For many businesses in Guernsey, recruitment continues to be one of the biggest challenges they face. Finding the right people, retaining talent, and building resilient teams can be particularly difficult in a small island community with a limited labour pool.

Sometimes, the best recruitment success stories come from looking beyond traditional hiring routes.

That has certainly been the experience of the Nature Commission and the Guernsey Biological Records Centre who have been collaborating with Guernsey Employment Trust (GET) to find suitable candidates for their vacancies.

At the heart of the story is Jonathan, who joined the organisation as a Data Analyst after receiving support from GET on his employment journey.

Jonathan describes the experience as transformative.

“My experience with support from GET has been a very positive one with moving to the Nature Commission and Guernsey Biological Records Centre. It was a lengthy process to find this job, with ups and downs with regards to my self-confidence and perseverance, but the hard work has certainly paid off.

Jonathan’s story highlights something important that is often overlooked in conversations about recruitment, success is not always simply about filling a vacancy. It is about finding the right fit for both employer and employee and creating an environment where people can thrive.

For the Nature Commission, the partnership has delivered real value across the organisation.

Jessi Jennings, CEO of the Nature Commission, said:

“Working with the Guernsey Employment Trust has been a fantastic opportunity for the Guernsey Biological Records Centre, and the wider Nature Commission.

We have brought on board a permanent member of staff, provided volunteering opportunities, and placed an individual with temporary work through the Kickstart Placement programme.

The support provided by GET has helped make the process seamless and has played an important role in supporting new staff as they settle into their roles.

Working together reflects the value of investing in people, creating meaningful employment opportunities, and building a stronger organisation and community.”

For GET, this is exactly what inclusive recruitment should look like, supporting businesses to access talented individuals who may otherwise be overlooked, while helping employers feel confident and supported throughout the process.

Importantly, GET works alongside, not in competition with recruitment agencies. While agencies play a vital role in sourcing candidates, GET focuses specifically on supporting disabled and neurodivergent people throughout every stage of the recruitment journey including during onboarding and the settling-in period, helping create a smooth and sustainable transition into employment.

Support includes:

  • Pre-employment preparation and skills development
  • Careful job matching based on business needs and individual strengths
  • Support with reasonable adjustments and inclusive recruitment
  • Ongoing workplace support for both employer and employee where appropriate

For smaller businesses especially, this additional support can make inclusive recruitment feel far more accessible and achievable.

Stories like Jonathan’s demonstrate that inclusive recruitment is not simply socially responsible, it is commercially smart, sustainable, and good for business.

As Guernsey continues to face recruitment challenges across multiple sectors, partnerships like this show how investing in people can strengthen organisations, communities, and the island’s workforce for the future.

To find out how GET can support your organisation, contact the team at Guernsey Employment Trust.