"We are still flat out and getting requests every hour"

Friday 17 November 2023

More than two weeks on from Storm Ciarán, local and UK tradespeople say demand for their services remains "off the scale". Express caught up with some of them...

Assistant Chief Minister Lucy Stephenson said a temporary initiative removing the requirement for off-island contractors to have a licence – which was designed to accelerate repair work – had been “working well”.

How many people have come over to help?

Several Jersey businesses, including tree surgeons and scaffolders, had inquired about employing temporary workers, and 18 non-resident businesses (all from the UK) had already come or were planning to arrive imminently to carry out work as a direct result of the storm – some of whom were commissioned by insurance companies.

Deputy Stephenson said that the Government and its Business Hub were "doing their best to keep track" of these businesses, but that they were not required to apply for the exemption; it was simply presumed.

These workers can only come to Jersey to carry out work for which they have been contracted or engaged in advance by a local business or individual.

Pictured: Off-island workers can only come to Jersey to carry out work for which they have been contracting or engaged in advance by a local business or individual.

Deputy Stephenson explained: "The numbers show that there was a clear need for this, and I've been contacted by businesses and individuals who've appreciated this move.

"We expect that most of the smaller businesses will start to leave in the next few weeks, but those who want to remain after 3 December will have to apply for a business licence as normal, and they are all being advised of those requirements."

"No plans" to extend the licence exemption

However, she confirmed that "there are currently no plans to extend [the temporary policy change]".

She said: "The Business Hub compliance unit is continuing to monitor all sea and air arrivals, and they are working closely with the police, Customs and Ports of Jersey. They will continue to monitor departures from the island."

She continued to remind islanders to make "necessary checks before any agreement", whether dealing with a local or non-local firm offering work, "to ensure they are getting the service they should be".

Deputy Stephenson added: "We have had one or two instances of hawking or businesses going door-to-door, which is not permitted under the exemption."

The decision not to extend the policy past 3 December has drawn mixed reactions.

Jersey businesses "can now cope with the workload"

Alan Smith from local company Liquid Roofing Solutions previously said that demand has been “off the scale”, leading his company to suspend three ongoing projects to prioritise emergency repairs.

However, he now believes that the exemption has "served its purpose as an emergency measure". 

"On-island businesses can now cope with the workload," he added. 

But some of the UK tradespeople Express spoke to disagreed.

"I think it will take at least three months to make a dent in all the repairs"

Ben Hulme of Roofing LTD said: "We are still flat out and getting requests every hour.

"I think it will take at least three months to make a dent in all the repairs and getting people watertight then you have all the major works and re-roofs that will follow on when the weather improves."

He raised concerns that the end of the licensing exemption could drive costs up for customers, explaining: "I have scaffolders coming over on Monday under the current system, but I will have to apply for a licence on top of ours for them to come back and take the scaffolding down.

"This cost will have to be passed on to our customers who are already having a hard time."

Pictured: "I think it will take at least three months to make a dent in all the repairs."

Ben added that he had been told of waiting lists of up to three months for scaffolding locally.

He thinks that the policy should be extended, adding "credentials need to be checked by the States before anyone can come over and work". 

"We are still inundated with jobs"

Martin Thomas from UK-based building company WPG Homes also reported a “very high demand” for roofing services.

He said: "At this current time, we are still inundated with jobs. People are desperate and we have had trouble coping due to the bad weather and lack of materials". 

Martin added that he hopes that an "extension does happen...as we are nowhere near completing jobs", explaining that those coming over are essential workers with insurance and qualifications. 

He said: "Islanders we speak to are very grateful for our service and have been extremely patient considering the damage caused.

"Hopefully then the Government can extend exemption so we can carry on helping as many as possible". 

"I’ve now got some of my workforce over with me"

Hayden Black of Brooklin Roofing who arrived in Jersey earlier this month says he is "not bothered" by the decision to not extend the policy.

Pictured: Hayden Black of Brooklin Roofing was compelled to come to Jersey to help local families after being struck by images of the devastation wrought by Storm Ciarán.

Hayden previously shared how he was compelled to come to Jersey to help local families after being struck by images of the devastation wrought by Storm Ciarán. 

After being wrongly branded as a fraudster on social media, he obtained a business licence to address the scepticism and continued helping local people amid the soaring demand for emergency roof repairs.

He said he is now thinking of moving to the island, adding that he would therefore need a "normal licence anyway, and I’ve now got some of my workforce over with me".