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Tech talent finds a welcome home at JT

Nurturing new talent and ensuring JT is a great place to work for them, is at the very heart of our business strategy. Riley Aslett, began as an intern with JT having signed up to Digital Greenhouse’s intern programme. After an impressive six-weeks Riley was awarded a JT Bursary by her JT mentors, and she has been a key team member ever since. Committed and interested young people like Riley represent the future of digital technology and we are privileged to have the opportunity to share our knowledge with her and watch how it has helped with her studies and her chosen career path.

As Riley is about to embark on the JT Post Graduate scheme, read about where her journey began.



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Artistic creativity continues to flow with JT donation

Liberate Art Club, a thriving creative initiative that aims to combat isolation and loneliness in the community, is the latest Guernsey charity to benefit from JT’s Community Giving Scheme.

Liberate will use the donation to purchase resources to make its art sessions as accessible and inclusive as possible as it fosters creativity and supports personal growth among its diverse and growing membership.

Participants, ranging from 18 to 82 years of age, come from various walks of life. The club’s mission is to ensure that no barriers stand in the way of artistic expression and creative camaraderie.

‘We offer these creative activities free of charge as we understand the financial challenges many of our attendees face due to factors like disability or single-parent status, so we rely on the generosity of local companies like JT, said Joni Nettleship, Liberate Art Club Co-Founder.

‘This donation will fund items like large knitting needles, tabletop easels, magnifying glasses and noise cancelling headphones which will help to make the sessions accessible and even more inclusive.’

The sessions cover various creative techniques, from painting, knitting, and drawing to watercolour painting, printing, and weaving. With a commitment to sustainability, Liberate Art Club implements eco-friendly practices by reusing and recycling materials, including drawing on cardboard and creating collages and wreaths from scrap papers, charity shop fabrics, and donated items.

JT Community Giving aims to help local projects and initiatives by offering them the opportunity to apply for funding, devices, subscriptions, technical support, or even hands-on help from JT’s many willing volunteers.

Kate Marshall, JT’s Head of Guernsey Enterprise said: ‘We applaud Liberate’s approach to connecting people through creativity. The art classes bring different people together from across the community for mutual support and it’s clear from how the class has grown that people enjoy the opportunity to express themselves through art.

‘JT is very supportive of any activity that takes an inclusive approach, and we’re delighted to see funding from our Community Giving Scheme go to such an accessible and also sustainable initiative.’



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JT Tech Donation Connects Islanders to Health Connections

Guernsey’s Health Connections charity is the latest beneficiary of JT’s Community Giving Scheme.

JT has donated three digital display screens to Health Connections to help the charity promote its mission to enable everyone in the Bailiwick of Guernsey to be connected to available support and up to date information that enables them to live happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives.

Health Connections will also use the screens to promote and run its free Community Connector training sessions, which are delivered each month in the CONNECT space in their Smith Street shop.

The screens will also be used to teach people how to make the most of the charity’s online directory, so that they can find the support that matters to them or a loved one.

Bella Farrell, CEO and Director of Health Connections, said: ‘We are committed to working with and promoting our directory partners to everyone in the community and these screens are an important resource to enable our work.

‘Like JT, we believe in connecting people and technology is a powerful tool to inform islanders about services that can improve their health and wellbeing, especially for those that are not so digitally adept.

‘We are very grateful to the JT Community Giving scheme for this donation, it’s enabled us to showcase our community partners and the support they provide islanders much more easily using our shop locations in town’

JT Community Giving aims to help local projects and initiatives by offering them the opportunity to apply for funding, devices, subscriptions, technical support, or even hands-on help from some of JT’s many willing volunteers.

Kate Marshall, JT’s Head of Guernsey Enterprise said: ‘Making a difference and a positive contribution to the community we live and work in, is very important to every one of us at JT.

‘As a digital company, we are delighted to be able to help a local charity to widen their reach by providing the technology needed to teach people about all the amazing support services there are available to them in Guernsey.’

The Community Giving scheme is open to all registered charities, schools, and community groups across the Channel Islands that meet at least one of four criteria: community support, digital inclusivity, raising awareness of mental and physical health and wellbeing, and environmental improvement.

Applications and more information can be found here: https://www.jtglobal.com/jersey/more-ci-charities-to-benefit-from-the-new-jt-community-giving-scheme/.



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JT and Ericsson partner to build next generation mobile network

Ericsson, a world leader in future-proof, scalable network architecture, has been chosen by JT to install the next generation networks that will provide mobile and fixed line services. The investment, which is being made by JT, keeps pace with the rapidly changing world of communications technology, giving customers across the Channel Islands access to the services and products of the future.

This is an exciting prospect for our islands, and much like when the project to install fibre began, it is almost impossible to comprehend the breadth of capabilities it will bring to the Channel Islands, long into the future.

Daragh McDermott, CEO of JT Group, said: “We are delighted to be working with such a well-known and respected company. Communications technology never stands still, it’s a rapidly changing environment but as with the roll out of fibre, we need to stay ahead of the game and this programme will provide the transformation and leap in technology now required to meet the future demands of businesses and consumers.”

JT and Ericsson signed the contract, which includes mobile network modernisation and upgrades to JT’s CORE, Radio Access Network (RAN) and Managed Services networks, at an official ceremony at Digital Jersey yesterday evening. The project will begin this year and includes Ericsson’s future-proof and scalable Mobile Transport solutions, data-driven Network Management Services and the latest energy efficient products and technologies as part of a sustainable network evolution. As well as offering improved speeds and security, the network modernisation will bring improvements to voice quality on mobile calls, more bandwidth for mobile users and improved coverage. The program will enable future 5G and technology ambitions in the Channel Islands to be met.

Katherine Ainley, Chief Executive of Ericsson UK and Ireland added: “Ericsson and JT share the same passion and vision for next-generation connectivity to create new possibilities for people, businesses and society. We are excited to be building the network of the future for the Channel Islands; this will deliver leading connectivity and create a platform of innovation that will power new consumer and enterprise services, advance the digitalization of industries and boost future economic growth.”

Kirsten Morel, Deputy Chief Minister of Jersey and Minister for Economic Development, added: “Digital infrastructure plays an incredibly important role in our society, with communication technologies helping to address social, environmental, and economic challenges all across the world. Not only do we want islanders to have the most reliable and fastest internet possible, but we also want them to be able to access the services that new technology can provide. This investment in the next generation network by JT will do just that.”



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JT talks about e-safety at Digital ACE event

JT’s e-safety experts will be on hand this weekend at the Digital Greenhouse’s Digital ACE event on Saturday 24th June taking place at the Beau Sejour Leisure Centre from 12 noon until 5pm.

Digital ACE takes place annually ahead of National Safer Internet Day and provides online safety guidance to children and parents, featuring a host of local tech and digital organisations with interactive displays sharing information on e-safety.

The JT team will be available to answer questions and provide Wi-Fi installation guides and e-safety information that can be taken home.

This year, JT will showcase the parental control features of JT Total Wi-Fi, including scheduled freeze or timeouts, website blocking and device access features, which promote the safety of young internet users.

Visitors to the JT stand will also be able to try out the features on TV and Games consoles, learn more about how JT technology promotes e-safety and grab some sustainable giveaways.

JT will also offer visitors to their stand the chance to win a Nintendo Switch Lite, a compact handheld device that is ideal for playing outside or online with friends or family but doesn’t have internet browser access.

Steve Rowsell, Retail Manager at JT, said: ‘The internet is embedded into our day-to-day lives, and children are accessing the internet at a very young age, using it to help with homework, communicate with teachers and play interactive games. We want to educate young people and parents about digital safety while offering people the best ways to connect with each other and the world around them.

‘It can be hard to keep up in this ever-changing digital world, but the things that help keep children safe online are often similar to the things that keep them safe offline, and the Digital ACE event is fantastic to help young people explore and enjoy the digital world safely.’

For anyone unable to attend the event, JT’s High Street shop team are always happy to discuss online safety and offer friendly advice.



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JT Community Giving – Supporting our community

In November 2022 we launched our new funding and support scheme, ‘JT Community Giving’, and since then over 70 charities and not-for-profit organisations have received some much-needed extra assistance. We’ve been a big part of this community for over 135 years and in that time we’ve helped some wonderful charities and supported some unforgettable events. Being part of a community is what makes us and is what makes Jersey a very special place to live, work and play.

Read all about what we’ve been up to >



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In conversation with Tom Noel

In June’s Connect magazine, ‘In Conversation With Tom Noel’ explores how 135-year-old business JT is pivoting from being a ‘TelCo’ to a ‘TechCo’, with Chief Product Officer Tom Noel overseeing an ambitious project to slash its current 4,500 products to just 450 which “meet customer needs and will be relevant in the future”.

Read more here >



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Interview with JT Chair, Meriel Lenfestey

Change seems to be happening at an ever-increasing pace, whether in our home lives or our work lives. In May’s Edition of Business Brief, JT Chair, Meriel Lenfestey, takes an insightful look into the future and how the telecoms industry – and in particular JT – is tackling modernisation, transformation and keeping pace with change.



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Digital tech expert joins JT Board

A former executive at Openreach and the current Chair of one of the largest healthcare providers in Europe has joined the JT Board as a Non-Executive Director.

Mark Lam held senior responsibility for the UK’s fibre network and Chairs the Royal Free London hospital group. An expert in technology, Mark has many years of experience as a board member of health trusts and telecommunications and digital technology companies including as Vice Chair of Broadway Partners, which builds and retails fibre broadband in rural Scotland and Wales.

Meriel Lenfestey, Chair of the JT Board said: “Mark joins the JT Board with considerable experience having served on numerous boards representing private businesses and public and third sector organisations. As Chief Technology and Information Officer at Openreach he was involved in projects very similar to the work JT does in providing and maintaining critical telecommunications infrastructure. Mark’s experience and contacts will be an invaluable addition to the Board.”

A graduate of Oxford University, Mark is originally from Singapore. He has worked in senior management roles at BT Group, Siemens and Carphone Warehouse. Among his other roles and business experience is as a non-executive director of Games Workshop Group PLC, a FTSE 250 manufacturer of the fantasy miniature Warhammer figures.

Mark Lam added: “I am delighted to have been appointed to the Board of JT and am looking forward to working alongside my colleagues, pooling our combined experience in telecoms and technology to help JT grow. It is a great time to be joining the team as we work on our plans for new products and services that make the best use of technology to serve our customers and partners.”



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How to stand out in a competitive world

As part of the IoD Jersey branch’s series ‘Real world advice and inspiration’, Katie Corbett, JT’s Chief Commercial Officer was asked to share her career path, lessons learned along the way and what advice she would pass on to directors of the future.

Read the full interview here.