Stephen Rouxel, President, Chamber of Commerce
As I look back over the year, I feel incredible privileged to be in a role where I can advocate for the broader business community.
In recent months, the team and I have met with key stakeholders across government and industry to address essential issues for our members. These include housing needs, air links, company and competition law changes, education challenges, and our key priorities of people (2025 election) and planet (net zero).
Pictured: Past President, Diane de Garis (second left).
I’ve continued the great work of previous President Diane de Garis in pushing for changes that will making business banking more efficient and accessible for local businesses – and we’re making great progress. I’m pleased to see that Guernsey will have an electronic electoral roll from December removing one of the barriers credit reference agencies have as part of their due diligence process.
At the heart of the vision for Chamber is the belief that collaboration is key to success. I’m a strong advocate for demonstrating the power of collective action. Recently, we brought together representatives from the various business groups to explore working together to improve Guernsey’s future.
Looking ahead, in early 2025 for we will issue a joint survey to all our members to identify where we align and can collaborate. We also want to use this information to inform the candidates running in the 2025 election, ensuring they understand the critical issues affecting Guernsey’s future.
As we approach the election, I believe it is essential that we steer the island towards more collaborative decision-making in government. Many in our community feel that the quality of political decisions could improve, and this will remain at the forefront of our agenda.
Through collaboration and strong leadership, I am confident we can drive the positive change Guernsey needs. Throughout this time, Chamber is here to bring the business community together, offering valuable insights, and advocating for the changes that matter most.
Alice Gill, Exec Director, Chamber of Commerce
This year has passed in a blur….
We’ve had over 2,000 people come to our events and we have over 450 members representing 10,000 employees – it keeps our small team busy. Chamber is the place to do business and make connections.
We’ve been focusing on ‘People and Planet’ as our policy priorities, it reflects our belief that the future of business must be built on these foundations. Countless studies and industry data support this: companies driven by sustainable practices see enhanced returns, greater employee satisfaction, and increased loyalty. Doing the right thing isn’t just ethical—it’s smart business.
Pictured: Mary Portas being interviewed by Sally Rochester at the Gala Dinner.
A true highlight of the year was meeting the marvellous Mary Portas, whose approach to business and commitment to doing right by people and planet truly resonated with me. Her insights aligned with our mission to help Guernsey businesses pivot towards sustainable and purposeful business practices.
Chamber is here to support this shift, if you’re interested and want some advice then get in touch!
With the election next year, we’re more determined than ever to bring our community together for change. Businesses have the unique power to shape society—often more so than government. It’s time to drive “Better Business” in Guernsey by updating the rules and harnessing our collective potential. We’re calling on companies to take bold steps, like signing up the UN Global Compact which has specific support for SME’s, to make meaningful, measurable progress for a sustainable future.
By embracing a new approach to business, we’re not only improving our community but also keeping Guernsey a great to live and do business.
Which I’m sure will keep us busy in 2025…
Pictured top (l-r): Alice Gill; Executive Director, Stephen Rouxel; Chamber President, and Brooke Kenyon; Vice-President.
