Category: Media Centre > News (Channel Islands)

JT leaders will join other business figures in guiding students from JCG and around the world as they take part in a global female leadership programme this week. LEAP, which stands for Leadership and Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme, is open to all girls aged 14 to 18 and develops business and leadership skills with the participants launching social enterprise projects which are pitched to a group of business dragons.

JT’s Group Senior Legal Counsel and Head of Sustainability, Gill Knights, and JT International’s Head of Solution Design and Innovation, Marcus Irwin, will join local and international experts from across the business spectrum to act as coaches and mentors during the ten-day programme.

Local students will be joined by students from China, Taiwan, India, Turkey, Austria, Rwanda and the USA. They will be split into teams to come up with business ideas that they will pitch to a ‘Dragons Den’ at the end of the programme. There is real money at stake with up to £2,000 going to the winning team out of a total prize fund of £4,000. Previous projects have been based on social inclusion and waste management.

JT International’s Marcus Irwin will be on the panel of eight dragons, and he said: “This is an amazing opportunity for the young women who will be the next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders. As a father, I understand the importance of nurturing talent from an early age and LEAP does a huge amount to bring that out of all those that take part.

As with our own recently launched JT Venture, a platform for ambitious start-ups and entrepreneurs to partner with JT and take their business to the next level, I will be looking closely at each proposition to see whether they have thought about supply chains, customer journeys, the digital outlook and just how they’ll fund their business ideas. This presents a real chance of investment and I have no doubt these girls will deliver business ideas that we’ll all see in the not too distant future.”

Throughout the week the students will take part in team building exercises and workshops and will hear inspirational talks from business leaders across all sectors, one of which is JT’s Senior Legal Counsel and Head of Sustainability, Gill knights, who will share how she came from an engineering and legal background to reach her current position.

JT will be donating SIM packs to all all of the visiting students for the duration of the programme.

Peter Le Masurier, from JCG, added: “This is the third year we have hosted LEAP and we are incredibly lucky to have so many prominent businesses involved along with successful business leaders who are prepared to give up their time to guide our students. I am looking forward to seeing how our students and the visiting students interact with each other, taking onboard, sharing knowledge and making the most of the invaluable advice and help they will be getting.”

More young people on the autistic spectrum in Guernsey will have the opportunity to learn about computer coding following a donation by JT to Autism Guernsey.

The donation of 5 laptops and 5 Spheros (mini coding robots) from JT will make a huge difference to the Coding Club run by the charity. This welcome addition allows children who don’t own a laptop to take part and has meant five more people have been able to join the course.

Working with Spheros encourages exploration, imagination, and perseverance using computer science. They help to empower people of all abilities to discover their interests and passions.

Pip Carpenter, Head of Commercial Market at JT, said: “The Coding Club gives young autistic people the chance to learn in a stress-free environment. I’ve loved hearing about how some of the children come back to help new group members, providing a sense of purpose that is so important for self-esteem, confidence and motivation. We’re really pleased to be able to give another group of people the chance to take part in the Club, these education kits are brilliant for teaching STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) subjects by creating activities that help put all they have learned about coding into practice.”

Martine White, Wellbeing and Enablement facilitator, from Autism Guernsey, added: “The Children’s Coding Club is often the only social activity that many of the young people we help engage in. Anxiety makes it very difficult for a lot of our young people to participate in group activities, but coding works well because the experience is completely structured from the second they arrive to the moment that they leave. They are focusing on set tasks which takes the emphasis away from social engagement. It means that the engagement that they do experience within the group is based on sharing a common interest and intention. It takes the mystery out of socialising and is a much more comfortable environment. They are all very interested in computers, gaming and coding, and are so excited about the Spheros, we are very grateful to our partner JT for taking our learning to a new level.”

Later this week Les Quennevais School will host a two day transition programme for the largest cohort of new students they’ve ever had.

For over five years JT has partnered with the school to support Year 6 pupils as they experience a taste of life at the state of the art school, seeing for themselves where the next step on their learning journey could take them. The aim of the two day experience is to overcome those first day nerves for pupils, making sure they are familiar and happy with their new surroundings and the new faces that will greet them.

Pip Carpenter, Head of Commercial Market said: “When we started working with Les Quennevais School, we made a long-term commitment to support its students and teachers. At JT, we are genuinely passionate about nurturing the next generation. One of our ambitions, and a big part of our Sustainability Strategy, is to champion and support digital education and inclusion projects for everyone.

Technology has introduced revolutionary changes in all areas of our lives, from communication to the entertainment industry, but most especially in education. We believe that it’s really important our young people learn to harness all the potential of digital technology while still at school, and at Les Quennevais they are lucky to have that opportunity.’’

Over the summer, the Year 6 leavers will be asked to work on a project set by the Assistant Headteacher, Pete Jones. Students have the option to use a wide range of technology in their final project. This can be using digital photography, coding, animation or videos to present their work.

Sarah Hague, Headteacher of Les Quennevais School, added: “Transition to secondary school is such an important rite of passage. It opens doors and prepares students for the next stage of their school journey. I hope that this intake of students will come away from their transition days feeling excited as they embark on the next chapter in their lives. I am delighted that JT continue to support our future students who will be joining hundreds of other amazing young people, all making the most of the excellent facilities and teaching we have in our school.

We have a full programme of activities and experiences planned for their introduction to the school which I hope will be memorable, useful and fulfilling. I’m also hoping it will fuel them with inspiration that they can then use on their summer project.”

JT has installed six solar panels on Little Sark as part of a trial to see whether further mobile sites in the Channel Islands can be powered by renewable energy.

The panels, which were installed by the Little Green Energy Company, will maintain the batteries that power the antenna which provides JT’s mobile phone coverage in Little Sark. If successful, this model could be used at other JT sites across the Channel Islands, meeting JT’s commitment to reduce the company’s reliance on power from the grid.

Joseph Donnovan, Private Circuit Project Manager, said: “Operating in Sark provides its own challenges, so it’s the perfect place for JT to test equipment that needs to work with minimal intervention and maintenance. This trial will provide an opportunity for our engineers to gauge how well our network will handle calls and data using 100% renewable energy. The mobile site will use the electricity grid to provide the initial charge of the batteries, but after that, it’s the power of the sun that will keep those charged up and working, day and night.’’

Six panels have been set up next to the small mobile radio site, using kit specially designed to run in remote areas that are not connected to the grid. If the trial is a success, it is hoped that more of JT’s equipment and infrastructure can be transferred to sustainable sources of power.

Tom Noel, Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, added: “We have set out to make significant reductions in the amount of carbon emissions our activities generate. Everything we do, from decisions made by JT’s Board to the vehicles our engineers drive, must fit into the strategic goals we have set to become carbon neutral. Our renewable energy initiatives will make a real difference and we are proud to be backing this project in Sark to reduce emissions and our carbon footprint. We’re really hoping that during the summer it will run 100% of the time on solar power, providing a greener way to run our network in Sark.”

JT is donating smartphone accessories to its charity partner Autism Jersey so they can raise funds to continue their vital work in the community.

The accessories, which are still widely used by islanders but no longer sold by JT, will now be available from the Autism Jersey shop which has become a popular hub in The Parade. Customers can buy them at a discount, with 100% of the proceeds going straight to the charity.

The shop also provides somewhere for people on the autism spectrum and their families to meet, find out information and receive support.

Pip Carpenter, Head of Commercial Market, said: “Autism Jersey’s vision is that everyone on the autism spectrum is given the opportunity and support to reach their full potential in an inclusive community, and we fully support that. As a responsible business that believes in the circular business model, we’re donating surplus accessories to our charity partner so they can benefit from selling them alongside their range of excellent products in the Autism Jersey shop.”

Lesley Harrison, Head of Charitable Services at Autism Jersey, added: “Working with our partners at JT is really helping us to boost the profile of our charity and is helping to increase the acceptance of autistic individuals in our community. Our fundraising activities are really important so we’re over the moon that JT has been able to donate surplus stock for us to sell, using the money raised to support our services. Not everyone has the latest smartphone so it’s great that we can sell accessories to people who already have a phone but need to replace the cover. The AJ Boutique on the Parade has a dual purpose of being shop, and a hub where people can get support and information about autism. It’s also somewhere autistic individuals can gain work experience.”

Alternative Transport Week, between 16^th and 20th May, challenges islanders to leave their cars at home and either walk, cycle, run or take the bus to work. To help spread awareness of the many alternate transport options available and show its support for the initiative, JT is sponsoring four EVie cargo bikes during the week, which will be available for people to try for free.

The telecoms company is also encouraging their own people to use alternative travel for the week, as well as encouraging the whole community to share scenic routes on their commute by using the GPS function on their phone or other wearable technology to plot their route, creating a community social board for the best routes around the Island.

Gill Knights, JT Group General Counsel and Head of Sustainability at JT, said: “The future of transport must be sustainable, and here in Jersey there are plenty of opportunities to use alternative modes that don’t involve jumping in our cars. At JT we’ve made a commitment to become carbon neutral in scope 1 and 2 emissions, by 2030 and ensure our business and our products are a force for good. We already encourage and support our people to cycle,  by offering a subsidy towards the purchase or servicing of a bicyle and we’ve joined eVie’s pan-island Corporate Partner Programme which provides employees at JT with a discount on their e-bikes and e-vehicles hire. By sponsoring the eVie cargo bikes during this week we hope islanders will see just how much they can achieve, and carry without their car. There are sustainable solutions to climate warming caused by fossil fuel emissions, and together we can make a difference, no matter how small, starting with being mindful about how we travel and walking, running, cycling or getting the bus, wherever possible.”

Kate Huntington, the creator of Alternative Transport Week, added: “The idea behind Alternative Transport Week is to get people thinking about their choices when it comes to how they get about the island. I switched my car for a cargo bike three years ago and use it  for all the daily tasks I would have previously used my car for, and I love it. I’d like to thank JT and all the businesses taking part, they’ve all been incredibly supportive.”

Anyone wanting to take up the JT sponsored offer of a free cargo bike for a day during Alternative Transport Week should apply directly to Alternative Transport Week via its facebook page (enter link).  Successful applicants will then be provided with a code which they can use directly on the EVie website when booking their cargo bike.

More info on Alternative Transport Week can be found by visiting Alternative Transport Week on Facebook and alternativetransportweekjersey on Instagram.

Having up to date and effective cybersecurity is more vital now than ever, and a Chamber of Commerce briefing next month will focus on what businesses can do to improve their cybersecurity in the face of growing threats.

JT is sponsoring a breakfast briefing on Thursday 19th May at the Royal Yacht, which will include security specialist insights, local cyber intelligence, and a discussion on just how to secure your business-critical information.

An expert panel of specialists from the world of cybersecurity will discuss how to prepare for and mitigate against potential cyber threats.

Katie Corbett, Interim Managing Director, JT Channel Islands, said: “Mandatory training on the systems, policies and processes that make a business function has always been seen as a core requirement for any company. But now, more than ever before, it has become vital that companies prioritise the training for all staff on cybersecurity threats. They must be kept up to date with the latest methods utilised by attackers and how to spot and prevent cyberattacks. As corporate governance and regulatory bodies place more and more emphasis on meeting security compliance metrics it is a significant challenge for any business to keep up. It’s often by learning from experts at events such as this that those responsible for setting the standards in their own organisation can feel adequately equipped to deal with such pressures.”

Jennifer Carnegie, President of the Jersey Chamber of Commerce, added: “Cyber criminals have no respect for national boundaries, so we are all vulnerable to attack. It is vital that businesses, large and small, are aware of the threat, pass that awareness on to their people and make sure they are properly trained to deal with it. It only takes one slip up to cause a breach that puts a company and their customers’ data at risk.”

JT provides cyber threat advisory and managed cybersecurity services that help organisations identify, understand and control their security risks.