Global interest in relocating to Guernsey

Tuesday 29 December 2020

Locate Guernsey has seen a surge in interest from Hong Kong, South Africa and expats living around the world in a year that has seen potential relocators explore ways of securing a better quality of life.

In an unprecedented year, Guernsey has found itself in the eyeline of the international media for coming out of lockdown earlier than most and for staying there.

Following a "terribly quiet" start to the year as the pandemic started to take hold globally, Locate Guernsey Director Jo Stoddart said the phone suddenly started to ring off the hook. The island's stable and safe position not only enlivened new interest, but also rekindled relationships with people who had enquired in the past about relocating. 

"The lockdown has made people reassess how they want to live their lives. You have people who lived in central London because they had a company based in London who have realised that it worked perfectly well during lockdown and that they could move to a more rural environment with their children.”

Pictured: Mrs Stoddart said a lot of potential relocates were looking for an English lifestyle without actually having to live in the UK. 

“From January to the end of May, we saw a 20% uplift in enquiries in relation to the same period the previous year. Being the first place in the British Isles to be covid-free was a milestone and that drew quite a lot of attention.

“There were people who had been on our radar who kept phoning to find out what was happening in Guernsey and who were obviously watching from afar. When you are looking to relocate to a jurisdiction it is not an overnight, snap decision, some people may think about and start planning it two to three years in advance and they know what their ultimate goal is. I think lockdown made people think they could do things sooner or do things differently.”

Locate Guernsey had originally planned to hold several regional showcases ahead of a larger UK networking event later in the year. Like most best laid plans in a year that has torn up the playbook, the team had to come up with alternative ways of getting Guernsey’s message across. One of the ways it managed that was by switching to webinars. In one instance, people from 12 different countries attended one of the online briefings. 

“We have had a lot of interest from South Africa, we have seen an increase in interest from Hong Kong, and from expats around the world who are looking to come back to Europe," said Mrs Stoddart. 

Pictured: From January to the end of May, Locate Guernsey saw a 20% uplift in enquiries compared to the same period the previous year.

“A lot of them are looking for an English life without actually being in the UK and that is partly what attracted me to the Channel Islands, because I lived in Paris for nearly 20 years, and when I went back to London and it was like landing in Mars.” 

“We have had enquiries from lots of people with business interests, as well as a lot from a younger demographic of people with children who want a better quality of life.

“At the end of the day, it is all about safety, stability and security, living in a really great place.”

The full article in Express' CONNECT magazine can be read for free HERE.