Lead Partners

The Guernsey Institute is a newly formed organisation, bringing together three highly regarded organisations, Guernsey College of Further Education, The Institute of Health and Social Care and the Guernsey Training Agency University Centre.

In the newly integrated Guernsey Institute, students benefit from: 

• A broader range of courses, including degree programmes and higher level apprenticeships (level 4 and 5) 
• Clearer career pathways and learning progression with employee involvement being a feature to ensure that learners are work-ready 
• Purpose-built technical and professional spaces for learning, moving away from inappropriately-sized learning environments and timetabling pressures to deliver a learning place that is both bespoke and optimally utilised to accommodate all courses on our new purpose built campus on Les Ozouets.
• Raised aspirations, ensuring that the FE offer is a positive and progressive choice that helps to ensure that more learners excel in their chosen career 
• Seamless transitions between secondary, further and higher education settings and opportunities ensuring the focus is on the learner and their career pathway 
• Technical, vocational and professional pathways given the same status as academic pathways with an increased range of courses available on-island, reducing inequality between those who are able to study off-island and those, whether for financial or other reasons, are unable to do so 

We have developed a recognised brand which signifies quality in education, learning and development.  Our staff are skilled and experienced in organising, facilitating, delivering and quality assuring qualifications, training and development with over 3,500 students/delegates each year, attending across the whole of The Guernsey Institute. The training by the Consortium will be delivered in the Princess Royal Centre for Performing Arts and also as a virtual event.

Walkers is a leading international law firm who advise on the laws of Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Ireland and Jersey.

In Guernsey, Walkers' provides first class Guernsey law advice, delivered by accessible people who have an excellent reputation in the market. 

Walkers' employment team advises on all aspects of employment law and has a broad client base across all sectors including (but not limited to): financial services, public, insurance, construction, retail, hospitality, offshore, online gaming, healthcare/medical and charity.

The top tier ranked Guernsey employment team includes dedicated employment specialists and has the largest team of senior employment lawyers on the island.  The Guernsey team is led by Group Partner Sarah Ash. Sarah has 16 years' experience practising employment law in the UK and in Guernsey. Sarah advises on all aspects of non-contentious and contentious employment law and is an expert on discrimination and harassment law.  She will be the lead lawyer taking responsibility for planning and delivering the training sessions.

Sarah will be supported by the other senior employment specialist in the Guernsey Employment Practice Group – Danielle Brouard.  Danielle has extensive experience in dealing with complex non-contentious and contentious employment matters including discrimination and harassment.

The Walkers' employment team regularly delivers training in person and virtually to the public and clients and these are very well attended. 

Equality Guernsey Mission: ‘Accelerating the Equality agenda in Guernsey’

Equality Guernsey is a well-established consortium of local third sector organisations and individuals united by a shared vision to develop a “rights based” culture in Guernsey. Its mission is ‘Accelerating the Equality agenda in Guernsey’.

The inclusive and collaborative ethos of Equality Guernsey ensures that a wide range of interest groups, charities and sector leaders are aware of the progress of the equality agenda in Guernsey.

The group was originally mobilised to support the development of the Equality Rights Organisation (ERO) and aimed to both inform and appreciatively challenge the Committee for Employment and Social Security (ESS) in the successful development of the new discrimination legislation.

Early 2019 The Equality Working Group (EWG) was renamed Equality Guernsey and ran a series of sell out events and the islands first Equality Conference to raise awareness of Equality and Human Rights locally.

Karen Blanchford is the founder of Equality Guernsey and the Partnership Director of the Guernsey Disability Alliance. Karen had a diverse career in investment management, marketing, HR strategic analytics and consultancy before moving into the third sector.  Karen is passionate about Inclusion which is demonstrated by her commitment to accessibility, the discrimination ordinance and drive for raising awareness about Equality and Diversity in the community. With more than 25 years experience in training, workshop and coaching she brings a depth of expertise to The Consortium programme. 

Ellie Jones is the CEO of Liberate, the local LGBTQ+ charity. She's hugely passionate about everyone being treated equally and fairly in society and she fights tirelessly for this in the Bailiwick. She specialises in delivering training for businesses, schools and States departments on inclusivity of LGBTQ+ people within organisations. Ellie's training style is welcoming, friendly and engaging; she creates a safe space for people to ask questions and discuss topics that people can find awkward. 

[email protected]

Website: equality.gg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EWGGuernsey/

Twitter: @EqualityGsy

Focus is the leading provider of outsourced human resources and payroll services in the Channel Islands. Working with a variety of businesses from a broad range of sectors in Guernsey, Focus have an in-depth understanding of the challenges faced by businesses and the current and future employment landscape. The industries Focus works with include, but are not limited, to finance, hospitality, commercial, retail, construction, IT, maritime and the charity sector.

The team is comprised of 11 dedicated HR professionals with a depth of experience and variety of backgrounds including holding senior positions in financial services and commercial businesses. Our Directors, Becky Machon and Katie Bellingham and the Focus consultants have experience in dealing with matters ranging from performance and conduct; recruitment; disciplinaries; grievances; managing sickness absence; learning and development; employee wellbeing; workplace investigations; contractual and policy matters; company restructures, mergers and acquisitions and dispute resolution and tribunal process management. Our extensively experienced team will provide strength and depth of resources and knowledge on the practical considerations, impact and application of the new forthcoming discrimination legislation and will support employers understanding.

Focus are well versed in providing training to the Guernsey business and charitable community having developed and delivered high level HR training on complex matters such as absence and sickness management; managing performance and managing conduct; grievances; handling investigations and managing the disciplinary process. Focus have also delivered in house training on setting effective objectives, effective appraisal processes and discussions, and utilisation of the coaching technique for managers.

One of Focus’ main values and objectives is to continually upskill and develop the Guernsey HR and business community in people management and employment matters. With this objective in mind and in addition to being part of the consortium and supporting this training initiative, Focus will provide an ongoing commitment to deliver discrimination training to assist Guernsey businesses and continual professional development while raising awareness.

Katie Bellingham, Owner & Director

With over twenty years of HR management experience, Katie has tackled the most complex people management scenarios. As an owner and director of Focus since 2007, Katie has worked with clients from many different industries in the Channel Islands. During her extensive career, Katie has advised clients on a range of strategic business issues outside of HR, including business development strategies, mergers and acquisitions and budgeting with a keen interest in assisting clients through periods of business change and growth. Katie is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and was a panel member for the Guernsey Employment and Discrimination Tribunal Service for five years.

Becky Machon, Owner & Director

Becky has worked locally in both commercial and financial sectors since 2001 after qualifying under the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) in Personnel Practice and later obtaining the Professional Development Certificate.

As an owner and director of Focus since 2007, Becky has spearheaded many projects for her clients – leading them to achieve a pro-active and dynamic approach to their HR strategies. Becky has a strong influence and is key in the integration of HR processes into her client’s business goals, working with them to maximise their potential. Becky believes that effective HR practices are essential in the successful performance of any business.

A qualified PRISM Practitioner, Becky also works with clients using PRISM profiling to enhance employee performance, identify talent, encourage team building, resolve conflict and provide 360 appraisals.

GET supports disabled people and those with long term health conditions to prepare for, find and maintain employment.  The charity was established in October 2014 when supported employment services were commissioned from the States of Guernsey to the Third Sector.

GET supports employers to fill their job vacancies with suitable applicants. The Employment Support team provide free on-the-job support for the disabled person and their colleagues, during the induction and on boarding process, to support the new recruit to learn their role and settle in with their peers.  The Employer’s Advisory Service provides guidance for employers in the form of a “Good Practice Guide” and offers public and bespoke training on employment and disability matters. In the absence of discrimination legislation, the Employers’ Disability Charter has encouraged a change in attitudes and a positive shift in workplace cultures to provide more opportunities for disabled applicants and to improve practices for disabled employees.  The response from the business community to both GET’s training and materials has been positive and they currently have 60+ businesses signed up to the Charter.  GET have become a go-to organisation for businesses seeking advice regarding disability and employment matters.

Nikki Ioannou-Droushiotis

Nikki is the Chief Executive of GET and has worked for GET, and the previous States of Guernsey supported employment service, for 14 years.  During this time, she has supported her own caseload as well as overseeing her staff and their caseloads.  Nikki has therefore been involved in hundreds of cases of supporting disabled people into work.  She has many practical examples of what has worked well and how simple changes to work place practices, support or environments can make a huge impact in supporting a disabled person to succeed in work.  Nikki has presented on the topics of Employment and Disability, Reasonable Adjustments and Disability Etiquette, and during this time has grown a large network of business contacts.

Elaine Strappini

Elaine is the Employment Development Manager of GET and coordinates the Employer’s Advisory Service.  Elaine has developed a plethora of business contacts during her time with the charity. She has educated employers and managed to influence positive change at management and ground level with regards to attitudes and practices for disabled people.