A local recruitment company has signed an agreement with the Kenyan government to deepen the islands’ business links with the East African country.
Government ministers, members of parliament and officials from Kenya were present for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding earlier this afternoon, by Kenyan State Department for Diaspora Affairs principal secretary Roseline K. Njogu, and GR8 chief executive Lee Madden.
The agreement officially makes GR8 a strategic partner for recruiting Kenyans into the Crown Dependencies.
“This agreement puts us right at the heart of the growing business links with this part of East Africa”
gr8 chief executive Lee Madden
The firm began working with partners in Kenya five years ago, starting a close business relationship with Kenya Utalii College that saw trained hospitality workers brought over to help support businesses in the Channel Islands who were struggling to recruit staff following Brexit.
Since then, GR8 has matched hundreds of skilled workers from the hospitality, construction, transport, early years education and healthcare sectors into roles in Jersey and Guernsey, with the majority coming from Kenya.
Chief executive Lee Madden said: “It’s been an honour for me to represent GR8 and the wider business communities in the Channel Islands as we reach this important agreement.”
He continued: “Over the last five years, we have built up strong relationships with education providers and the extremely high standard of training they deliver is reflected in the quality of the people that we bring to the Channel Islands to work in various industries.”
Mr Madden explained that the new agreement with the Kenyan government would help GR8 to “build on the success that started with Utalii and has now moved into other sectors including finance and accounting”.
He added: “This agreement puts us right at the heart of the growing business links with this part of East Africa and I’m delighted that we’ll be playing an important part in that growth.”
GR8 recently rolled out a private healthcare scheme from day one of arrival for any seasonal worker in Jersey and plans to offer the same benefits to those working in Guernsey.
The signing of the MoU today by Ms Rosaline forms part of an official visit to Jersey to strengthen business and political links with the island.
She was accompanied by the deputy head of mission at the Kenya High Commission London, Ambassador Joseph Warui, as well as members of the Kenyan Parliament and senior government officials.
“Business agreements such as this complement our diplomatic relationship with Kenya”
Deputy Kirsten Morel
The visit includes meetings with Jersey’s External Relations Minister Kirsten Morel as well as local business organisations including the Jersey Chamber of Commerce and Jersey Construction Council.
Deputy Morel said he was “extremely pleased to see that our links with Kenya are growing stronger”.
“Business agreements such as this complement our diplomatic relationship with Kenya and represent a tangible benefit to the local community,” Deputy Morel continued.
“I hope this partnership flourishes, ensuring that Jersey remains an attractive and welcoming place for overseas skilled workers from multiple industries to live and work.”