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Jersey talent stands tall next to the world’s largest businesses

JT’s frontline Customer Experience teams are up against some of the biggest business names from the business world after being chosen as finalists in two categories at the International Digital Experience Awards.

Two of JT’s customer experience (CX) initiatives have been shortlisted twice in the Best Use of Customer Feedback category, and JT’s Field Engineering Worx App, developed in-house, during the COVID-19 pandemic to help digitise the case management for JT Engineers, is in the running for the Best Use of a Digital Platform.

Both CX entries are competing in the same category as the global energy giant Shell and the Indian telecoms company Tata Communications.

The winners will be announced on 22 July after presenting their initiatives in full to a distinguished panel of judges from around the world.

Graeme Millar, JT’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “I’m so proud of the individuals whose hard work, dedication and brilliance shine a light on Jersey. It’s not the first time our Customer Experience teams have been up against some of the biggest names in the world of business, so we understand the challenges of being measured alongside these brands and are delighted to be recognised as their peer. It really demonstrates, that our local talent is up there amongst the best and how technology and the use of digital channels is improving the customer experience.”

Tamara O’Brien, Group Head of Corporate Communications, Brand & CX , said: “Making the shortlist with not just one, but three entries is a fantastic achievement and I’m so thrilled that our people are being recognised for their genuine dedication to providing great customer service. They did that while we were all facing daily challenges during the pandemic, at a time when what we do best suddenly became essential, every JT team member played a key role in keeping our community connected.’’

The International Digital Experience Awards recognise innovation and best practice as millions of people moved to becoming digital-first customers during 2020 and 2021.

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JT supporting diversity and inclusion for future senior leaders

JT has signed up to the I WILL programme, supporting the Government of Jersey’s plans to expand the range of skills for those holding senior positions within the government.

The telecoms group has placed diversity and inclusion among its key goals to become a more sustainable business and has appointed Alison Rogers, who is the Government of Jersey’s Group Director of Strategic Finance, as its first Board Apprentice. The I WILL initiative was introduced to address inequality and increase the number of women in senior leadership positions following a review of the gender pay gap.

Alison, who has had a career in the public and private sector spanning over 25 years, will spend a year under the mentorship of JT’s Board.

Graeme Millar, CEO JT Group, said: “At JT, we put people at the heart of what we do, and we believe in a digital future for all, helping to bridge any skill gaps in our society and achieve a better future for the communities we serve. That’s why it’s so exciting that JT is hosting Alison as a Board Apprentice, she will witness first-hand what it’s like to work on large scale digital transformation initiatives and what the process is to govern them. Everyone deserves the chance to rise to the top of organisations and the I WILL programme champions those aspirations, creating a pool of board-ready people capable of taking top positions in Jersey’s private, public and third sectors.’’

Alison Rogers said: “I have worked predominantly in finance, within both the private and public sectors, and I am relishing the opportunity to experience first-hand how the JT Board operates. Throughout my career I’ve worked very closely with operational areas and always gained a good understanding of the business needs. I value the collaborative approach to working and I’m really looking forward to sitting in with my hosts on the JT Board and drawing on their extensive business experience at the very top of their industry. It’s refreshing to know that there are companies such as JT operating in the Channel Islands who put diversity and equality at the heart of what they do.”

macmillan with JT phone cases
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JT donates phone accessories to help cancer charity’s community project

JT are donating smartphone accessories to Macmillan Jersey to help towards their fund raising for a cancer support space at The Lounge charity book café in Burrard Street later this year. Macmillan Jersey was chosen by JT for a second year of support following the enormous impact the successful partnership had on both the telecoms group and the cancer charity in 2020.
The accessories, which are currently on sale in The Lounge, include covers and screen protectors for iPhone and Samsung smartphones. These are for phone models no longer sold in the JT shop but still widely used in the community, giving islanders the chance to purchase at a heavy discount with 100% of the proceeds going to the charity.

Graeme Millar, JT Group CEO, said: “Providing critical cancer support services for our community is so important and we’re really pleased to be able to continue to help towards these vital services, that connect people living with or effected by cancer to information and support from the very heart of our high street.

Our teams have worked together for the past eighteen months, embracing change, overcoming personal challenges and creating innovative ways to generate awareness and raise funds. To be able to recycle, repurpose and reuse while supporting our chosen charity who work tirelessly for our community is at the very core of JT’s values. The stock items we are donating we no longer sell the phones they are designed for, and we want both Macmillan Jersey and islanders to be able to benefit from that. We hope that the sale of these items will mean the charity will be able to pay for the improvements needed to bring their vision of a town centre support hub to life.”

Steph Gibaut, from Macmillan Jersey, said: “At Macmillan Jersey, our vision is that everybody affected by cancer in Jersey has access to emotional, practical and wellbeing support, through whatever their preferred route of contact is.

Later this year, we’d like to refurbish the upper floor of our town hub, The Lounge Charity Book Café, to transform it into a much more flexible space for cancer support activities. This would create a new cancer support suite in a central location for people to drop in on their lunch breaks and after work or school to speak to one of our cancer support team. It would be in addition to our Cancer Support Centre, The Oasis at The Lido Medical Centre. In order to do this, we need to raise around £15,000 to renovate our current office and we’re delighted that our partners JT continue to help us find new ways of raising the money needed to reach our target.

Daragh McDermott at Strive
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JT works with new elite sports academy to develop the skills of the island’s youth

JT is proud to be working with Strive to help talented young people excel at sport and reach their full potential, as well as assisting to put Jersey on the map as a location for elite sports.

Strive is a pioneering centre designed to provide the best knowledge and expertise to train athletes and sports people and to encourage greater participation in sport and wellbeing within our community. Its core belief is that a healthier lifestyle should be available to everyone and Strive is committed to providing opportunities for young people by teaming up with local secondary schools to develop the skills of students through its dedicated Academy programme.

As sponsors of the Academy’s Education Room, JT has provided the digital equipment required to support the Academy’s health and fitness education programme.  It will teach young people how sport ties in with leading healthier lifestyles and give them the knowledge and ability so that they can inspire their families and friends to lead healthier lifestyles as well.

An additional aim of Strive is to support local athletes and teams with a desire to improve, giving them access to the services that are essential for those dedicated to pursuing excellence in their sporting endeavours.

Strive will use JT’s Managed Wi-Fi service throughout the premises, providing world-class, reliable, secure and hyper fast Wi-Fi for members, local athletes and visiting professionals, such as the British & Irish Lions rugby team during their upcoming training camp in advance of their tour of South Africa.

Daragh McDermott, Managing Director, JT (Channel Islands), said: “We recognise the importance of working alongside such a pioneering project to elevate the profile of the Island and more importantly support the learning of Jersey school children. This venture will enable an equal platform of opportunity for children to grow and flourish, presenting athletic opportunities that, without this facility, may not be achievable. The centre will offer a diverse range of sports activities, thereby securing continued participation in sports and its important link to a healthy lifestyle. Designed to support a healthier life, Strive is a state-of-the-art facility that combines the services normally found in a health club with the expert coaching and advice associated with elite sport, enabled by state-of-the-art facilities and underpinned by JT’s world-class fibre network.”

Ben Harvey, Managing Director, Strive, said: “We are partnering with all Jersey’s secondary schools and are really excited to be nurturing the aspirations of our young people to live more active and healthier lives. We are working towards empowering young people with purpose, self-esteem and leadership and we are grateful for the support and expertise that our partnership with JT is securing for this centre. We see it as our mission to provide fitness and health education to all young people in Jersey.”

For more information about Strive visit https://www.strive.je/

Aerial photo of Cobo Bay Hotel
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Balcony Gigs to return in the 10th year of JT support

With news of the Government’s roadmap for exiting lockdown, Cobo Bay Hotel have announced that their popular Balcony Gigs will return this summer with an exciting line-up for Guernsey music lovers. The Big Band Collective will kick off the series of six gigs starting on Sunday 2 May, marking 10 years since JT began sponsoring the now legendary, and much anticipated, annual Balcony Gigs.

On the line-up, which will continue through the summer until the August Bank Holiday weekend, are tributes to world famous international acts such as AC/DC, Fleetwood Mac and Oasis, supported by amazing local bands,  many of whom are now firm favourites on the Cobo stage.

Organisers will stay in close contact with the health authorities to make sure the gigs comply with all restrictions in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone attending and contributing to each event.

Tamara O’Brien, JT’s Deputy Managing Director in Guernsey, said: “Living through the recent lockdown, we have all had a reminder of the things we miss the most, and one of those is probably having the chance to get together with family and friends to enjoy live music. The Cobo Bay gigs provided a massive boost for our community in 2020 when we were lucky enough to be the only place in the British Isles able to hold live music events. Which is why, as we emerge from lockdown, we are pleased to have this opportunity to confirm our support and our renewed sponsorship of these gigs, given what has been an extremely challenging time for all those in the hospitality sector. Guernsey has a really proud tradition of supporting this industry who do so much to enrich our lives. I know I’m not alone in counting down the days for The 2021 Summer Balcony Gigs to kick off,  with a line-up of amazing musical talent who can’t wait to perform.”

Another great Guernsey tradition is supporting local charities, especially now when fundraising has been so difficult for them. There will be a collection at every event in support of the Guernsey Cheshire Home and Guernsey Cancer Support. Each gig will be live streamed across JT’s social media channels so they can be enjoyed by people everywhere.

David Nussbaumer, organiser of Cobo Bay Hotel’s Balcony Gigs, said: “The ongoing support from JT in conjunction with the extra financial assistance received from Ravenscroft this year has ensured the continued success of our Summer Balcony Gigs.  We’re also celebrating a ten-year partnership with JT that we very much value, and look forward to working closely together to bring the carnival atmosphere to Cobo Bay this summer. I really can’t wait to look down on all those happy faces enjoying the true spirit of the Guernsey summer.”

JT Sustainability Strategy
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JT launch their 10-year Sustainability Strategy

JT has launched a 10-year Sustainability Strategy, setting clear targets to reduce its impact on the planet and local environment, and to become a carbon neutral business by 2030.

The JT Sustainability Strategy focuses on two main ambitions, centred around Planet and People. Not only are they focused on reducing environmental impact, but the strategy also outlines their focus on promoting diversity within the organisation and connecting and bringing together our communities. For over a century, JT has been at the very heart of island life, adapting to change and leading innovation and technology in the communities it serves. Today JT has a very clear purpose, which is to help connect their people, customers and islanders to their sustainable future.

The Telecoms operator worked with The Carbon Trust to benchmark and baseline their carbon emissions, bringing existing environmental activities together into a robust and formal planet policy and future vision. That includes using more locally generated renewable energy, reducing their fleet size and moving to electric vehicles, scaling down and repurposing their property estate, while also supporting their customers and partners to reduce their own carbon footprint.

The People strategy also outlines JT’s focus on the community and their commitment to supporting local charities, vulnerable groups and champions the importance of digital education and online security for all. Workforce diversity and inclusion is also a key focus area for the Group which they see as critical to ensure growth and attract the best talent.

Graeme Millar, JT Group CEO, commented: “Climate change remains one of the most urgent challenges for our society today. The fight to contain it requires a genuine commitment from all of us, it’s an opportunity for everyone to work together to protect the world we all share. For us, this is a really important part of our 10-year strategy alongside our ‘social sustainability’ commitment to do good in the communities we live and work in. We’ve a responsibility to champion and lead on digital inclusivity and education and I’m excited to see the benefits that will bring to our islands. We’ve set ourselves some ambitious targets, which won’t be achieved overnight, we hope when we report back each year, we can demonstrate positive steps forward.  We know we won’t get it right first time, however with the support of our people, customers and partners we hope to see good our commitments to supporting our purpose, while providing positive digital and social experiences.

Energy use is an essential part of day to day business operations, but all telecom operators have considerable scope to cut energy costs and consumption which is why JT’s teams are determined to make efficient and sustainable changes wherever the opportunity presents itself.

Tom Noel, JT’s Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, said: “We’re already making great progress in reducing energy use in all our buildings, using a series of simple solutions such as sensors that make sure lights are not left on, something every business can commit too. We’re putting our foot firmly on the accelerator to achieve wider sustainability goals within our communities, supporting the aims of being a force for good. That’s not just about reducing our use of energy and switching to renewable sources, it’s also about being at the core of community life and supporting a digital future for everyone, because we really believe that the way forward is together’’.

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Information re planned maintenance of business operating systems

As part of on-going investment in its infrastructure, JT will be working with its suppliers to conduct planned maintenance on some of their business operating systems, including payments and charging systems, during March 2021. The work is necessary to ensure the systems that JT use remain up-to- date, secure and continue to provide the services customers expect to the highest standards.

These upgrade works will take place over the weekend of Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 March behind the scenes with minimal customer impact. During the upgrade, customers can continue to use JT services as normal, however prepaid top-ups will not be possible between 3pm on Saturday 20 March and 9am on Sunday 21 March, so we would encourage customers to make any necessary recharges ahead of this time. Customers will be able to view their bills but will not be able to make any bill payments during this time.

JT commented: “The planned works are part of JT’s on-going commitment to provide a high quality, reliable and secure service to our customers. From time to time as technology improves, our systems need to be updated which is why we are taking this step now. We wanted to give our customers notice of this, as part of our on-going programme of works investing in our platforms; for example we have already informed our customers who use our self-serve portal of some recent upgrades. Our friendly advisors are always on hand to help if customers have any questions.”

If any customer experiences a problem please contact us by emailing home@jtglobal.com and one of our JTHelp Team will respond to you as quickly as possible.

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JT telegraph poles given new lease of life at Grouville School

More than 20 telegraph poles that are no longer needed to carry telephone lines have found a new home in a conservation project run for Grouville School.

JT are donating the poles to the newly formed McGugan Family Trust to build a raised walkway in a meadow next to the primary school that is used for outdoor lessons and activities by school children and other groups.

The meadow is prone to flooding in the winter and the Trust wants to improve accessibility.

Grouville Constable, John le Maistre, is Chairman of the Trust, and he asked JT for help: “The meadow needs work to provide better access and in particular we want wheelchair users to enjoy the wildlife. The idea is to put a boardwalk around it but that requires pillars, and telegraph poles are ideal because they are treated and last a long time. JT were extremely helpful, donating  telegraph poles that are no longer being used thanks to the advances made in digital technology. So this provides them with a new purpose that benefits our community.”

JT agreed to deliver the poles which were still in the ground waiting to be cut down and recycled. So far, tree surgeons have removed 13 of them from sites around the island and cut them to the right size for use in the project, with more to follow.

Graeme Millar, CEO, JT Group, said: “Twenty years ago, a platform next to the pond was built using similar poles and the Trust told us they are as good today as when they were put in. We are delighted that something we no longer need is being used to help our community and at the same time provide a valuable lesson about sustainability and the importance of repurposing and recycling whatever we can.”

Reservists from the Jersey Field Squadron will construct the walkway on the site, and it is hoped it will provide an outdoor classroom that other local groups, such as the Scouts, will use too.

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Coffee and business brains brew over a successful partnership

JT has been at the heart of Santander International’s successful move to Charing Cross providing its world class Wi-Fi for the bank’s new work café.

The bank has been converting the former Thomas Cook travel agents into a fully connected work and meeting venue with the help of JT’s ultra-fast Wi-Fi services. The free-to-use meeting rooms and workspaces are centred around a specialist coffee shop and the venture shows the continued confidence both JT and Santander International have in the high street.

The work café will include JT’s Managed Wi-Fi service which ensures businesses and their customers have access to reliable and secure high-performance Wi-Fi at all times.

The aim is to create a relaxed centrally located space for businesses and entrepreneurs to meet, but it will be open to all and comes at a time when many banks are closing branches rather than opening new ones.

Katie Corbett, Director of Enterprise & Business Services, said: “We have been delighted to work with Santander International on this exciting project that will not just provide a new space for businesses to meet, but also give members of the public free access to our world class fibre network. JT Managed Wi-Fi gives guest users instant and dependable access to the internet over a secure network and will provide anyone using the Santander Work Café a welcome space in which to work for a few hours when away from the office or as an alternative to working from home. Businesses can also have confidence knowing they will be working over a fully managed network that has Enterprise-class security.”

Santander has over 80 work cafés in nine countries around the world, including Spain, Portugal, Chile, Brazil and Argentina, and has opened its doors to its latest in St Helier in January 2021.

James Pountney, Chief Executive Officer of Santander International, said: “After opening the first UK Work Café in Leeds in 2019, we were excited to bring the concept to Jersey. The difficulties caused by COVID-19 have meant businesses are reducing the number of people in their offices and we are confident providing a relaxing but also secure environment to work in will suit many of those who have asked their teams to work from home. We’ve been impressed with how easy it has been to work with JT in this partnership, knowing we could rely on them to provide the services we needed to meet the expectations of our customers. Working with a telecoms operator that boasts the second fastest speeds in the world is exactly what we needed.”

Macmillan charity chill
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JT supports Macmillan Jersey for a second year

JT’s people have chosen to extend their support once again to Macmillan Jersey for a second year following the enormous impact the telecoms group had on the cancer charity in 2020. Pledging a further year of assistance will see the JT team focus on more fundraising efforts, continue with its current digital and network support package to the charity and help to increase awareness of the charity’s vital work on the island.

With JT’s help, Macmillan Jersey was able to react quickly to COVID-19 restrictions, implementing new systems to allow the team to work from home and adjusting fundraising efforts to reach a wider audience using digital channels. The new ‘Get Together for Good’ campaign in September, launched in partnership with JT saw a total of £26,346 raised through encouraging people to connect both virtually and in person and JT’s own people topped that up in December, by raising nearly £4000 on an internal fundraising raffle.

Steph Gibaut, Head of Income Generation for Macmillan Jersey, said: “We are so thrilled to have the support of JT for a second year. Alongside fundraising they were able to offer us cloud-based phone systems for our support services and loan phones for local cancer patients going off-island for treatment which proved invaluable to the charity and to our patients.

“As a direct result of our ‘Get Together for Good’ campaign we also received a substantial donation, along with a commitment of support for the charity for the next two years. For this to come at a time when, like everyone else we were facing financial challenges and having to cancel events was truly amazing. It was the lifeline we needed to help those who access our services. We continue to be so grateful and can’t wait to start working alongside the JT team again this year.”

Graeme Millar, JT Group CEO, said: “With restrictions still in place we recognise what a difficult time this can be for families dealing with the impact of cancer treatment, which is why we have chosen to support Macmillan Jersey again this year. It’s both amazing and refreshing to see just how impactful a simple message can be in uniting our community for a good cause.  We’re really keen to explore new ways of supporting Macmillan Jersey using our technology, expertise, and network. It’s been our absolute privilege to work with and support a team so dedicated to supporting others so that those facing the fight against cancer may never have to feel alone.”

Macmillan Jersey relies solely on fundraising events and the generosity of the public and corporate partners. All funds raised are used on island to help those with cancer and their families access community and emotional support, information, and wellbeing advice.