Gov defends gold leaf spending for award nominees

Friday 21 October 2022

The Government has defended spending more than £4,000 on gold envelopes and pin badges given to winners at this year’s Jersey Public Services Awards.

It said the money it had spent on cards and badges sent to all nominees for the ‘Our Stars’ awards was “a small amount compared to the significant achievements of our workforce."

The cost of the badges and stationery was revealed through a recently published Freedom of Information request.

The event was held at the Royal Jersey Showground earlier on 13 October. The event costs were covered by sponsorship from Jersey businesses, with the ‘platinum’ sponsors being Dandara, Deloitte and EY.

In addition, the Government spent £5,321 on the gifts and letters, including £1,371 on gold envelopes and £2,706 on pin badges. The FoI adds that 500 of the 4,500 gold envelopes ordered will be used next year, while around 1,000 of the 5,150 badges was also residual stock for use next year. 

St. John Connétable Andy Jehan, who Vice Chair of The States Employment Board, said: “The SEB is really proud to celebrate the achievement of our talented workforce and those who go the extra mile day in day out. 

“The Jersey Public Services Awards had 1,401 nominations, the most of any year since the awards were introduced in 2018 – demonstrating both the breadth of great work as well as the value of the awards.

“To congratulate the nominees, they received a handwritten card from senior directors and a gold pin badge.  

“The total cost of this was around £5,200 with some of the materials left over able to be used in future years. We budget for this, and is a small amount compared to the significant achievements of our workforce.

“We thank our kind sponsor partners who contributed to all the other costs of the event.”

The FoI answer says that the stock was purchased at the most economical and viable bundles.

There were ten awards presented at the event, with the overall 'Our Superstar' award going to the Drainage Design and Operations Team, who are responsible for keeping Jersey’s drains clear.