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The final phase of building work at Admiral Park is being completed with the help of 13 people from St Lucia who have moved to the island to help fill the skills gap in the construction sector.
Specialist recruitment agency GR8, which works across the Channel Islands and Isle of Man, has brought them over and plans to help fill gaps in nursing, early years care, veterinarian and other sectors too.
GR8 launched first in Jersey before expanding to the Isle of Man and now Guernsey.
It recruits people from across the world into the islands, in particular working with the Kenyan and St Lucian governments. Staff are being sourced through accredited training facilities with GR8 helping applicants with their permits to move to the island for work.
A prime example is the 13 workers from St Lucia who are currently employed on temporary permits to build the offices at Admiral Park. GR8 said others have been employed on other projects in the Bailiwick.
GR8 is due to sign a bilateral agreement with the Kenyan government that would recognise the agency as a key partner in finding skilled workers to fill jobs in the Common Travel Area and Ireland.
Pictured: GR8's website offers jobs across a number of sectors.
Lorraine Jones, a Recruitment Specialist from GR8 is leading the efforts in Guernsey.
“Demand for skilled people to fill roles across the Channel Islands is high, especially in the construction sector. We have access to more than 10,000 people around the world who are ready to work hard for the businesses that need them. While working here, they are keen to get involved and give back to the community.”
She explained that the jobs available in Guernsey cover a large number of skilled roles across key areas.
"We knew we had to look outside of the Common Travel Area, because there just wasn't the labour force there. So it was recognised that we had to look out to the rest of the world and get some skilled labour - that these guys bring - and across all the other sectors as well like education, health care and things like that.
"It's putting labour where labour is desperately needed."
Dalion Leon - a 24 year old from St Lucia - has been in Guernsey for around three months. He says his work/life balance has been good so far and he's enjoying both his work and the social side of life.
"I came here to display my skills and also looking to get new skills and stuff, and I can say so far, it's great.
"I'm getting time off. Yeah, weekends and stuff and I'd encourage them (friends) to come here too."
Mr Leon had a background in woodwork before coming to the island and is keen to take any extra training he can get in Guernsey.
"I'm getting the extra training definitely. And I'm looking to take it back home as well."
Mr Leon doesn't intend to be leaving the island just yet saying "I'm quite settled here for now".
Pictured: Lorraine Jones and Dalion Leon.
Ms Jones said offering a work/life balance is one of the key aims of GR8 when recruiting overseas workers to the islands.
"Dalion and his colleagues have come over here to experience a different culture, to learn new skills, and to go back with that experience. And it's a really good bonding experience for for them because they're living together, they're working together, and they're getting a lot out of it as well. And, the islands benefit, as well, at the same time. So we're in a situation where everybody wins.
"We've got these gaps, not just in the construction sector, but in other skilled areas, and people need to come to the island for our economy and our community. It's a key thing. We don't want any of the the key sectors to grind to a halt, because there's a need in the public sectors as well, so we want to help to plug those gaps."
In terms of the housing issues raised in Guernsey over recent months including a lack of rental properties, GR8 is working with landlords to offer multi occupancy housing.
Ms Jones said they're also helping staff apply for their own licences.
"There's different licences, so there's different criteria linked to the different licences and things like that. There's different lengths of contracts. So things vary so it would depend on the type of job available, how long it was, is it likely to last forever, and those kinds of things, but we have been working with the population office and they've tended to be okay. We've managed to get people through with virtually no problem. So we will look to build on that relationship as well, because it works for everyone."
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