in the areas of the brain associated with learning, memory and emotion regulation. Other studies have looked at mindfulness in relation to stress
reduction, job performance, memory capacity and operational effectiveness. Many advocates believe that the practice of mindfulness at work will soon be as commonplace as ergonomic chairs and lunchtime exercise programmes. Local businesses can tap into the benefits of mindfulness via the workplace programmes available through Mindful Guernsey. Nicky Jenkins is leading the movement on the island and is an experienced and highly qualified mindfulness teacher. She offers bespoke programmes for businesses, which generally follow an eight-week course for employees. Alternatively, shorter introductory workshops or taster sessions can be organised to give employees an insight into what mindfulness can do for their wellbeing. ‘Sustaining the practice of mindfulness is key to its success,’ she explained. ‘So we also offer support packages for employers and employees beyond the initial training. We offer ‘top-up’ sessions, tips and ideas to develop people’s practice and solutions to common challenges that can arise.’ As Russell Simmons comments: ‘You don’t have to believe in meditation for it to work, you just have to take the time to do it.’ A regular practice of only 10 minutes a day can give great benefits…given what those benefits can be to both the business and to ourselves, those 10 minutes seem like an investment worth making.
www.mindfulguernsey.com
N E W M E M B E RS
BachmannHR Group For over 30 years, Bachmann’s has been providing payroll and HR support to its clients worldwide. Today it manages the employment of over 22,000 employees and annually makes salary payments totalling over $1 billion. Using state-of-the art, award-winning payroll and HR systems, BachmannHR Group offers clients cost effective payroll processing,
Madihan Limited Madihan works closely with senior management to provide risk assurance services throughout the Channel Islands, ensuring a pragmatic and commercial approach to identify and mitigate risk within the business. Supported by senior consultants, based in Guernsey, with many years of experience and knowledge of operational and compliance functions, Madihan brings capability, knowledge and a strong awareness of the practicalities that are faced in today’s business environment.
HR advice and full staff management from its Guernsey office. The company is ISO9001 accredited in offshore employment, payroll and HR services as well as being one of the few Bacs accredited bureaus in the island. Over the last few years BachmannHR Group has successfully expanded its operation to take on Guernsey and other Channel Islands clients
With the increasing complexity of operations, including multi-jurisdictional offices and growing regulatory pressures, businesses are looking for greater assurance over a widening range of activities. This is particularly so in relation to regulatory compliance, rapid technology changes and operational efficiencies, often bringing the need to incorporate shared services across offices, including outsourcing solutions. Madihan assists in these key areas to ensure an efficient, effective and secure approach. Specialist services at Madihan include information security, IT and project assurance, process assurance and governance, risk and compliance.
Guernsey Event Medical Services GEMS provides specialist event medical services including risk assessment, advice on medical requirements and production of medical support plans, as well as the provision of medical cover at the event itself. GEMS is also approved by the Association of First Aiders to deliver a range of qualifications (including First Aid at Work, Emergency First Aid at Work, Paediatric First Aid and CPR & AED) which it provides under the brand - FirstAid.gg Training & Assessment.
Face to face interaction is still the best way to build business and client leads.
This unique event is limited to 30 exhibitors and provides a fantastic opportunity for local businesses to promote themselves, expand and strengthen their networks and build links. Event organisers
BOOK YOUR STAND TODAY! www.ec-jersey.com Full details page 17
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L UX EM B O URG
Luxembourg from medium wave to the crest of a wave
Luxembourg - in the past perhaps best known for the much loved and hugely popular radio station that became a teenage rite of passage in the 60s and 70s. The small Duchy of Luxembourg still remains as diverse and focused as ever in continuing to ensure that a country with such a tiny European footprint maintains its individuality, profile, and economic presence in the face of its overbearing neighbours
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L UX EM B O URG
Today, as a founding member of the EEC and a member of the EU, Luxembourg has found its niche as a finance centre offering businesses within other member states effective corporate structuring, efficient banking and, with a finance sector similar to Guernsey’s, personal wealth management and structuring. Given it is ‘governed’ by the EU and its directives and the respectability that automatically brings, it is in an enviable position. Quietly, yet spectacularly evolving within this niche over the last 30 years, Luxembourg’s fund industry has arguably become the standard bearer of the success of the Duchy’s financial sector. In fact, so successful has it been, that it has grown to become the second largest in the world behind the United States.
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Figures from the Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry give assets under management
Luxembourg fund industry has assets under management for Luxembourg domiciled funds at an eye watering new record of €2.74 trillion for Luxembourg domiciled funds at an eye watering new record of €2.74 trillion (figures from April 2014). Not bad given that the industry is operating from a piece of land
that is only 998 square miles in size. But it only appears remarkable until you look at what surrounds Luxembourg. To the west and north it is bordered by Belgium, to the east the powerhouse of Germany and to the south, France. The result is that it is not only a member of the EU but it also sits in a prime strategic location within the EU. So, Luxembourg is definitley not an ‘offshore finance centre’. Approximately 40% of the workforce commutes from outside of the Duchy, creating a Luxembourg finance centre that is multi-cultural, multi-lingual and the ideal domicile in which to locate and from which to market, promote and administer European based funds. Recognising this unique position, both the authorities and industry have been quick to respond to the demands of the EU and the world in terms of product design.
L U X E M B O UR G
Quietly, yet spectacularly evolving within this niche over the last thirty years, Luxembourg’s fund industry has arguably become the standard bearer of the success of the Duchy’s financial sector management, and oversight of such funds and imposes rules concerning diversification, liquidity and leveraging. Luxembourg also moved quickly on this directive and was the first to implement the directive into law and to offer a European passport. This immediately attracted a large number of promoters of Swiss and US origin who continue to use Luxembourg as a gateway into the European market. They were closely followed by Asian and Latin American promoters, whose own supervisory bodies and investors were comforted by the high level of regulation. If the UCITS is the ‘belt and braces’ fund offering to the public and necessarily regulated with a heavy hand, then the counter-balance to this, aimed at promoters and investors who want a vehicle Two of the more relatively recent success stories of the Luxembourg fund industry were the Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) and the Specialised Investment Fund (SIF).
Added to this it has the additional flexibility of being open or closed ended, stand-alone or an umbrella fund. In the case of the umbrella fund, it can have multiple compartments, each with separate share classes and different investment policies, developed to meet the needs of a range of investors or markets. One of the main characteristics and principal attractions however, is the wide range of assets in which a SIF can invest which includes any hedge fund strategies, structured products, distressed assets, through to more traditional bonds, shares, private equity and real estate. There are some restrictions so that the SIF cannot invest more than 30% in a single underlying asset and the law refers to ‘sophisticated investors’, which essentially means institutional and professional investors. In essence the SIF is the ideal vehicle for sector-experienced investors with the necessary skills, knowledge and capital (or the means to raise it) who are looking for the flexibility to meet, develop and take advantage of a specific opportunity.
Both are flexible, highly regulated structures ready-made for not only the European market but also the worldwide stage. The UCITS can be best described as a traditional fund structure that is perfect for distribution to the general public. Security and reassurance for investors derives from the fact UCITS are regulated under a European directive. This provides for a single regulatory regime across the European Union for open-ended funds investing in transferable securities such as shares and bonds, with the specific aim of providing high levels of investor protection. The directive regulates the organisation,
It can take different forms to suit different needs from being a common fund structure through to a public or private limited company or different types of partnership structures.
with more flexibility and a lighter regulatory touch, is the SIF that has, arguably, been the major success story for the Duchy. Enacted into law in 2007 (and revised in 2012) the SIF was an immediate success because it is a regulated investment fund vehicle, carrying the Luxembourg brand, specifically aimed at the international institutional and experienced investor.
It would be flippant to say that a radio station put Luxembourg on the map but to a certain extent, and for several generations in an era when radio was still king, it definitely did. Now however, times have changed, and new generations of professionals are tuning into the innovation, experience and professionalism Luxembourg has to offer as an international finance centre.
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T E L E CO M S
Andrew Eeles of JT explains how JT’s data centres have the competitive advantage
Although the latest statistics indicate that we are coming out of the other side of the longest recession in recent times, businesses are still under increasing pressure to cut costs and increase operational efficiency. For this very reason, many are beginning to look at what cloud solutions are available to them for services such as data storage and hosting. The overall objective of moving to the cloud for the majority of businesses is to help meet these growing pressures, freeing up valuable IT teams to concentrate on business revenue-generating objectives, as opposed to spending their time on business-as-usual activities. But however strong the financial case for the cloud might be, there are still two questions that should be at the top of everyone’s mind when considering data storage and IT infrastructure: is it reliable; and is it safe? JT has continued to invest a vast amount of money in its data centres to ensure we are able to answer ‘yes’ to both of those questions. Our data centres hold the highest service organisation certification (SOC) ratings – the industry benchmark for reliability and security – in the Channel Islands, and we are trusted by the UK’s top five banks, the biggest CI law firms and a host of international wealth management firms to look after their most precious and critical data and systems. Increasingly, our cloud infrastructure-as-aservice (IaaS) option is proving more attractive too, as the twin factors of economies of scale and using top quality hardware are showing firms that buying processing power and storage from a specialist provider makes more sense than having to buy enough infrastructure to cope with peak demand, and having most of that kit lying redundant the majority of the time. To ensure we are able to keep that
hardware and IT infrastructure running, and maintaining continuity demands a safe environment; a constant power supply; careful atmospheric controls to ensure no moisture in the air; and full protection from fire and excess heat - all of which require careful maintenance and the right environment to deliver them.
The point of all of this is not simply that JT’s data centres are more robust and secure than anything companies may be able to provide themselves, it’s also that economies of scale mean that we are also in many cases significantly less expensive We are also aware that security is a top priority for our customers. Not only is your data potentially valuable to other people, but your ability to protect it and your operation is enormously valuable to you. In the early days of cybercrime, businesses paid out thousands of pounds to hackers just to get them to stay away. So, besides bars on the windows and locks on the doors, you need firewalls and protection from distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks and other cyber-attacks from online sources. That’s why many businesses are turning to independent data centre specialists
for their state of the art facilities to host infrastructure, rather than trying to deal with these issues in-house, using up valuable capital in housing it and IT professionals to maintain it. Based on a combination of costs and technical expertise, our customers can be assured of reliability and security at a reduced cost with higher standards of protection. That’s especially the case in St Peter Port where real estate is expensive – if you’re going to have to pay sky high rents, it is better for the company’s bottom line to fill that space with people earning money, rather than with expensive kit and plant. All of this happens in an enviably efficient way – typically, every kilowatt of power that data centres consume requires another kilowatt to cover heating and lighting, but in JT’s data centres that ratio is more like 1:1.5 thanks to lights activated by movement sensors, white reflective paint on surfaces and under floor cooling. It may not sound enormous, but when your electricity bill is £1m per year, that’s a big saving to pass on to customers. The point of all of this is not simply that JT’s data centres are more robust and secure than anything companies may be able to provide themselves, it’s also that economies of scale mean that we are also in many cases significantly less expensive. Creating this kind of infrastructure is not cheap – but it’s considerably more cost effective to create one large state-of-the-art data centre than to build several smaller ones. In short, for a variety of reasons - SOC, security, staff who are experts in their field and our status as an independent tier one operator - our vision is to become the partner of choice for global telecommunications innovation, which could well make JT the right partner for your business.
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T ELEC O MS
Staying connected Keith Hounsell of Green Acorn considers the growth in the use of hydrogen fuel cells A reliable supply of electricity is something that we have begun to take for granted, and because of this we expect certain services we use to always be available. For most customers, whether private, public or commercial, telecommunications is one of these, however, with greater demand and reliance on the infrastructure, telecoms companies are looking at how they can ensure they are resilient to any fluctuations in supply. With power outages a reality in most parts of the world, providers of telecoms services have traditionally used diesel generators or regular battery back-up systems. However, new technologies are providing a more economically and environmentally efficient option in the form of hydrogen fuel cells. Typical applications for hydrogen fuel cells include Telecom 3G/4G/ LTE wireless, cell site backhaul, as well as broadband, optical and microwave networks where they provide flawless results for backup, unstable grid and off grid applications as well as for disaster recovery. Fuel cells are also deployed in the transportation and utility market place covering airport aviation lighting and communication systems in a power outage situation, with TETRA, SCADA and smaller data centre backup power supply.
Hydrogen fuel cells produce only water and oxygen as emissions and their virtually silent running makes them suitable for locations where noise and pollutants are of concern Hydrogen fuel cells offer advantages over diesel generator sets, as they do not need heavy maintenance. They have a life expectancy exceeding that of battery systems and without the environmental impact of disposal. Additionally, when in use, the hydrogen fuel cell produces only water and oxygen as emissions and their virtually silent running makes them suitable for locations where noise and pollutants are of concern. To provide further peace of mind, systems such as the ReliOn fuel cells also feature self-run and test each month, automatically alerting the operator to any faults, enabling any repairs to be made to ensure they remain ready for use. Like any fuel, hydrogen has to be stored safely, and for back up use it is normally supplied in bottle format (like other gases) however for anyone wishing to reduce the carbon footprint of transportation, packaged hydrogen options are also available for self manufacture via an electrolyser unit.
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Hydrogen fuel cells, like those made by ReliOn, a leading US manufacturer, are now being integrated into solutions across the UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands by local company Green Acorn which offers full survey, supply and installation services. ReliOn Fuel Cells have an expectancy of 5,000 cycles, which, for a typical telecom site, equates to 12-18 years of autonomy and the manufacturer provides a 3,000-cycle warranty. The fuel cell itself is a proton exchange membrane (PEM) type cell which, when it has reached the end of its cycling life, can be replaced through exchange cells rather than complete replacement - further reducing the lifetime operation and maintenance cost significantly compared with battery and generator set back up solutions. Whilst the adoption of new technology will always require investment, companies are balancing this with the benefits hydrogen fuel cells offer to meet the demands of the green consumer who wants to be ‘always on’.
Sustainable backup power & storage for your organisation
Hydrogen Fuel Cells Electrolysers
Redox Flow Batteries
Smart Distribution
www.greenacorn.gg 01481 727388
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T ELEC O M S
How 4G will transform business Peter Zunino of Airtel-Vodafone looks at the current telecoms industry, and its future
The Channel Islands’ telecoms industry is pretty healthy right now, primarily because it is busy preparing for the introduction of 4G, which will transform the way in which businesses operate.
throughout 2015. Once it is installed, the question will be how the market reacts to the change in technology; how will the use of mobile technology change, given the almost limitless supply?
There is a caveat to these changes being as significant as they can be, but in other jurisdictions served by Airtel and Vodafone, 4G (also known as long term evolution – LTE) has been as significant as the advent of email. For businesses that had previously only used fax and phone to communicate, email brought huge change; 4G will bring change of a similar scale. LTE technology is advancing in two ways. First, the use of wireless spectrum is changing so that it is much more efficient; more data can be carried over less bandwidth. (It’s important to understand that 4G isn’t about better mobile telephones, but rather a faster and clearer transfer of data.) Secondly, as a consequence of the increased efficiency, and the ability to carry more data, the way in which mobile technology is used will change. Efficient use of wireless spectrum The Channel Islands’ bandwidth for 4G has been allocated and it is now up to the operators to install the infrastructure needed to run 4G across the islands. Even though the wireless spectrum allocated to 4G is smaller, the amount of information that can be transferred is so great that it will be a question of how it’s used. With 3G, 15 users could be served using 5 MHz; with 4G, 300 users can be served using the same small amount of bandwidth – and those users can access far more data through it. Airtel-Vodafone is planning to roll out the multi-million pound 4G installation
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that everything operates. Small firms will be able to conduct their entire business without the need for a central office. All documents will be stored on a cloud and – no matter how large – can be downloaded or amended instantaneously. The office can be anywhere. You will be able to have virtual meetings with clients or colleagues on the other side of the world while sat in your garden. The sound and picture will be perfect – there will be none of the buffering of 3G, and you will be able to share files, videos and anything else in real time without any delay or problem.
Everything that can, will have an identifying chip connecting it to the internet. With the capacity for a ceaseless flow of data, you will know where anything and everything is Using 4G technology I don’t think there will be a single ‘killer’ app that will transform everything. Instead, there will be a significant improvement in the way
The ‘internet of things’, already a ubiquitous phrase, will become commonplace. Everything that can, will have an identifying chip connecting it to the internet. With the capacity for a ceaseless flow of data, you will know where anything and everything is. So what can businesses do to prepare for this new way of working? First, don’t get tied in to any technology contracts. The landline is dead – particularly for small businesses – so don’t sign up to anything that involves one. Now that the three incumbent operators each have a 4G licence, you are going to see strong competition in the market. However, there is a caveat. Competition will only be successful if businesses respond to it: if you are dissatisfied with your operator, then change. To be dissatisfied without changing not only means that the operator that has your business can get away with making less effort to keep you, it also means that competing operators will wonder how much more competitive they have to be to win your custom. So be flexible. You have a choice of three – use them.
What makes us different is our ability to do ‘whatever it takes’… …and our commitment to the very highest standards. We provide professional fund services for large institutional clients who need expert, individual attention rather than an off-the-shelf product.
Big enough to be trusted, small enough to be flexible… We believe in lasting relationships. For us it’s all about simplifying the process – we know it’s not easy but we do everything in our power to make it simple and enjoyable for our clients.
Strength and depth – talented people at every level… We tailor our solutions to fit our clients’ individual needs and offer high levels of flexibility, underpinned by meticulous attention to detail: something only true experts can bring.
It’s better to deal with independent specialists who genuinely enjoy what they do... We concentrate on funds and structured products because that’s what excites us and what we excel at. Above all, we value professionalism, intelligence, openness, team work and a sense of humour.
WE ARE A
F I R S T/ N A M E S
Welcome to Moore
GROUP COMPANY
Moore Management Limited is regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission. Moore Management (Guernsey) Limited is regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission. For further information, please visit: www.mooremanagement.com
T ELEC O MS
Mobile technology Mobile technology is a highly competitive and fast-developing area. Which is best for local businesses? Who will be the winners and losers? Jason Connolly of Next Generation IT, makes his predictions Smartphones (iPhone vs android) With BlackBerry dead in the water, Apple has been the runaway leader in smartphones. With its stylish design, bulletproof build quality and benchmark ease of use, Apple richly deserves its crown. However, android has been catching up fast, and is now ahead of Apple in the sale of new devices, particularly in developing countries. Microsoft, who had lost its previous battle with BlackBerry in the noughties, has recently bought Nokia and is mounting an effective comeback. Windows phones appeal to businesses which do not want to pay Apple’s high price, but also want to standardise on a consistent, reliable and easier-to-use product than Android. Samsung’s Android devices have recently powered ahead. But will the new iPhone 6 with its curved screen take Apple back to the top? Tablets (iPad vs Microsoft Surface) Apple was the first to make a successful tablet with the iPad and despite strong competition, the iPad still reigns supreme. Microsoft’s contender is the Surface tablet, which in theory should be much more suitable for businesses, allowing documents and applications to be shared between the office and the tablet seamlessly. But Apple has such traction in this market space that it is difficult to make any inroads. The Windows Surface tablet is a great concept though, providing a portable tablet with the capability to snap on a lightweight keyboard to provide a very portable laptop. However, many other manufacturers have caught on and are now designing their ultrabooks with a detachable keyboard, which in my view is the way things will go. Ultrabooks (Macbooks vs Windows 8) Sleek, light and thin ultrabooks have all but replaced bulky laptops, with solid state drives
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reducing bulk and weight, but also massively improving performance. Once again Apple’s Macbook has led the way but Apple hasn’t had it all their own way recently with HP, Dell, ASUS, Samsung and Toshiba all providing very similar ultrabooks running Windows 8.
unexpected bill for roaming costs). To avoid this issue, many of our clients buy a pay-asyou-go SIM in the country they are travelling to, and plug this into a battery-powered Wi-Fi hotspot (about the size of a phone) carried in their bag.
For remote access, it is difficult to beat an ultrabook for flexibility and usability in a portable package. They are quick to boot, so great for quickly catching up on emails, and have a separate keyboard which makes them far more suitable than smartphones or tablets for anything more than quick replies to emails.
Remote access technology (remote desktop vs Citrix)
whichever devices you choose, you will have access to all of your company’s emails, applications and data from anywhere in the world. Mobile connectivity (3G/4G vs Wi-Fi) Free Wi-Fi is commonly available and provides a convenient way of accessing the internet. But what if Wi-Fi is not available, is too expensive or too congested? Mobile internet (or 3G) is the alternative, providing access to the internet over the mobile telecoms network. This has traditionally been slow and expensive, but with 4G on the horizon and pressure on telecoms companies to limit roaming charges, this is set to be an area of huge change. However, with the introduction of 4G and the significant bandwidth available, there is even greater risk of bill shock (returning from abroad to a large,
So how do you connect from your ultrabook or tablet to the corporate system? To establish a connection, you can connect via a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to your office firewall, and remote control your desktop PC from there, which is great for smaller businesses as it requires very little additional infrastructure. This is quite clunky and can be problematic on slow or unreliable connections. Citrix resolves many of these issues by providing a remote access server with the ability to connect different staff members simultaneously. Connection to the system is slick using a web portal which can be accessed from any internet-connected PC or tablet. Security can be improved further with two factor authentication (physical or soft tokens), and the user’s experience is much improved over slow and unreliable connections. Citrix is the clear winner here having a significantly superior product, and will continue to be the lead player in remote access. Conclusion It is also worth considering cloud-based IT systems, such as NGIT’s Office Anywhere service, which uses Citrix to provide seamless access from any internet connected PC, ultrabook, tablet or smartphone (Mac or Windows) to a full IT system securely hosted in a local datacentre. So whichever devices you choose, you will have access to all of your company’s emails, applications and data from anywhere in the world.
It only takes one or two memorable features to add a wow factor to a property and one great way of doing this is by bringing the outdoors indoors. The relationship between indoor and outdoor space works best if the transition is gradual rather than abrupt and this can be achieved through clever architectural design. It’s important to work in sympathy with a building in terms of scale, period and surrounding area. However, an extended porch area, veranda or a cantilevered overhang are just a few options that can ease the transition between internal and external areas. Large windows and glazed doors are key to creating the relationship between inside and out because they can minimise visual obstruction. Floor-to-ceiling windows and roof-lights can be very effective and the less frame and structural support visible the better. Slim-line metal-framed windows and doors are a good option, as are frameless windows and doors. Popular door options include huge frameless sliding doors, and folding sliding doors, which stack to the side, allowing an almost clear opening. Using the same materials and design details inside and out will add to the ambiguity of the boundaries and confines of the space and draw the eye outside.
Residential new builds - Extensions - Alterations
www.jga.gg
JGArchitecture Ltd
/JGArchitectureLtd
E: james@jga.gg
@JGA_Guernsey
T: 07781 119263
James Gavey
When experience counts
Electrical Installations Cat 5e / Cat 6 Data Cabling Installations Telephone / Broadband / WiFi
Tel: 01481 242800 Mob: 07781 163224 Email: support@quantum.gg
PROM OT ION
Digital technology... We hear about it all the time. We use it all the time. But have you ever wondered how all the computers and telephone and electrical cabling systems get organised Without cabling, our systems at home and at work just simply wouldn’t function. The technical term for it is information transport systems (ITS) but to most of us that doesn’t mean much, so let’s put it another way - computer or internet cabling. Quantum Cabling Installations, is a small and dynamic Guernsey-based company at the forefront of assuring the highest levels of compliance in the installation and testing of all computers, telephone and electrical cabling and appliances, while complying with the very latest regulatory standards. On an island the size of Guernsey, it is essential that solutions are found quickly and efficiently across a broad range of IT data, voice and electrical cabling requirements. People need to speak to people; computers need to speak to computers; and computer servers and systems need to be powered up. With a vast array of skills and experience behind them, Quantum can offer a ‘one stop shop’ to cover all these areas, saving the need to go to numerous companies and saving costs at the same time. The three directors – Mark Addlesee, Nigel Moullin and Rob Dodds – all have extensive qualifications and experience in their field. They have worked on projects such as St Sampson’s and Les Beaucamps High Schools, The Royal Court, Specsavers, Le Rondin School, Close Bank and many more. As a single point solution for data cabling, PC networking, telephone systems and electrical services, they can assist with new builds, site upgrades and office relocations.
voice-cabling services provide the basic means of outside communication. A breakdown in communication could be detrimental to a business. Quantum can provide a full design, installation and maintenance service for voice cabling and telephone networks. Fibre optic installations This is a complete planning, installation and repairs service for single-mode and multi-mode optical fibre for point-to-point cabling or network backbones. Recommended in applications where data is transferred over long distances or for organisations with high and increasing bandwidth requirements and ideal for wet, humid and volatile conditions or environments subject to radio or electrical interference.
Before
Electrical installations and maintenance Quantum is able to offer a range of electrical services to light industrial and dometic premises, including planning, cabling installation and inspection services for portable appliance testing, finished to the highest standards and tested by qualified electrical installers. Facilities management Facilities management services designed to ensure the operational continuity of day-today activities and during times of expansion, restructure, downsizing or relocation. Working with IT support teams to add new users to existing networks, re-patching and testing of computers and workstation equipment, relocation of internal office furniture and desktop migration.
Data and voice cabling installations
Wireless networking
Cat 5e/Cat 6 structure cabling - whether you are installing an infrastructure in new premises, building a data centre, upgrading your existing network or simply adding additional points, Quantum can help plan your project and deliver it at a time to cause least disruption to your business. As one of the most important and critical infrastructures within any business system,
Being able to connect wirelessly with ease has become essential in modern business and homes, the ability to connect to the internet and e-mail in any location is becoming a necessity for all modern companies and homes, in order to keep track of communications. Quantum’s aim is to install high-speed wireless services to maximise broadband internet connections.
After Recommendations ‘Nerine Trust Company contracted Quantum Cabling Installations to undertake the electrical and data cabling for the refurbishment of one of our office suites. The work was carried out to a high standard and in a very professional manner and we were extremely pleased with the finished results. We valued their advice and experience, their calm approach and flexibility when working on the project. A really great team to work with and we would definitely use their services again as well as recommend them to others.’ Nerine Trust, published on BestofGuernsey High praise indeed for this expanding local company. In every way, Quantum is leaping forward. 51
T ELEC O MS
The mobile and internet evolution Jo Cox from Sure, looks at the changes we have witnessed over the last decade and the impact on business 10 years ago there were around 700 million mobile devices; today there are 4.6 billion worldwide, nearly all of which connect to the internet. The internet is one of the most transformational technologies to emerge from the 20th century. Another is the mobile phone; these platforms are now converging and most people acknowledge that by 2020 we will be connected everywhere. With the number of mobiles and tablets set to overtake desktop computers and with 4G coming to the island – Sure is already building its network and plans to be the first to market in the first quarter of 2015 – this new world of telecommunications will keep evolving. The ability to access the internet at faster speeds on the move will underpin this move to an ‘always online’ culture. Within the retail sector online shopping is now a part of most people’s lives – last year 87% of Christmas shopping was done online. Yet 72% of businesses in Guernsey do not have a functioning website or a website of their own at all. Many of these are large retail businesses, not just small businesses as you might think. But we know that more and more Guernsey businesses will get on the online bandwagon and reap dividends when they do. So what about non-retail businesses? Increasing connectivity means that whether we like it or not, we all need to focus on our virtual presence. We have to think about the use of online communication to clients, customers, suppliers, employees and future employees. Technology is also changing the way companies, from all different sectors, are structured. They are becoming more permeable and flexible.
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Increasing use of consultants, freelancers and other temporary staff has blurred the boundary between employee and contractor for many large companies. Outsourcing administration functions is also commonplace. What we are moving towards is a world where organisations are becoming increasingly unbundled and recombined around different tasks and issues.
Technology is also changing the way companies, from all different sectors, are structured. They are becoming more permeable and flexible The drivers behind these decisions are often based on cost and efficiency as companies concentrate on their core business and outsource the services in which they do not specialise.
Partnership is key to evolving through this ever-changing journey. If you find yourself referring to contracts and double checking rules of engagement then you can be sure that you do not have a partnership model in place, only a supplier. If progress is to be made from innovation at a higher, broader level, then it is necessary to take a view beyond the usual horizons. This is not just about seeing further into the future in your own business sector but also means better understanding of forthcoming developments in other areas and recognising how they could have an impact on your future. Previous initiatives have demonstrated that before you can start to take decisions on your potential future focus, you first need to gain a clear overview, which should be a combination of what you know from within your industry and what you can learn from outside your industry that could potentially have implications on you. Sure has just created a new strategy division to focus on trends and behaviours. By doing this we can become much more pro-active in the way we adapt our services and our organisation structure to serve our customers better. In summary, ask yourself:
With this increasing use of outsourcing comes the growing need to protect our data. Consultants and employees bringing their own devices to work does deliver benefits, but you must ensure that you have a security model and policy that protects your company. 50% of IT managers and CTOs say are unsure of how to manage these new technology trends. There are many options available and they vary significantly in cost, so how do you make sure that you choose the right device management solution while still delivering the efficiencies that you need across your business?
Are you and your company equipped to play in this new evolving world, really? Are you the most efficient you can be or are you still trying to do it all yourself? Are your third party relationships structured the way they should be – could you benefit from more partner-based relationships? If the answer is no to any of these questions then I would suggest that you plot your journey from A to Z and choose selected partners who you trust, who are specialists in what they do to help get you there.
GR U M P Y OLD (WO)MA N
grumpy Linda Le Vasseur is
old (wo)man.
Cost of travel, smoking in public places and education – a few things on Linda Le Vasseur’s ‘could do better’ list.
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GRU M P Y OLD (WO)MA N
Linda Le Vasseur was Guernsey’s first female priest. She was priest with special responsibility for Forest Church for 13 years and recently became priest-in-charge at St John’s Church, St Peter Port. Linda is also a former religious studies teacher, having taught for many years at La Mare de Carteret Secondary School, Blanchelande and Ladies’ College. She is married to the artist Peter Le Vasseur. ‘I like a strong sense of community and knowing people,’ she said, but admitted it can be a mixed blessing going into town and being stopped by several people for a chat when walking down the High Street. ‘On the whole I see it as a strength; I like the fact you can get things done here because it’s a small community. The first time I arrived here with Peter there was an issue with the gas bill, but we were able to see the person and get it sorted within the same day. ‘The fact that our representatives in the States are generally quite accessible, so you can let them know your displeasure or pleasure about things, can be of benefit. Certainly, I’ve been an advocate for young women with housing issues and sometimes you can’t get movement, so I sit down with deputies to see if we can resolve the issue, which would be much harder to do in the UK.’ Linda loves many things about Guernsey. She lives in the country and, having grown up in the east end of London, has a fond appreciation for the coast.
‘I love being able to walk in the lanes. I don’t tend to go to the beach, but often Peter and I will go for winter walks on the beach, which is great for bird watching. When I have time in the summer I can swim in a friend’s pool. I like the Guernsey lifestyle; it is faster than when I first came here to live, but much more laid back and much more French than English.’ However, there are downsides to living on an island, Linda admits: ‘I’d like to be able to get off the island a bit more at a reasonable cost. When I came here it was still feasible to go away at the weekend, but not anymore because it is so expensive. There has got to be a solution because for ordinary local people the cost of getting away is a big issue. I would also like to see more concern for the marginalised in Guernsey. It’s fine if you can pay the bills and afford a house, but we have to be very clear that’s not everybody’s life here. I also have concerns for my own old age, that there will be added provision for me when there isn’t anyone around to look after me, and that concern is shared by a lot of people.’ When Linda first came to the island she taught at Blanchelande College. She then taught at La Mare de Carteret Secondary School from 1976 to 1992, despite only being trained for the secondary school age group, spent three years teaching at Notre Dame du Rosaire school for a short time. Her last stint of teaching was at Ladies’ College, where she was also chaplain.
‘So I experienced education here both public and private. I think it’s good in both areas of education, but I think sometimes the States’ sector has a difficult time because whilst children in the private sector generally have a great deal of support from families, this is not always so in the States’ sector. It can often be difficult for the children and teachers. ‘The other big difference is that in the private sector it’s cool to do well but for those who want to do well in the States’ sector it isn’t always seen as so cool. However, there are many children who want to do well and can do well, but find it hard because of peer pressure and because they didn’t pass the 11-plus. ‘I also think in some areas of employment in Guernsey there’s still a feeling that if you didn’t have the advantage of a private education in some way you’re not as good. I think that’s dreadful. I’ve met loads of people from La Mare de Carteret who have gone and done great things and made a great success of their lives. It’s unfair that they should have to battle against that kind of prejudice,’ said Linda. When it comes to her own experience of Guernsey’s health system Linda believes islanders are very fortunate with the service. ‘I work as chaplain at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital and I think the level of healthcare we get there is amazing. The nurses in particular are unsung heroes because they quietly get on with their work and are
I cannot bear drivers who do not say thank you when I’ve given them the chance to pass. I normally shout out, ‘Thank you,’ to make a point
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G RU M PY OL D ( WO) M AN
I’ve had funny experiences in my life; all the time I was teaching I thought women had parity, but when I went into the church people would refuse my services on the grounds that I was a woman
amazing people. Although one hears comments from time-to-time from people for whom things have gone wrong, in the main we can still access treatments as we require and much quicker than the NHS. No system can be perfect, everything costs money - and currently Guernsey has a few issues with money - but I think we are very fortunate.’
‘I’m encouraged by moves to get people to recycle more. I’m manic on recycling now and harsh words were said in my house because I found a tin in the dustbin recently. Guernsey is a good place to be a green society; it’s small so it’s much easier to make these things happen. However, it is possible too many chemicals are being used for growing food. I’d like to see less of that.’
Linda would like to see subtle changes made when it comes to the make up of the States.
One of things that Linda is against is smoking.
‘I’d like to see more people in the States who are grounded in what life is like for your ordinary person. I’d also like to see more women in the States, but having said that, I don’t believe anyone should get a job just because they are a woman. But it would be good if more women put themselves forward as we’ve got some very good ones in the States at the moment, who I have got great confidence in.’
‘I get very grouchy because I like sitting outside to eat in summer, but can no longer do that because the likelihood is that I’m going to be surrounded by people smoking. I think smoking should be banned in all public places, inside and out. If someone wants to go into their own room and smoke that should be their right, but I don’t think people should be able to smoke in any situation where it can affect others. I also hate finding cigarette butts on the ground; that’s horrible.’
On the subject of women, Linda believes that life could be easier for them in Guernsey than it already is. ‘I think it’s still quite difficult for women here, but it is getting better. I’ve had funny experiences in my life; all the time I was teaching I thought women had parity, but when I went into the church people would refuse my services on the grounds that I was a woman.’ With so much of Peter’s work based on environmental issues, it would be hard for Linda not to have an opinion on the matter.
Another pet hate of Linda’s is rude drivers. ‘I cannot bear drivers that do not say thank you when I’ve given them the chance to pass. I normally shout out, ‘Thank you,’ to make a point. It also irritates me when I email someone and the answer is obviously no, but they don’t get back to you. I think that’s incredibly rude – how long does it take to send an email? I think there’s a real lack of politeness in society. I was brought up to be polite and got to know about it if I was
impolite at home, and likewise in school.’ Religion is a subject close to Linda’s heart and she believes it’s very important that children are exposed to faith in school. ‘People say to me, ‘We’re going to let them make up their own minds when they are older’. That’s perfectly valid to allow children to make up their own mind up to a point, but there are times it’s good to encourage them to do things for their own good. By depriving children of being exposed to faith, you’re taking the choice away.’ On same sex relationships Linda she believes more needs to be done on the island to support those in the LGBT community, and soon. ‘It disturbs me that people who are not heterosexual, but part of the LGBT community, their needs are not fully recognised in Guernsey. It’s difficult for people who are not heterosexual to find support on the island. Currently these people may not even enter into civil partnership under Guernsey law. I do think we need to look at that. I firmly believe people don’t choose their sexuality – it is what it is. I don’t think in my lifetime we will see marriage in church for people who aren’t heterosexual, but I’m encouraged by the fact that at least now Guernsey is beginning to think about the issue.’
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We are Guernsey’s only legal practice specialising exclusively in family law, advising on all aspects of divorce, separation, children and finances.
T: 01481 740002 E: enquiries@brownsadvocates.com
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FAM ILY L AW
Mediation Advocate Nicola Hopkins of Browns Advocates, considers the benefits of family mediation as a real alternative to litigation It is, dare I suggest, universally accepted that the proverb ‘All is fair in love and war’ implies that in certain highly charged situations, any method of achieving your objective is justifiable. But does that make you feel good? Is the short term gain worth it in the long run? Thousands of couples are separating each year, with every relationship different and each one requiring a different approach. Courts should be the last resort for people in family dispute, unless there are issues pertaining to urgency and safety, for example, in relation to domestic violence or child abuse. Carried out by a trained mediator who is also often an experienced family lawyer, mediation is an alternative to the court arena and a forum in which the decision-making process is in your own hands. What is family mediation? Family mediation is an impartial and confidential process in which the mediator meets with both parties and encourages each to explain and discuss their needs and concerns regarding the breakdown of their relationship, together with the knock on effects of separating. The mediator will not take sides or judge who is right or wrong. The mediator’s aim is to facilitate the couple in reaching a mutually agreeable outcome to the problem in hand. People are invariably at different stages in the separation process and this is sensitively dealt with. The reality of separating could be a recent bombshell for one person, but could have been mulled over for years by the other. Mediation is particularly beneficial if children are involved, as invariably there is going to be a continuation in the relationship – you are separating from each other, but not from your children.
What can be discussed in mediation? There is no limit as to what can be discussed in mediation, including all family matters such as: • divorce and judicial separation • the impact of a new relationship • division of financial assets • child-related issues, such as maintenance and contact
As a mediator, we are trained to re-frame the focus of any animosity and facilitate the parties in attacking the problem, rather than each other. Is mediation a good alternative to litigation? A non-adversarial approach does not mean staying schtum if you don’t agree.
These aspects can be addressed at any stage, together or as separate issues. For example, a newly separated couple may want only to discuss a reasonable level of maintenance and contact in respect of their child.
The mediator will ensure that each person has the chance to have their opinions heard without aggression or conflict, and assist both parties in reaching an agreement as to what is to happen next.
It is important to remember that there are no real winners or losers when a relationship breaks down. If the matter ends up in the court arena in a highly acrimonious, stressful trial, has anyone really won when the battle is done?
The beauty of mediation is that the decision-making process is in your hands. No decision is going to be imposed upon you. It is for the couple, facilitated by the mediator, to discuss the issues on the basis of what is right for them and then to decide between themselves what weight should be applied to each principle, such that it reflects their own particular circumstances. At the end of the day, no one knows you like you know yourself.
Each party will attribute different levels of importance to each aspect of the separation. As each party describes the issues that divide them, we, as mediators, get an understanding for each person’s feelings. It may be that one party has not felt able to express themselves to the other, as they have become so entrenched in the worry of dividing assets or selling the house.
If a couple can say that the division reached is fair, then it is ‘their fair’ and not a fairness imposed upon them through the litigation process or courts. It is important to remember that there are no real winners or losers when a relationship breaks down. If the matter ends up in the court arena in a highly acrimonious, stressful trial, has anyone really won when the battle is done? Mediation is an empowering, cost effective alternative to court. It can limit the furtherance of more damage being caused and hopefully preserve some dignity for all concerned, as well as offer the opportunity for ongoing civility in the relationship.
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FA M I LY L AW
If the unthinkable were to happen Advocate Phoebe Cobb of Randell and Loveridge Advocates, considers the issue of appointing guardians to safeguard children’s futures, in the worst case scenario Whilst it is not a particularly pleasant subject to talk about, parents (whether together, separated or on their own) should consider carefully appointing a guardian for their children should the unthinkable happen and they die while their children are under 18, choosing wisely so that their choice of guardian will be effective. The Children (Guernsey and Alderney) Law 2008 came into force in 2010, replacing the previous legislation and setting a new regime for the appointment of guardians. Under the new law, appointment is made in writing, not necessarily in a will, subject to certain formalities but (and this is new) only takes effect in certain circumstances, notably if the surviving parent consents or dies or if the court ratifies the appointment. If the child is left without a guardian then the court will appoint one, in the best interests of the child. Being a guardian imposes on a person all the rights, duties, powers and responsibilities that a parent would have in relation to the child. The guardian has parental responsibility for the child and makes all the decisions necessary in their upbringing. The choice of guardian can be a tricky one. For example, at the time of making a will, your own parents may seem the obvious choice. However, it is important to consider how this might work a few years down the line should their health deteriorate or their circumstances change. Likewise, there is often a dilemma about choosing someone, whether they are a relative or close friend, who already has children as the effect on ‘new’ siblings in a domestic situation has to be carefully handled. Coupled with this is the consideration that a guardian who has their own children, has their own priorities. On the other hand, your best friend who has no children may be a fabulous babysitter but would he or she really want
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to be left ‘holding the baby’ on a more permanent basis? One thing is for sure, it is essential that you broach the subject with them before you allocate such a duty in your will or in writing and bear in mind it might be difficult for them to be honest and decline the offer for fear of offending you (or your children).
The choice of guardian can be a tricky one. For example, at the time of making a will, your own parents may seem the obvious choice. However, it is important to consider how this might work a few years down the line should their health deteriorate or their circumstances change You should also consider what financial support you will be leaving for such a task as this too could be a massive burden to a friend or family member unless you have made sufficient financial provision in the form of life insurance or saleable assets. It is usually sensible to create trusts within the wills to provide for long-term security for the child. Separated parents have even more to think about. If parents are already separated and
one of the parents dies having appointed a guardian for the child in their will (that person not being the other parent), the appointment cannot take effect unless the surviving parent consents or dies, the court orders the appointment or if there was a residence order in place in favour of the deceased parent immediately before their death. Therefore, the surviving parent could potentially contest the guardianship preferences of the deceased parent, even if the deceased parent was the primary carer. The new law is effectively a half-way house between the position in England and Wales whereby an appointment does not usually take place until both parents have died, and the previous Guernsey law where the appointment always took effect, irrespective of the surviving parent’s views on the proposed guardian. It is also worthy of note that the court cannot officially appoint a guardian unless the guardian accepts the appointment. This puts the prospective guardian in a difficult position, since, whilst they may have agreed to take on the role should the unthinkable happen, they potentially could have agreed to the prospect many years ago and under the premise that the unthinkable is incredibly unlikely. Therefore, it would also be prudent to revisit and review guardianship regularly as the children grow up, as the age and circumstances of those in the picture will constantly alter too. Whilst it is not a set of circumstances any of us would wish on anyone, sudden and unexpected death does happen to people with children and it is therefore sensible to ensure that your children will be cared for by someone who you know you can rely on.
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FAM I LY LAW
The evolution of pre-nups Advocate Paul Lockwood of Trinity Chambers looks at pre-nuptial agreements, and explains why they are likely to become more prevalent in the future What is a pre-nuptial agreement? It is nothing more than a contract entered into by two people who are intending to get married in the near future, setting out what each party will receive as a settlement in the event of a divorce. Pre-nuptial agreements have tended in the past to be drawn up where one of the parties to the intended marriage has considerably more income or wealth than the other. There was a time when the courts would not regard a pre-nuptial agreement as binding. Judicial opinion for more than 150 years had been that prenuptial agreements were not worth the paper they were written on. There were occasions when judges would uphold a pre-nuptial agreement, but that would be at the court’s discretion and only where the outcome was fair and in line with usual matrimonial legal principles (which made it somewhat pointless to enter into a pre-nuptial agreement in the first place). Up until an English Supreme Court case in October 2010 (Radmacher v Granatino), judges had, more often than not, ignored prenuptial agreements. Public policy considerations had meant that pre-nuptial agreements were denied any enforceability on the basis that they undermined marriage. It had even been suggested by certain commentators that the very existence of a prenuptial agreement might encourage a future divorce. All this changed in consequence of the Radmacher case, which effectively ‘legalised’ pre-nuptial agreements. Katrin Radmacher was one of Germany’s richest women, as the heiress of a paper industry fortune of hundreds of millions of pounds. Her former husband, Nicolas Granatino, a city banker, had originally signed a prenuptial agreement in which he agreed not to try to obtain any part of her wealth
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if they ever divorced. When the parties divorced in the English courts, Mr Granatino asked for a settlement of £9.2 million, claiming that the prenuptial agreement was unfair because he had not realised the true extent of his wife’s vast fortune.
It is important to note that pre-nuptial agreements (in other words agreements between spouses-to-be) are now potentially binding, as are post-nuptial agreements (agreements entered into by spouses during the course of the marriage).
However, this case was a test case and the law was reversed completely. The Supreme Court of England and Wales brushed aside the status quo, deciding that pre-nuptial agreements were a useful thing in modern times and that:
So what effect might this judgment have in Guernsey? At present, there are probably very few pre-nuptial agreements in existence in Guernsey, but as time goes on they are likely to become more and more prevalent. Trinity Chambers has certainly advised far more people in the last year than ever before about such agreements.
It is not just the super-wealthy who might find them useful: there are many occasions when people may want to avoid complications if they break up ‘The court should give effect to a nuptial agreement that is freely entered into by each party with a full appreciation of its implications unless in the circumstances prevailing it would not be fair to hold the parties to their agreement.’
It is not just the super-wealthy who might find them useful: there are many occasions when people may want to avoid complications if they break up. ‘Pre-nups’, as they have come to be known, have been binding in Scotland for quite some time, and experience has shown that a very significant percentage of couples take advantage of the greater certainty such agreements offer. Those considering marriage, and the wisdom or otherwise of entering into such an agreement, should note the need for both parties to give full disclosure, act in good faith and obtain legal advice before signing on the dotted line. It is essential that each party seeks independent legal advice. Although I am not yet aware of any case in the Matrimonial Causes Division of Guernsey’s Royal Court where the decision in Radmacher has been explicitly approved as part of Guernsey law, I anticipate that it will not be long before this happens. It is a chicken and egg situation - until there is a divorce case in which the parties originally entered into a pre-nup (or later post-nuptial agreement), we will not know. The old adage, ‘better safe than sorry’, is one that seems appropriate in the meantime.
B U S IN E S S IN T H E COM M U N IT Y
Sure at the heart of the Bailiwick community Sure has sponsored and organised a number of different events and donated significant sums of money to charities for many years. But two years ago, the staff decided they wanted more and formed the Sure Community Foundation. The Sure Community Foundation was created in June 2012 with a £10,000 donation from the company, £10,000 from recycling initiatives that had been saved over years and staff donations. The recycling has included anything from old circuit boards, fibre optics and printer cartridges all of which helps reduce the company’s environmental footprint. This revenue stream has continued to stabilise, which ensures that the Sure Community Foundation can continue to support charities and organisations. The donations over the last two years have been carefully allocated to ensure that they really make a difference to the people living within the Bailiwick.
but also remembering that the funds are donated by Sure staff. The fun part of my role is learning about a new charity or gaining a better understanding of one we have supported in the past.’ The foundation has already donated nearly £70,000 to more than 60 different charities and groups and is always open to new applications.
‘The support we have given has been so diverse in terms of the different types of charities, organisations and individuals,’ said Karen Jagger from the Sure Community Foundation.
We want to try and help as many charities and organisations as possible, whether they are looking for a few hundred pounds or have a much larger project. We would encourage all charities to apply
‘The aim of the foundation is to support charities and organisations where we can make a real difference to people living within the Bailiwick. We have had applications that span the full spectrum of our guiding principles and over the last two years we have supported smaller unknown charities through to larger support services.
Last year’s donations included £3,200 to the St Saviour’s Community Centre to buy new safety equipment, £25 vouchers to 20 young people who otherwise may not have had a Christmas present and £4,710 to Maison St Pierre to cover the cost of redecorating the outside of the building and replacing the guttering.
‘The Sure Community Foundation committee is made up of six members of staff with supporting roles within the organisation such as regulatory and finance. ‘As a committee we are extremely passionate about what we do and about helping as many organisations as we can
The Sure Community Foundation after just 12 months was shortlisted for the Chamber-sponsored CSR category in the Community Foundation Awards. ‘Apart from helping the charities, this has to be the most amazing part of creating the
foundation – it was such an achievement. We all know at Sure that we are doing the right thing to be even associated with such a great event,’ said Karen. This year the foundation has installed a new high-speed internet network at the Scout Association with a donation of £5,000; made a donation of £2,200 to the Guernsey Rugby Academy Colts to provide new kit; and the Lihou Charitable Trust bought new kitchen equipment with £1,000 donation. It also donated £5,000 to the Alderney swimming pool appeal to cover the cost of lockers, a disabled hoist, signs and chairs. ‘We want to try and help as many charities and organisations as possible, whether they are looking for a few hundred pounds or have a much larger project. We would encourage all charities to apply,’ said Karen. ‘The application process is very simple. We want small charities to find it easy and not a daunting task.’ As well as the Sure Community Foundation, Sure also invests in a number of events aimed at the whole community. For eight years, Sure has sponsored the extremely successful Sure Smiles, helping to bring top class comedians to the island twice a year. The Sure Big Screen, the island’s only outdoor cinema event, has proved a huge success for visitors and islanders. The seven-day free event at Cobo has something for everyone and includes lots of free goodies for the family to share. Other community support includes the major Sure Herm Rowing Regatta, The Tree of Joy on the Weighbridge Roundabout and at the airport, which it co-sponsors with Long Port and Deutsche Bank for unprivileged children Charities or organisations can email communityfoundation@sure.com to apply for support. 61
Logicalis supporting
Jersey Tennis Club Gorey Regatta Jersey Surf Kayak Team
Logicalis are the Channel Islands leading provider of IT solutions and services to business. It has always been important to us as a company that we give back to the communities that we operate in, which in the Channel Islands includes Jersey and Guernsey. In both islands we are supporting several water-based sports
Our sponsorship has enabled the event to attract new
as it’s often difficult, based in a small community, to compete
entrants as well as encourage many young dinghy sailors to
on a national and international level as facilities are not
move through the ranks.
comparable.
Our support for the Jersey Rowing Club has
In Guernsey we’ve been helping the Guernsey Sailing Trust
allowed it to buy a new boat, enabling membership to
for the last couple of years, sponsoring six oppie dinghies,
increase as more people have the chance to row. This
allowing Guernsey’s youth to progress their sailing skills.
year we assisted their trip to the World Coastal Rowing
In Jersey, by sponsoring the yearly Gorey Regatta, we’re safe-guarding its continued running.
Championships in Sweden where they came an impressive 11th in the world in the coxed fours event.
www.je.logicalis.com | www.gg.logicalis.com
g local communities
Jersey Rowing Club
Jersey Volleyball Team
Guernsey Sailing Trust
We also provide some sponsorship to the Jersey Surf Kayak team who recently competed at the World Surf Sea Kayak championships against the world’s elite. On land, we support the Jersey Tennis Club. Sponsorship has helped the team attend the last three
Logicalis are pleased to support many island initiatives including: Guernsey Sailing Trust
Island Games, without which the Club would have
Gorey Regatta
struggled to send men’s and women’s teams to all
Jersey Rowing Club
these events. This year we supported their trip to the NatWest Island Games Bermuda 2013 where they won
Jersey Surf Kayak Team
several medals.
Jersey Tennis Club
We also sponsor two Jersey Volleyball teams.
Jersey Volleyball Team
We’ve helped with travel costs as well as the purchase
Liam Robilliard, Table Tennis
of kits and we’ve subsidised members’ subscription and registration fees for those who have been unable to. We are currently actively encouraging and supporting the training sessions they are providing to bring youngsters into the sport.
Guernsey Bereavement Society Ecollection Jersey
B U S I N E SS IN THE C OMM U N IT Y
CSR – part of the fabric of a business Jim Coupe of Skipton International explains why he’s looking forward to getting wet in October. Cynics might argue that corporate social responsibility (CSR) is just window dressing; an insincere opportunity for companies to ‘look’ as though they are doing nice things for the communities in which they operate; a way of leveraging customer opinion in their favour. However that negative and shortsighted view ignores the great benefit that many businesses do in the societies in which they exist. Local sports would not be able to survive in the form they do without corporate sponsorships, and imagine the impact on the London 2012 Olympics without the sponsorship money it had received, said to be approximately £1 billion. Of course CSR and its benefits will mean different things in different communities and to various companies. It can range from direct financial help to staff participation through the lending of expertise or simply time. At Skipton International we do it all. For the Skipton Swimarathon we are not only the main sponsor, but our assistant commercial manager, Aaron Walden and I are on the organising committee and we lend whatever support is required from helping deliver a website to PR functions.
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Finally, when it comes to the event you will be sure to see a Skipton International team splashing up and down the pool.
As a Channel Island bank, our staff, as well as our customers, are a part of the islands, and so taking an active part in local life is essential to us We firmly believe in CSR, a leftover from our mutual heritage, and it’s part of the fabric of our business. As a Channel Island bank, our staff, as well as our customers, are a part of the islands, and so taking an active part in local life is essential to us. When our staff go home in the evening we want them to feel proud to be working for us, not just because we have a successful business, but because their family, friends and neighbours interact with us through our CSR initiatives.
This year’s Skipton Swimarathon is raising money for two excellent charities. The joint organisers, the Lions Club of Guernsey and the Guernsey Round Table, have chosen Autism Guernsey and the Channel Islands Air Search. Although the lanes are filling up fast there’s still space to join in. You don’t even have to be a great swimmer - it’s about having fun and helping your community. In previous years we’ve had teams paddling up and down the pool in dinghies, and on the Saturday night it will be party night with music and prizes. We have lots of corporate teams entering, and the telling thing is that those who do it one year come back year after year. It’s a great team-building exercise and with a range of trophies on offer including categories for a number of sectors such as: insurance, professional services, construction, financial, health to name a few, it gives everyone the chance to get involved in some CSR that is fun and helping our local community. So I urge everyone to visit the Skipton Swimarathon website: www.swimarathon. org and register your team and come swim, row or paddle your way up and down the Beau Sejour pool with us from 8 to 12 October.
B U S IN E S S IN T H E COM M U N IT Y
JT raises funds for Autism Guernsey and Jersey on its global charity day
Louvre Group supports young local cyclist Hannah English with annual sports grant
Barclays donates £22,000 to Guernsey Sports Commission
ABN AMRO-sponsored golf event donates proceeds to MUG
Vale School pupils create First World War memorial with Guernsey Electricity and Norman Piette
Saffery Champness Rotary Walk raises money for nine local charities
Waitrose helps promote healthy eating to primary school children through ‘Grow and Sell’ initiative
Swoffers’ golf day raises money for Pink Ladies
Sure Charitable Foundation donates to The Orca Trust
Philip Smith and Warren Mauger raise money for This is EPIC and The HUB
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B U S I N E SS IN THE C OMM U N IT Y
Hepburns Insurance celebrates 25 years by supporting the community
Celebrating 25 years of business in Guernsey with a dedicated team of colleagues, of which the majority have been with the company for most, if not all of those years, is special. Local company Hepburns Insurance is proud to mark this anniversary by giving back to the community. ‘We decided to allocate a special budget for sponsorship this year, which was to support and raise awareness of a number of local charities in different ways,’ said managing director, Chris Schofield. ‘We specifically wanted to offer a supporting ‘leg up’ for events and activities which would then allow these charities to raise even greater sums of money. By sponsoring the casino tables for the GSPCA’s Viva Las Vegas event in July for example, the charity was able to offer a spectacular evening without incurring high costs, and thereby raise even greater funds for such a worthwhile cause.’
Other charities to benefit include: the Dyslexia Day Centre, for whom Hepburns Insurance paid for the development of a website; the Guernsey
Guernsey Lily Ball in August; and the Guernsey Specials Gym Club through sponsorship of the band for their 20th anniversary dinner to be held in October.
We specifically wanted to offer a supporting ‘leg up’ for events and activities which would then allow these charities to raise even greater sums of money
One of the few remaining truly independent insurance brokers, Hepburns Insurance is wholly owned by those working full time within the organisation. The Guernsey office opened in 1989, recognising the local need for a professional and personal service in the field of insurance.
Wooden Spoon Society, by sponsoring the floral table decorations at the inaugural
Chris is delighted with the way that the company has grown and developed in that time: ‘We have remained a relatively small company as personal service is important to us. And we must have done something right as many of our clients, not to mention our staff, have been with us since the beginning.’ With a sister company in Jersey, Hepburns
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GUERNSEY’S LEADING MOBILE BAR SERVICE
B U S IN E S S IN T H E COM M U N IT Y
Insurance advises on and manages the diverse insurance requirements of both large and small professional, corporate and commercial enterprises, delivering innovative, bespoke and cost effective insurance and risk management solutions.
The quality of claims handling is of vital importance to any insurance arrangement and at Hepburns Insurance the team will administer all claims on behalf of clients and undertake all negotiations with insurers and loss adjusters, when appointed.
Regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission, the company prides itself on offering clear, independent and objective advice in a timely manner, knowing that all customers have a need for competitively priced, quality insurance products.
As a licensed captive insurance manager, the company analyses an organisation’s corporate risk, determines appropriate control measures and then formalises a risk retention strategy and a vehicle through which the residual unwanted risk can be transferred in the most economically feasible manner.
‘Offering independent advice is important,’ explained Chris. ‘It means the company can look around for the best product and price for a client and act only with the client’s best interests in mind.’ Each member of the team has extensive knowledge and experience of the insurance market and also strong relationship skills to ensure the highest levels of personal service, expertise and integrity.
years
the inception of a captive feasibility review through to the management of the interface between captive and conventional insurance programmes. All this is achieved with a team of nine dedicated staff and Chris is justifiably proud of them and what they have achieved.
In many cases, the optimum balance between risk retention and risk transfer is best achieved through the utilisation of a captive insurance programme in conjunction with insurance and/or reinsurance transfer. The company’s experience with a number of multi-national and professional clients means that they are well placed to assist at all stages of formation and operation – from
‘To have reached this milestone anniversary, whilst remaining true to our core values and independence, is very rewarding,’ he said. ‘The fact that we have been able to help a number of very worthy charities in our celebratory year has only added to the pleasure and sense of achievement that we have felt.’ The team at Hepburns Insurance is committed to what they do and have no plans to sit back and rest on their reputation. They will undoubtedly continue to provide a successful insurance broking, risk management and international captive insurance business to their valued and varied client database for at least the next 25 years!
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS IN GUERNSEY Independent local insurance intermediary, Hepburns Insurance, advises on and manages the diverse insurance requirements of professional, corporate and commercial enterprises offering: Clear, independent and objective advice Extensive knowledge of the market Technical expertise Innovation Personal service
service | expertise | integrity Tel: 254954 | Email: gsy@hepburnsinsurance.com | www.hepburnsinsurance.com Our insurance broking and risk and captive management activities are authorised, regulated and/or licensed by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission.
B U S I N E SS IN THE C OMM U N IT Y
The Heritage Group’s amazing charity feat The Heritage Group firmly believes that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is integral to its business and is dedicated to making a positive contribution to the community Heritage sponsors many local causes, especially those associated with children, the elderly and people with disabilities. The group encourages its staff to become involved in fundraising and charitable activities, and allows them to nominate which organisations the group supports. Since 2012, the company has helped to raise an impressive £205,000 for good causes across the island. Over the years, Heritage’s commitment has extended to a host of local charities as well as numerous sporting and community initiatives. From underwriting charitable organisations’ crucial annual events to providing individual sponsorship to those who make substantial contributions to the island, Heritage has supported many diverse causes. ‘Our approach to CSR is driven by our culture. As a company we know there are many ways we can make a positive impact. 68
It is our people that drive our CSR and it’s their enthusiasm that ensures our contributions are meaningful,’ said Kevin Roberts, Heritage Group’s human resources director.
It is our people that drive our CSR and it’s their enthusiasm that ensures our contributions are meaningful ‘Our staff are passionate about various good causes and frequently hold mufti-days and other fundraising events to support the issues that mean something to them – from specific local charities to school projects, sports teams and individuals. They also volunteer their personal time to become involved with the larger events we
sponsor – something of which we are very proud.’ In 2014 alone, Heritage-sponsored events contributed approximately £30,000 to various charities and provided sponsorship for some of the island’s most notable charity events including the Les Bourgs Hospice 30/30 challenge and the renowned Rock to Rocque Bike Ride. One of the group’s primary sponsorships, the annual Charity Motoring Festival, raised £25,000 for Channel Islands Air Search, Guernsey Motor Neurone Disease Association and the Lions Club of Guernsey in 2014. In the five years since the launch event Heritage’s involvement has helped raise a formidable £163,000 for local causes. ‘We are dedicated to sustaining our record of contributing towards these important community events. They’re not only vital for the charities involved but, as key fixtures in the community calendar, they are also part of
B U S IN E S S IN T H E COM M U N IT Y
Exceeding expectations is at the core of Heritage’s values as a business so it is fitting that, when it comes to our community endeavours, we set the bar just as high Guernsey’s rich culture. Equally, we recognise that less established charitable organisations need support and are always looking for ways we can do just that. The L’vaïr Project and This Is Epic are two more recent charities we have supported this year. We also try to acknowledge unique and one-off fundraising projects,’ said Kevin. In June, Heritage also sponsored the ‘Mule de Bretagne Brittany Bike Bash’, which saw 40 cyclists take on a five-day cycling challenge from St Malo, covering nearly 300 miles and raising more than £35,000. Richard Tee, chief executive of Heritage Group was part of the team.
Just in the last month Heritage Insurance, as main sponsor, got behind the ‘Guernsey to Gatwick’ cycling challenge organised by the airport’s firemen and service workers in which they rode 161 miles – the distance between Guernsey and Gatwick airport. The money raised at the event, as well as prior fundraisers, went to Le Rondin Memory Garden and Les Bourgs Hospice. ‘Cycling is a recurring theme in our CSR activity and we have a number of keen cyclists in our ranks. We recognise the huge importance of benefiting the community in ways that are both fun and challenging for
our staff. Fortunately our staff share a determination to succeed,’ said Kevin. ‘The huge amount raised through our CSR work shows just how dedicated our staff are to worthy causes. With the Charity Motoring Festival, for example, we had hoped to raise over £100,000 in five years but have already beaten that target with still a year to go. Exceeding expectations is at the core of Heritage’s values as a business so it is fitting that, when it comes to our community endeavours, we set the bar just as high.’
Be in it to win it Get the recognition you deserve, enter the Awards For Achievement 2014. More info at awards.gg
If I were in charge
I F I W ER E IN C HA RGE
Contact asked Mark Cooke, head of IT services & operations at C5 Alliance, what his plans would be if he walked the corridors of power.
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IF I W E RE IN CH AR GE
Mark is a qualified chartered accountant with over 20 years’ experience. He has held many board positions throughout his career. Before joining C5 he was chief officer at the Health and Social Services Department. Mark is a director of Every Child Our Future and St Saviour’s Church treasurer. He is married to Fiona, an accident and emergency nurse, and they have two children. What type of leader do you think you would make? Fair, inclusive, thoughtful. I like to listen and understand different people’s perspectives. I am mainly consensual but, when it is needed (and necessary), I am directive. I am passionate about technology, public services and the health and wellbeing of our island. The skills I have that would be key in the role are: Integrity, a comprehensive understanding of people and communities, good insight into politics, the ability to build a good rapport with a broad range of people and seeing the bigger picture. An in-built determination to make a positive difference.
What’s the one thing you would change on day one of being in charge? Improve communication. There needs to be more listening to staff and a better dialogue with the public, business and the media – without engaging people effectively it is hard sometimes for the community to understand what the public sector is doing. What’s your view of the current political structure and it’s suitability to take Guernsey through the next decade? What improvements would you make? The main focus of government should be policy and legislation; if that’s executed properly then services can work at arm’s length and regulation can be light touch. The provision of public services should be accountable but not necessarily run by government. That’s not core business. Regulation should be free from political influence. Currently government tries to do bits of everything. Good joined-up policy-making in collaboration with business and the community would be the main focus of improvement.
What have you learned from your previous role as chief officer at HSSD and your newer role at C5? At C5 I have been astounded at what the innovative use of technology can achieve. I work with some amazingly clever people. We have to make more use of technology. I have a complete appreciation of the complexity of the public sector particularly in Guernsey; I understand how difficult it is to get the balance right with competing priorities. My work with HSSD has proved invaluable with C5 where we have a myriad of different work streams, priorities, ever-evolving technologies and clients needing simple solutions in a complex world. My experience is that most people want to do a good job. It is about ensuring their skill sets are applied effectively and people are in the right place to use them. Fundamentally it is all about having the right team and being honest.
interested in tackling issues holistically, trying to understand the full social-ecological system. His big picture thinking would help us to see the potential ramifications of our decisions. Stephen Sutton – at 19, he galvanised a jaded world by raising a staggering amount of money for cancer research in the weeks prior to his own death. His youth, vitality, humility and determination are admirable qualities in politics. Audrey Hepburn – her natural beauty and elegance aside, she suffered significant trauma during the war and spent many years as special ambassador to UNICEF. Good ambassadors are so important. If I were in charge there would be no more… Apathy towards poverty. It’s easy to think that we all have a great life here and ignore those in real need. It’s economic madness. We need to prioritise what services should be available, to whom, what is affordable and what difference it can make. We need a better understanding of the quality of our public services and the impact it has on our whole community. People would love me/hate me as a leader because…
Name six people who you would select for your ideal cabinet/policy council and why? Greg Mortenson – a humanitarian who has built schools in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan for over 64,000 children, including 54,000 girls. I think his drive, passion and insight would be invaluable. John Bird MBE – a British social entrepreneur best known as the founder of The Big Issue. His ability to see life from the perspective of those less fortunate, and to be controversial, could be a real asset. Richard Branson – who wouldn’t? John Seddon – a systems ecologist
I would be an advocate for change. The status quo is not an option; to improve anything you have to change. It’s about taking people with you on the journey. But if I didn’t get the job… Apart from continuing to work for the most successful business solutions and IT outsourcing company in the Channel Islands, if I didn’t get the job I would find other ways of influencing what needs to be done. Guernsey is blessed with an incredible, often unacknowledged, voluntary workforce with extraordinary skill sets, all working behind the scenes supporting our community. I would encourage the private and voluntary sectors to work in co-production with government. We only have limited resources and we have to make best use of them. It is wrong to think that government can do that in isolation.
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YO U NG B USI NE SS GROUP
It’s not uncommon to look out of the window on a rainy February day and dream of sunnier climes: it’s rather less common to turn that dream into a thriving business. But that’s exactly what Russell Meakin has done. In the space of only three years, his online Ibiza club site IBZ.TV has become the second largest in its field, and Russell quite literally has his dream job. ‘It wasn’t easy to get to this stage, though,’ he says. ‘It took a lot of hard work and a leap of faith.’ ‘I went to Ibiza on holiday in 2010, but the business really started on a rainy Sunday in February 2011 when I built the first version of the website. The main purpose of that was to give the most up-to-date Ibiza clubbing information – our competitors had years of content which was largely out-of-date and conflicting. ‘Gradually my site became a big success – all the clubs welcomed me. I just kept working on it, building my contacts, and site traffic started flowing. Now we have just broken the 10,000 mark in terms of unique visits to the site per day.’ IBZ.TV’s business model is based on selling club tickets and VIP tables to visitors. ‘We use the high level of site traffic to sell our products, whilst at the same time offering really valuable information on clubbing in Ibiza. This allows our visitors to see us as a great Ibiza resource and they keep coming back to us for the latest information. We can then sell new products to them - such as our hotels, apaerments and villa section, which we’ve just started to
build for 2015. In the next few months we’ll be able to sell hotel rooms and villas directly.’
and content of the website. Russell is very proud of the team.‘
The idea might appear a sure-fire hit in retrospect, but it took courage to throw everything into IBZ.TV.
‘Without them there would be an Ibiza TV 2014 site, but it would be nowhere near as good!’
‘At the beginning of last year I was still working full time and it was ‘do or die’. It was very scary starting out in business on my own, but I really enjoyed working on the site. I left a good, stable job to do something I couldn’t be sure would work. It was a big risk, but knew that I would always regret it if I didn’t try.’
The success of IBZ.TV and the hard work of Russell and his team won them this year’s Bill Green Award for Entrepreneurial Spirit, presented at the YBG Summer Ball in June. ‘Winning the Bill Green award felt like an absolutely amazing achievement and proved to us that IBZ.TV is a special business. To be recognised with this prestigious award on an island, which has a fantastic reputation for business, makes it even more amazing.
Synergies with other businesses focused on Ibiza were part of the key to IBZ.TV’s success. ‘In 2013 I was approached by a club promoter called ‘Pukka Up’. It’s the world’s biggest boat party promoter and runs hundreds of parties throughout the world every year. They had been keeping an eye on the site and were keen to get involved to bring it up to the next level. This really boosted IBZ.TV as a business and the directors – now part of the business – have brought some incredible new ideas and deals to the table. It allowed the site to expand from a one-man-band into a thriving business.’
‘IBZ.TV is run by a young group of people, from their mid twenties to early thirties. This really represents a young approach to business.’
And Russell now works with a team including four directors, a manager and concierge co-ordinator in Ibiza as well as two people looking after advertising sales
‘Hopefully we’ll continue to grow. We are looking into expanding into Las Vegas and festivals around the world. The business itself is quite fluid and adaptable so we can work in other locations,’ said Russell.
The Bill Green Award for Entrepreneurial Spirit is presented by the Young Business Group each year to local businesses which have demonstrated a desire to succeed and the ambition, vision and drive to turn ideas into a successful business.
A business which began as a fun hobby has grown, in the space of three years, into the second biggest club promoter in Ibiza – snapping at the heels of a competitor which has been promoting in Ibiza for 20 years and working online for 10. Nonetheless, the business is not resting on its laurels, but is always seeking to expand and develop.
The judging panel comprises members of StartUp Guernsey, the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce and the Young Business Group. Entry for the Bill Green Award 2015 will be launched at our networking event in February 2015.
More details can be found on www.ybg.gg/projects/bill-green-award
CORPORAT E H OS PITAL IT Y
And for something a little different Alex Bridle of the Guernsey Event Company, talks about how to make the most of Guernsey’s event calendar for entertaining your guests Dinners, after-work drinks gatherings, boardroom lunches – they all play an important role in entertaining clients or prospects. But there are lots of other opportunities in Guernsey to offer guests something slightly less ‘traditional’ by way of entertainment. The most important aspect to consider when you get involved with corporate hospitality, is that the event that you go to is either of specific interest to you and your guests or the event reflects the values of your company. Corporate hospitality always carries some kind of cost – you are entertaining guests after all – and you, as the host, need to be able to quantify how it can make an important difference to how your guests view you and your company.
The most important aspect to consider when you get involved with corporate hospitality, is that the event that you go to is either of specific interest to you and your guests or the event reflects the values of your company
Here are a few thoughts on some of the larger events that may appeal. Guernsey Air Display Held each September to remember and commemorate the selfless bravery of the airmen and crew who were involved in the Battle of Britain between June and October 1940. 2015 will mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and corporate hospitality options include becoming a consortium member or a corporate friend of the Guernsey Air Display. Get yourself and your guests up close and personal with The Magnificent Men and Their Flying Machines.
Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner One of the top three business networking events in Guernsey’s calendar. The dress code may be black tie but the evening is packed with networking opportunities, the atmosphere convivial and friendly and the guest speaker always delivers an alternative perspective on business. You can book a table or individual tickets for an evening
RedArrows 50thDisplaySeason: credit - MOD/Crown Copyright 2014 RedArrows NewTailfin: credit - Mr Jamie Hunter/Aviacom
that includes a Champagne reception and three-course dinner. Proms on the Pier A glorious evening of an outdoor concert, performed by local musicians (Guernsey Jazz Orchestra, Guernsey Male Voice Choir and Bel Canto this year) plus the colour, pageantry and uplifting singing from the Royal Albert Hall as the second half of the Last Night of the Proms is beamed live on to Albert Pier. Gather together a group of your clients, purchase hampers filled with tasty treats and come to Albert Pier for an unforgettable evening of music and fireworks. The HUB & Young People Guernsey Hold an annual fund raising evening at the Princess Royal Centre of Performing Arts. This year’s theme is Sensation ABBA & 70s Tribute Show to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original ABBA’s release of ‘Waterloo’ in 1974. Get out your dancing shoes and be part of an evening that will have the very best classic disco hits of the 70s as well as the serious objective of raising funds for The HUB and YPG. Corporate hospitality should be fun, enjoyable and leave a lasting positive impression on both the host and guests. Time is a valuable and a highly prized commodity in a world that is frenetic with connectivity, deadlines and juggling the demands of business and personal lives. Get involved with events that will really make a difference to you and your guests.
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MOORES HOTEL | LES ROCqUETTES HOTEL | THE HOTEL DE HAVELET
Three fine town house hotels. One warm welcome.
Sarnia Hotels is a long established family owned group of three beautiful town house hotels situated in prime locations in St Peter Port. Whilst each of our hotels has its own unique character, guests can be assured of a warm welcome, wonderful accommodation and excellent dining. The three hotels are steered by an experienced management team ensuring that all our guests, whether staying with us on business, pleasure or just dining, return time and time again�
sarnia H OT E L S
G UE R N S E Y
TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR HOTELS PLEASE VISIT WWW.SARNIAHOTELS.COM
CORPORAT E H OS PITALIT Y
It’s all in the planning Although Moores Hotel is a well-known town ‘landmark’, customers are often surprised at the number of venues that are to be found behind its grey granite façade. Karel Harris tells us more. Moores hosts a great variety of functions, from the formal monthly Institute of Directors luncheon to the more relaxed ‘German’ supper evenings, which are held in the Hideaway. There are wine tastings, christenings, company social events and, sadly, often family gatherings following a funeral.
food and canapés that are attractive, tasty and actually easy to eat whilst standing up, clutching a glass of wine and trying to hold a conversation is quite an art form. Then the rotas have to be planned – how many staff are available or required to look after the function, bearing in mind any other events that may be happening on the same day?
There is a great deal of work behind the scenes to ensure every event goes to plan. This may start with chef and managers planning a menu suitable for the clients’ dietary and budgetary requirements.
These days it is unlikely that a flip chart will suffice for presentations, so we have to try to ensure that the Wi-Fi is sufficiently reliable and the client’s laptop is compatible with our screens; never mind making sure that there are spare batteries for the roving microphone.
Many people need vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free or dairy-free options so this can be a challenge. Consideration has to be given to how long the clients have to spend. Is this a two course lunch, which has to be served in less than an hour to fit in with the speaker and question time, or a more leisurely affair? Is this a formal presentation, or an occasion where people need to move around and network? Designing finger
The restaurant manager needs great social skills to be able to handle this variety of events. He may need to reassure the stressed PA or secretary organising the event, and worrying that it will reflect on them, that all will go smoothly. If it’s a celebratory event he needs to be upbeat, and on a more sombre occasion, able to be sympathetic and understanding.
On the day itself, our restaurant staff can turn into furniture removal experts. Depending on the type of function, the restaurant may need to be almost empty of tables. Other occasions call for beautifully laid tables with pressed linen, folded napkins, gleaming glasses, shining cutlery, candles and flower arrangements. Every last glass has to be polished as does every knife and fork. Very often there are last minute changes – an extra guest has been included so tables need to be rebalanced, and the extra order given to the kitchen. If the planning is right, then the actual event will run like clockwork. However, when all the guests depart – just like the dinner party at home – there is still plenty more to do. After an evening party our restaurant has to be ready for breakfast for our hotel guests. So there are floors to mop and carpets to vacuum, tables to be laid and buffet tables to be prepared – all ready to start again at 7am.
There is a great deal of work behind the scenes to ensure every event goes to plan. This may start with chef and managers planning a menu suitable for the clients’ dietary and budgetary requirements 75
C O R P O R ATE HOSPITA LITY
Sueco a recipe for success Sueco has become almost synonymous with ‘outside catering’ in Guernsey. Certainly, for events of 100 people or more (other than those organised in a hotel or restaurant), the company probably has the monopoly. But there is much more to its service offering than mass catering. Contact spoke to Sueco’s Hugh Tabel to learn about some of the challenges they have faced behind the scenes at these big events, as well as other areas the company is developing. Ironically Sueco was Hugh’s first employer back in his student days, when his understanding of the catering trade was limited to filling, cutting and delivering sandwiches. Now a director of the company (having been a science teacher for 10 years in between), he clearly enjoys the role despite some of its intrinsic headaches. ‘Mass catering is all about good planning,’ said Hugh. ‘We are often operating in a field under canvas which presents obvious logistical challenges - transporting huge industrial ovens to the site two days before an event; generators; tables; we can often have delivered three truck loads before we even think about cutlery and crockery.’ And Hugh is happy to admit to the occasional ‘mishap’. ‘On one occasion we had all the starters (all 200 of them) set out on a trestle table waiting to go out. The table collapsed – everything lost! We had a second event on that day for a similar number so we had chefs
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in our own kitchens. To cut a long story short, thanks to some swift chef action and the fact
The generator ran out of fuel so we were plunged into darkness! We ended up driving one of our cars into the tented kitchen and used the headlights until more diesel arrived that we had some tartlets already made up in our freezer, we managed to ‘pull the rabbit from the hat’ and get the starter served only 15 minutes behind schedule.’ Vans stuck in muddy fields, generators breaking down, Hugh seems to take each situation in his stride. ‘A few years back at the Guernsey Awards for
Achievement the generator ran out of fuel so we were plunged into darkness! We ended up driving one of our cars into the tented kitchen and used the headlights until more diesel arrived – luckily it was a cold starter on the menu that night. These things don’t often happen and if they do it’s a question of not panicking and ‘thinking outside the box’.’ But mass catering is only one aspect to Sueco’s services. The company also offers an in-house fine-dining gourmet service, which is popular with the local business sector. ‘We have seen a shift in the market. There has been a marked move away from the lengthy lunches that were prevalent in the 80s and 90s. Businesses often prefer to entertain clients in the boardroom. The main driver is the time efficiency this option offers. We do the mise en place in our kitchens and then go into the client’s office to finish the cooking and provide waiters to serve a three-course meal and wine. ‘We didn’t see any decrease in demand for this service during the recession in terms of frequency, but budgets were certainly tighter. Things now seem to be to easing a little in that regard.’ A few years back Sueco launched its cookery school offering adult evening classes in a variety of cuisines. Hugh explained how this came about. ‘We were standing in our kitchens one evening and realised that we had a fantastic facility that was considerably under-utilised
CORPORAT E H OS PITAL IT Y at certain times. So we set about coming up with a business model that would enable us to offer something new to the market and generate an additional revenue stream for the company.’ The cookery school, headed up by chef and head tutor James Ferguson, has gone from strength-to-strength attracting both individuals and corporate. Hugh was very proud when the school was recipient of the prestigious YBG Bill Green Award for Entrepreneurial Spirit after its first year of trading. ‘We average around 350 people a year
through the door,’ said Hugh. ‘This includes businesses that are looking for a completely new way of entertaining clients. We sit down with an organisation and come up with a bespoke evening of cooking for anything up to 16 people.
Masterchef aficionados, this was arranged like the ‘mystery box challenge’ with both groups given identical ingredients from which they had to create a meal. The managing director had the difficult job of judging them.’
‘One large local bank brought some high net worth private clients in for a seafood and Thai cooking session, after which they retired to one of the private rooms we had set up as a dining room, and we served them the food they had cooked.
With opportunities to attend demonstration evenings on various themes, the school caters for all those with an interest in cooking.
‘Another company, divided guests into two groups and had a ‘cook-off’. For any
Hugh puts the reason for Sueco’s success very simply: ‘It works because everyone cares.’
www.sueco.gg 01481 720969
BUSINESS BREAKFAST WORKING LUNCHES BOARDROOM FINE DINING WE PERFORM We perform at Christmas too. Book soon to avoid disappointment!
Guernsey’s only five star hotel offers splendid luxury, generous hospitality and passionate service. Home to seven dedicated function rooms, we can cater for every event, from corporate seminars to drinks receptions, board meetings and private dining. Please contact our dedicated Meetings & Events team to book your event or find out more: T: 01481 738 504 E: meetingsandevents@theoghhotel.com
www.theoghhotel.com
Overlooking Cambridge Park and St Peter Port harbour, The Duke of Richmond offers four fully equipped function rooms, including one of the largest on the island, seating up to 220 people for a dinner dance. Ideal for any occasion, our Meetings & Events team will be happy to assist with every detail, from equipment hire to dining options. T: 01481 740 860 E: hpinto@dukeofrichmond.com
www.dukeofrichmond.com
CORPORAT E H OS PITAL IT Y
The devil is in the detail Tracey Ellis of The OGH Hotel gives an insight into the running of a large corporate event Picture the scene. You’re at a black tie dinner, a seminar or perhaps a wedding. Have you ever wondered how much time and effort has gone into the planning of these successful events? Even for small functions so many people are involved in making sure it’s a success, from the guests’ arrival right through to when they leave. So, next time you’ve put down your knife and fork and are enjoying your post-food coffee or glass of wine, pause for a moment and consider how many people have been involved behind the scenes. At The OGH Hotel we have 94 staff and there aren’t many events that don’t involve people from each and every department. For the smallest event such as a wine tasting or a company using one of our smaller meeting rooms this might only involve our events team and the kitchen. Whereas for major functions such as the corporate seminars, weddings and the monthly Chamber of Commerce lunch, every department across the hotel is involved. Booking a corporate event through our experienced events team led by Sam Downton is just the first step, with them all being on hand to answer questions in the run up to an event. While in the months leading up to a large event the main contact between the hotel and the client will be with Sam, the
event planning wheels start rolling weeks or sometimes months in advance. For a black tie dinner in the magnificent Regency Room, that could mean a meeting with the chef to discuss the menu, with our sommelier to discuss wines to match chosen dishes together with meetings with Sam to discuss the finer details. Each Thursday the events team sends all departments details of the functions due to take place the following week. Staff then have a day to look at them before the weekly operations meeting on a Friday morning. This is attended by food and beverage, conference and banqueting, kitchen, front of house, housekeeping, stores and concierge and is a chance to go through each of the events in detail. For large events such as weddings, seminars and black tie dinners the number of guests can change right up until the last minute so the events team is constantly updating colleagues with changes in the guest number, catering requirements and places and seats to be prepared. The finer details are also shared at the hotel’s daily 10am briefing meeting, which is attended by staff from all departments and is a review of the previous day’s numbers and a preview of the day’s events and arriving guests. At The OGH we recognise that from the moment guests step through the hotel’s
doors, everything that we do is also a reflection on our clients’ brand. Making sure that every detail is correct is vital if our clients’ guests are going to enjoy a memorable event and leave with the right impression of their experience, their host and the hotel. One of The OGH Hotel’s regular business clients over the past few years has been the Chamber of Commerce, which holds a number of events at the hotel. Chamber director, Barry Cash, said: ‘We have been proud to hold our monthly Chamber lunches and council meetings at the OGH for the past few years because of its prestigious location and its exceptional quality service and attention to detail. Staff are very accommodating to our requirements and will sit down and take the time to understand if we wish to alter things slightly. You can trust and rely on the hotel to deliver delicious food served by efficient and friendly staff who are always willing to help. We want to offer our members quality and The OGH can deliver this,’ he said. The conference and banqueting team has many years of experience, and will ensure that all your expectations are exceeded. The elegant and spacious Regency Room offers space for large conferences or dinner dances of up to 150 people, while the Douglas and Dalrymple Room is ideal for smaller board meetings or drinks receptions, and includes a private terrace overlooking Candie Gardens for coffee breaks, lunch or evening drinks.
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A LL I N A DAY’ S WORK
All in a day’s work For most of us, catching the occasional episode of TV’s ‘Hotel Babylon’ is as much as we know of what goes on ‘behind the scenes’ in a four or five star hotel. Tracey Ellis of Red Carnation Hotels gives us a glimpse of what she might face on a typical day
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AL L IN A DAY ’ S WOR K
Do you ever walk by a large hotel and wonder what goes on behind the beautiful classic facade? I used to, until four months ago when I started my new career as director of sales and marketing for The Old Government House Hotel & Spa and The Duke of Richmond Hotel.
so I spend time each day looking at our clients’ travel patterns and finding out the reasons for any changes. With many companies keeping a tighter rein on travel expenses over the past few years my challenge is to make sure we look after our existing clients and look for new business.
I’ve previously worked as a journalist and in marketing and public relations roles so joining the island’s only five-star hotel just before the busy summer period has been a real eye-opener for me. Each day brings its own unique challenges, depending on the type of guest and their requests. The first daily task is a catch up with my sales assistant who checks our social media channels and TripAdvisor for any overnight reviews. For any business, reputation is everything and with the number of people who use the hotel every day just one poor review posted online can affect our business. My PR background can be put to good use to ensure we always react in a positive way and, importantly, feedback the comments to various departments if there is a need to improve on an area. The next hour is filled with emails and phone calls. Managing relationships for the island’s only five-star hotel and one of the top four-star hotels it’s important for me to make personal contact with my clients on a regular basis, preferably on-site, so while email does have its uses I prefer to pick up the phone and give my key contacts a call. At 10am staff from concierge, reception, kitchen, events team and maintenance get together for a daily update, usually led by the hotel’s general manager, Andrew Chantrell. This is a quick review of the duty manager’s report from the night before, followed by a preview of the day ahead. Then it’s a quick run through of the day’s outgoing and incoming guests, functions and restaurant bookings and back to work for the team. The main part of my job is to look after our relationship with our many corporate clients. Understanding our clients’ business and how it is affected by external issues is important
Understanding our clients’ business and how it is affected by external issues is important so I spend time each day looking at our clients’ travel patterns and finding out the reasons for any changes. An IT project, rationalisation of a company or a take-over could all be positive for the hotel as more staff from other locations may need to visit the island so I make sure I read all the
daily business news pages and updates to get a feel for what’s goingon in the island. On a day-to-day basis looking after my clients may mean helping them work with our reservations team on a special booking or event enquiry, or negotiating rates with new clients and showing them the hotels’ rooms and facilities. Having a dedicated contact at the hotels means that not only are their guests looked after while they stay with us but we also look after the whole relationship with them. We know so many of our regular business guests very well, down to how they like their coffee and toast in the morning. All of this attention to detail means that they are rested and ready to face a busy day, whether that be in board meetings, at the local office or with their own clients. I try to meet or at least talk on the phone to three clients each day, but preferably at one of the hotels. With every corporate account there is usually a number of key account contacts, from the ‘booker’ who makes the room reservations with us through to a marketing department that arranges seminars and events and the managing director. Managing our relationship with all of these people is important to us so on a typical day I could have a coffee meeting with the MD of a trust company in the morning, followed by a meeting and then lunch with a prospective client and an early evening drink with another. I’m also responsible for working with UK and European tour operators who specialise in selling Guernsey holidays. This part of the job has been a big learning curve for me and it’s been interesting to learn how the industry works. Developing relationships with these contacts is vital to how the hotels are promoted through websites and the traditional holiday brochure. Hopefully in between these meetings or certainly at the end of my working day, I will also have time to analyse some of the weekly room data I receive from our reservations team, looking out for any new clients and also noticing any who haven’t stayed with us for a while. Then, I can add them to my daily to-do list as a reminder to call them tomorrow, turn the lights out and head home.
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Calling all members With the on-going development of our brand new website, the Chamber team has been asking all members to provide us with your up-to-date details for our records. Whilst the majority of members have complied, there are still many of you who have yet to do so, and we urge you to please send these to us as soon as possible. Rather than publish a directory whilst all the updates are going on, we have chosen not to include one in this issue of Contact, but the brand new, fully updated version will appear in our November/December issue. In the interim, to view the current directory, please visit the new Chamber website at www.guernseychamber.com
For any enquiries or a copy of our membership details form, please contact Nicole: Tel: (01481) 727483 Email nicole.bromley@guernseychamber.com
www.guernseychamber.com
@GuernseyChamber
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