At our recent election special event, Shaping Guernsey’s Future, candidates and the electorate were invited to hear from new business and community group coalition, G8, on what the most pressing issues are for the next cohort of deputies.

The event was chaired by Glen Tonks, from the IOD, and featuring on the panel was:

  • Jo Peacegood, Chair of Guernsey International Business Association
  • Wayne Bulpitt, Chair of the Association of Guernsey Charities
  • Brooke Kenyon, Vice-President of Chamber of Commerce Guernsey
  • John Bampkin, Chair of the Guernsey Construction Forum

The session drew on the results of the Voice of Guernsey Business Insight Report, offering detailed insight into the views of businesses and the third sector.

One key message about the strong need for collaboration between businesses, government and charities dominated the session, from the perspective of Guernsey’s third sector.

“I would ask each candidate who has been brave enough to put themselves forward to ask themselves whether they are able to collaborate with someone they disagree with.” – Wayne Bullpitt

A lack of affordable housing was said to be one of the most pressing issues for businesses, with 80% of respondents to the report agreeing that housing impacts their ability to recruit and retain staff.

“GP11, a UK inspired policy around getting more social housing on housing sites, was making sites untenable from a financial perspective, so it has been suspended for five years. Already, I hear developers saying they will now be able to build twice as many houses and therefore it is speeding up the delivery of a mix of much-needed accommodation.” – John Bampkin

“We hear examples of young people and skilled workers leaving because they have nowhere affordable to live, and people who have left Guernsey for a while and want to come back but can’t because they can’t get on the housing market. Our members say this is preventing business growth, so we need to emphasise to government how much this is impacting all business – not just our finance sector.” – Jo Peacegood

Several other challenges in skills and recruitment, but also opportunities including a high number of people who are not economically active in Guernsey but are here and have homes – but by taking a look at childcare provision – could bring people back to work.

The G8 panel delivered a unified message: open, continuous dialogue with the business sector is vital if our next assembly – we are ready and very willing to share our time, skills and resources.

“The message we want to send to candidates is that they need to keep a dialogue open with businesses. Industries are moving so quickly, and we need to be on the front foot. We need to tweak how we can make those dialogues happen more openly.” – Brooke Kenyon

As candidates in the 2025 election craft their campaigns, and islanders read manifestos to decide who deserves their vote, business leaders and politicians alike must have the political courage to work collaboratively to encourage meaningful, long-lasting change for our island and its people.