People & Skills Working Group

Helping businesses with skills

Guernsey Chamber members have been clear: a shortage of talent is holding businesses back. Despite full employment, the island faces a serious skills gap, and the challenge of attracting new people to Guernsey is only intensifying. With an ageing population and more individuals over 50 leaving the workforce, the problem is becoming increasingly complex.

The People and Skills Group is focused on solutions. How do we prepare today’s workforce for rapidly changing roles? How do we ensure the next generation is ready for jobs shaped by technology and societal change? What is the skills gap? Do we have a labour shortage?

How do we build a future-ready workforce in Guernsey?

With skills shortages and participation gaps in the spotlight, our People & Skills Group is bringing together businesses, educators, and policymakers to take action.

Chaired by Jon Buckland, the group is focused on:
✅ Researching skills shortages
✅ Removing barriers to workforce participation
✅ Working with education to align training with business needs

“Our goal is to prioritise actions with the greatest impact—supporting businesses and policymakers in building a more inclusive and resilient workforce,” says Jon.

If you are interested in joining the group, get in touch on hello@guernseychamber.com

The People and Skills Group exists to address the critical need for investing in skills development, which directly benefits businesses. In recent years, industries across Chamber and Guernsey have faced significant challenges due to skill shortages and recruitment difficulties, with small and medium-sized businesses feeling the greatest strain. To tackle this, the Chamber is focused on strengthening the connection between education and the business community, fostering strategic planning and creating opportunities for enhanced upskilling to ensure businesses can thrive in a competitive landscape. Meet the team who are working hard to make this vision a reality and drive meaningful change.