Highlands College and G4S Secure Solutions (Jersey) Limited have announced an exciting business partnership that will nurture local talent, tackle the ongoing challenge of skills shortages in the Island and provide career opportunities to the College’s 750 sixth form pupils.
The partnership includes financial sponsorship coupled with support for the annual 6th Form Prizegiving Ceremony and Festival of Celebration, delivery of a series of career sessions and workshops that will showcase the wide range of G4S career opportunities available to students and the offer of apprenticeships with the company.
“As with many other large Island employers, G4S in Jersey faces an ongoing recruitment challenge as demand for skilled personnel outstrips supply. What better way to tackle this issue than to invest at grass roots level and work closely with Highlands College to nurture homegrown talent?” explains Ceri Powell, HR Business Partner at G4S Secure Solutions (Jersey). “We have successfully offered apprenticeships to pupils in the past and are delighted to be launching this more comprehensive initiative which will benefit Highlands College, G4S and the wider community in the coming years.”
G4S employs 800 staff in the Channel Islands, 550 of those in Jersey. The scope of careers available, and the size of the business overall, presents both an opportunity and challenge to source skilled personnel across a broad range of disciplines. Many G4S Jersey personnel, including members of the senior management team, are Highlands Alumni and are fully supportive of the partnership.
- Kerry Sharman, Management Accountant (Business and Finance Diploma – Day Release)
- Sophie Boxall, FM Commercial Business Manager (Accountancy Exams – Evening Course)
- Joe Cairney, Security Systems Manager (Art Foundation Course 2004/5)
- Ceri Powell, HR Business Partner (Certificate in Personnel Practice, Chartered Management
Diploma Level 5)
- Terri Malone, HR Advisor (CIPD Certificate Level 3)
- Andrew Kingsland, HR Advisor (Certificate in Personnel Practice)
- David Eccles, Cleaning and Facilities Manager (various qualifications including City & Guilds for
Cookery, Food Hygiene Certificate, Further Education Teachers Certificate, NVQ Supply & Contract Management and IOSH Managing Safety).
“In developing this partnership, Highlands College and G4S Secure Solutions Jersey have worked together to identify course and career matches that will provide a development pathway for the students,” explains Steve Lewis, Highlands College Principal. “The process is also identifying where there are gaps between skills required and the courses we currently have available. Identifying the
gaps and developing appropriate courses is one of our longer-term ambitions for this initiative and we are immensely grateful to Deanne Le Gresley, Managing Director of G4S Secure Solutions Jersey and her team for their wholehearted support with this project.”
