Business of Guernsey resident 'tax exile' claims UK furlough pay

Wednesday 24 March 2021

A national newspaper has revealed a number of the high-profile beneficiaries of the UK’s furlough scheme, including the BNP, Saudi Royals and a number of super wealthy UK 'tax exiles’, one of whom is Guernsey-based millionaire Guy Hands.

The UK government created the furlough scheme to support businesses impacted by corona virus restrictions and the ongoing lockdown.

Many of those beneficiaries of the scheme have now been revealed after an investigation by the Guardian.

Pictured: Mr Hands moved to Guernsey in 2009.

Mr Hands owns Hand Picked Hotels, a collection of country house and spa hotels spanning the entire British Isles. The chain has properties in Edinburgh, Hampshire and the Channel Islands. St Pierre Park is a Handpicked Hotel, as is L’Horizon in Jersey.

The business claimed up to £50,000 from the UK furlough scheme, with Mr Hands quoted as saying that “without Government support, I would have no option but to close Hand Picked Hotels.”

It’s unclear what this meant for the Channel Island establishments. The States of Guernsey has confirmed that individual claimants of local business support measures will not be published, following backlash from those in the business community. 

Pictured: Mr Hands has invested £28m into the umbrella corporation that owns St Pierre Park hotel.

Mr Hands joins a number of high profile beneficiaries including Jim Ratcliffe, the ruler of Dubai and the British National Party.

He is one of the richest people in Guernsey and has a joint net worth of £265m (as of 2018) with his wife Julia Hands. 

Pictured top: Guy Hands speaking at the 2019 Alternative Investments Conference at the Marriott Grosvenor Square Hotel in London.