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In an era marked by uncertainty and instability, both internationally and locally, the case is stronger than ever for businesses to collaborate with each other and work closely with government.
The Chamber of Commerce – Guernsey’s largest business representative group – is at the heart of bringing businesses together and supporting and advocating for them.
Diane de Garis was recently elected as Chamber President for a two-year term, during which time she hopes the States will move on from what she sees as "a penchant for U-turns and delays and the current track record of can-kicking".
In an interview with Matt Fallaize originally published in CONNECT magazine - and now reproduced in Express - Diane also shared her thoughts on business confidence at present and, in a further indication of how views on tax are evolving, spoke enthusiastically about taxes on company profits.
Pictured: The new President of the Chamber of Commerce hopes the States' Assembly will become more decisive in the second half of their term.
Matt Fallaize: What do you consider to be the purpose and main aims of the Chamber of Commerce?
Diane de Garis: I see Chamber’s purpose as encouraging enterprise in Guernsey, and our aims are:
President: Diane de Garis took on her new role in June.
When did you first become active in Chamber and what encouraged you to stand for the Presidency?
I first joined Chamber as a member when I set up in business as de Garis Accounting in 2014. I was a sole trader and wanted to network with other professionals, not just for business development, but also to learn from other start-ups and established businesses too.
I also soon became a cloud accounting practice, and then quickly became frustrated by all the systems that don’t work in Guernsey, especially payment platforms. Then I started attending events to raise awareness and lobby for change.
Chamber management at the time asked for Xero help too, and I then started getting involved at a board level, providing financial reporting.
I joined the board in 2020, pre-pandemic. Kay Leslie (then Executive Director) and Elaine Gray (then President) persuaded me to stand for Vice President. I decided to do so to represent small businesses, which actually make up the majority of Chamber Membership.
Having set up my own business, which has now grown to 15 staff – as we have just merged with Nimbus to become DNA – and with our client base made up by hundreds of SMEs (small and medium enterprises), I am well placed to represent this group and I am passionate about the success of SME businesses.
Pictured: Chamber represents businesses at all levels and says it is the island's largest business community with 600 company members.
What would you like Chamber to focus on during your two-year term as President?
The key difference I would like to make is for it to be easier to do business from Guernsey. Guernsey should be an amazing place to set up or move a business to – and it markets itself as such.
But we are not on a level playing field with the UK and beyond. The inability to access payment platforms, such as Stripe and GoCardless, is debilitating to a business. It is a real issue for local trading businesses which just want to reduce their administration and improve cashflow through automation or, for example, implement a booking system fully, including the payment aspect.
Equally, I am seeing homegrown companies moving their businesses from Guernsey so they can trade globally without spending a fortune on bespoke systems, which often isn’t even an option when your primary systems have a preferred partner like Stripe.
There are a number of barriers to these systems coming to Guernsey – and not just the size of the market. I am told there is no regulatory reason they can’t provide services to Guernsey businesses which want to sign up with them. We need to remove the barriers and work to gain access to these systems for Guernsey businesses.
Pictured: Long-term use of the island's harbours are among the strategic decisions consistently deferred by the States and which remain unresolved.
How do you envisage Chamber working with the States to influence government policy?
The States regularly reach out to Chamber as part of their consultation processes and we, in turn, often survey our members to allow us to best represent their views.
There are some huge issues facing Guernsey and our panel discussions bring together the business community and the States, along with key stakeholders. A consistent theme recently has been that there is no right answer or silver bullet on many of the big issues, but in each case the conclusion has been we can’t do nothing.
I envisage that we will continue to work with the States in this way, in consultation with the membership. With the current States, I hope we can encourage some bold decisions and more action, so that we move forward.
How do you assess the performance of the States nearly two years into their term of office?
Eek. I was disappointed with some of the candidates we lost in the last election – in my view, some of the braver ones who were trying to make a real difference. I also saw a cohort voted in on “no tax rises” and “three schools are best”, which I felt was a tad populist and unrealistic.
I was more optimistic, though, when I attended a new deputies’ breakfast at the start of the term and heard lots about working together and action this term.
I want to see the “working together” and “action this term” we were promised. I believe that for the good politicians, being a deputy in Guernsey must be the most frustrating job ever.
Our lack of progress, penchant for U-turns and delays, and the current track record of can-kicking, is not good for businesses or the community as a whole. We need clear direction and knowledge of upcoming changes so that we can plan for them.
As we keep concluding, there is not always a perfect solution, but doing nothing is the worst option.
Pictured: Diane de Garis will lead Chamber until the summer of 2024, exactly one year before the next general election.
What does Chamber and its members want to see from the States in the remaining three years of their term?
Action, teamwork and clarity of decisions, so that businesses can plan for any upcoming changes and be confident Guernsey is moving forward.
If there were three changes you could make to Guernsey to benefit business or the island or both, what would they be?
I can think of loads more if this was a wish list, but the above are within our grasp to change.
The States are currently reviewing taxes on companies. Is Chamber involved in this work and is Chamber open to ideas about how businesses might pay more tax to help avoid GST?
Chamber has been involved in consultations and we are open to ideas about how businesses might pay more tax to help avoid GST. We are now awaiting the full review, which will hopefully consider broader options for reducing costs as well as generating taxes.
Pictured: The Policy & Resources Committee is trying to persuade a reluctant States to introduce GST, but Chamber hopes that greater emphasis will be placed on reducing costs.
What do you sense are the main concerns or challenges facing your business members over the next few years?
The landscape for our business members has changed so much over the last few years, particularly due to the pandemic and Brexit, and of course the recruitment and housing crises.
The main concerns are, therefore, about spiralling costs associated with these challenges and looming tax changes layered on top.
How do you rate business confidence in Guernsey at the present time?
This is the toughest question. Guernsey is such an entrepreneurial island, but these are unprecedented times with more issues, like Brexit and Covid, added to the same ones we have always faced, like recruitment and housing.
Guernsey, though, is so entrepreneurial that there is still business confidence. We must adapt to the changes and not fall behind. In times of change, there is real opportunity, and we must seize it. I am always an optimist and history shows that Guernsey is an island which adapts to change, so I have confidence. But I see a dampened spirit in the community at the moment with more challenges than in normal times.
Pictured: Diane de Garis describes herself as an optimist, but also sees "dampened spirit in the community at the moment".
Are there any ways in which you would like to see Chamber change or evolve in the years ahead?
I think Chamber has been evolving, particularly over the last few years, and we will continue to do so. We have an excellent set of skills on our board, covering different industries and areas of expertise. The board changes every year and each board member brings something new, so we are always changing.
Having offices in the heart of town has also helped drive the change and freshen up Chamber. Members often comment how they love to be involved in Chamber now. It has great energy and is forward looking.
What can Chamber offer to businesses or individuals who are not members but may be considering joining?
Chamber has so much to offer businesses and individuals alike. For businesses which have issues, we are an organisation which can potentially signpost them the right way or help lobby for change.
We are such an accessible organisation, too, with something for everyone. We deliver to members free lunch and learn sessions and easy networking opportunities and we provide a crossover between the States and businesses so that we can debate current issues.
Pictured (top): Diane de Garis.
Credit of pictures of Diane de Garis: Paul Mariess.
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