We’re all living in a time of global uncertainty but, despite the current political turmoil, we’re pleased to report that Guernsey’s recruitment market held steady in 2019.
We were instructed on just the same amount of vacancies as in 2018 and we also made the same number of placements, which was up on previous years. For us, this sends out a clear message that, here in Guernsey, it’s business as usual and the outlook’s looking bright.
Finance is Booming
The finance industry was positively booming . We’ve been consistently recruiting into the sector at every level. In addition to many senior hires, including key board positions, we’ve also placed numerous juniors into entry-level roles.
The fund and trust administration sectors have continued to grow and we’ve seen a huge demand for compliance professionals and company secretaries across all finance industry sectors. In fact, a large majority of the businesses that we work with in the finance sector recruited in some form during 2019.
Recruitment into Guernsey from other jurisdictions has also been growing apace and we’re pleased to report that we’ve had more success in placing candidates with work permit and sponsorship requirements. We’ve been assisting law firms, audit firms, banks and private businesses secure talent from as far afield as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
The States have continued to do a good job in lowering the barriers to entry and we hope to see this continue.
The healthy finance sector has been great news for graduates and school-leavers too. We’ve seen many trainee vacancies opening up for candidates looking to get a firm footing on the career ladder.
HR teams have also been ramping up. With teams growing in line with business growth, the spotlight has been firmly focused on talent acquisition and retention. Firms are increasingly focussed on employee engagement and employee wellbeing.
M&A Activity
It’s fair to say that Guernsey has seen a great deal of M&A activity this year, demonstrating confidence in the jurisdiction and bringing fresh recruitment opportunities. With firms actively investing in the Bailiwick, we’ve noticed job opportunities opening up at every level and fresh leadership styles emerging as firms look to drive their businesses forward.
Of course, while M&A activity is great for Guernsey Plc, it can be stressful for those facing redundancy. We’re pleased to have been able to help many candidates in this position secure new opportunities, whether capitalising on their existing experience and looking for ongoing progression opportunities or looking for a complete change in career direction.
Temping Growth
A knock-on effect of M&A activity is that our temp team has been busy filling lots of temporary and project roles while new teams are established and bedded in.
We have, in fact, seen a huge increase in demand for temps throughout the year with companies either requiring increasing headcount in order to carry out a project or simply interim assistance to plug a gap.
Beyond the Pound
Finance isn’t the only sector that has been keeping Guernsey’s wheels of industry turning through 2019.
Online retail has been big business for us this year, particularly within the health and beauty sector. We’ve also seen an increase in demand for specialists within the e-gaming sector and advertising industry too.
In addition, a number of our clients are setting up new teams due to expansion through new business wins, while several new start-ups looking for support have also come knocking on our door.
It certainly seems that the current political landscape is resulting in more entrepreneurs and start-ups making the move to Guernsey.
When Work’s Good, Life’s Better
We couldn’t let our annual summary conclude without a nod to our own shiny new look. We’ll be celebrating our 15th birthday this year and are so proud of how far we’ve come.
Our slick new website is a testament to our commitment to offering both clients and candidates the very best recruitment experience.
We’re really looking forward to sharing our birthday celebrations with you as we mark this exciting new chapter in Source’s history, so don’t forget to watch this space!.
Wishing you all a very prosperous New Year.
