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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.

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Double success for JT’s enterprise and business services team

JT has been recognised by one of the world’s leading technology companies for the innovative way in which they delivered business to their customers in 2020.

The Tech Data Aces Momentum Awards are given to companies that show a desire to use and grow the technology developed by Cisco. Run by technology giant Tech Data, the programme is designed to help Cisco partners take their business forward as they support their customers’ requirements,  applying sophisticated Cisco Technology to a constantly changing business landscape.

JT, a Cisco Premier partner, was recognised as the ‘Enterprise Networking Partner of the Year’ and achieved the highest accolade of ‘Overall Partner of the Year’, based on partner engagement, strategy for growth and customer adoption in a year that required ingenuity and innovation.

In each category, four out of the 25 top partners in the ACES programme were shortlisted by the technology giant Tech Data, with JT selected as the overall winner.

Katie Corbett, Director of CI Enterprise and Business Services at JT Group, said: “This is a huge achievement by our very dedicated team who have developed and grown this side of the business for JT. We have enjoyed working closely with Tech Data and Cisco, especially in a year where the technologies they produce have been so vital to keeping our communities and economies going. We were really focused on delivering these services and technologies to our customers and the results have been far greater than we had anticipated.”

Graeme Lee, Business Development Manager for Cisco at Tech Data, said: “(JT) have driven change for their customers by encouraging the adoption of leading-edge technologies and looking for new ways to apply and adapt the very latest solutions to positive effect. This hugely impressive performance, alongside their focused approach made JT the exceptional candidate and the deserved winner of the Tech Data ACES Partner of the Year award.”

About Tech Data

Tech Data Corporation is one of the world’s largest distributors of technology products, services and solutions.

For more than 40 years, Tech Data has provided the logistics capabilities and value-added services that enable resellers to efficiently and cost-effectively support the diverse technology needs of end users in more than 100 countries.

Tech Data connects the world with the power of technology. With an end-to-end portfolio of products, services and solutions, highly specialised skills, and expertise in next-generation technologies enables Tech Data partners bring to market the products and solutions the world needs to connect, grow and advance.

Angus Flett - JT
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Former BT Executive added to the JT Board

A former BT executive who helped the organisation achieve a world number one ranking for customer services has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director of JT.

Angus Flett is the CEO of Smart Data Communications Company, he has an extensive background in telecoms, including roles in product management, marketing and service operations. He held a senior role at Vodaphone, where he was Senior Vice President for Global Enterprise Products.

While at BT, Angus was the Managing Director of Customer Service and Customer Relationship Management, where he was instrumental in BT’s world number one ranking for agent technical expertise and number two for agent responsiveness. He was also responsible for BT’s Internet Service Provider division which was the fifth largest white-label ISP in the UK, providing services to EE, Vodaphone, Post Office and SSE.

Angus Flett said: “JT’s reputation among much larger businesses in the UK and overseas is already excellent and that reputation is growing rapidly. It is a forward-looking company that is doing remarkable things in the Channel Islands and around the world. That’s why I wanted to join the JT Board, and I’m delighted to be working with such a creative, ambitious and diverse company. What impresses me more though is how well embedded JT is in its community. This was demonstrated this year when it won Silver at the UK Customer Experience Awards, beating BT in its category, I might add. Listening to customers and acting on their feedback to develop products and services shows JT is a company that is moving forward and taking its core customers with them.”

JT Chairman, Phil Male, said: “We are really fortunate that we are able to attract people with such a broad level of experience in senior management as Angus. His leadership at some of the world’s most well know telecoms companies will be a huge asset to the JT Board and will no doubt help with our long-term vision for growth and sustainability both in the Channel Islands and internationally. The business world is facing uncertainty at the moment, but this appointment will further strengthen the ability of the Board to oversee JT’s operations and services.”

Graeme Millar, CEO JT Group, said: “We’re delighted to welcome someone of Angus’s calibre to JT. His expertise and experience will greatly bolster JT’s long-term plans and strategies. It is also hugely beneficial that he comes from a background of customer service and customer relationship management, an area that is very important to us and our people as we continue to provide and receive positive customer experience feedback, which is crucial to the success of our business.”

JT engineers with old phones
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Charity receives old school phone system thanks to JT Engineers

The phone system that for years dealt with calls at the old Les Quennevais School has been given a new lease of life after being donated to a local charity.

The Beresford Street Kitchen needed to upgrade its phone system to one that was able to handle multiple calls but had been putting it off due to cost until two regular customers made a welcome suggestion.

JT engineers Peter Vasse and Vinnie Harkin, who often take their lunchbreaks at the popular café in town, were asked to look at the aging phone system. Knowing there was one at the old Les Quennevais School that was no longer needed, they asked the school whether it could be given to the charity to cover its needs instead.

Alexander Richardson, Business and Facilities Manager of Les Quennevais School, said: “Peter knew the old system backwards. He had helped install it and worked with us at the school to keep it working properly. We like to maintain continuity in our relationships with outside companies and when Peter and Vinnie moved with us to the new school and started installing the new system, Peter had the lightbulb moment. We are really pleased we were able to help out and we had no idea that it could be put to such good use. The old phone system was perfect for what the charity needed, and we were happy to support his great idea to donate it to Beresford Street Kitchen and further strengthens the school’s links with JT who we were able to collaborate with to help this charity.”

Gabby Ellmers, Managing Director of Beresford Street Kitchen, commented: “We have always enjoyed having Peter and Vinnie as customers and it was so typical of them to come up with a way of helping us out. As we’ve grown over the last 3 years, our phone system simply couldn’t cope with what we needed it to do. It meant sometimes missing calls, crew members not being able to get through and a lot of running around the building to get messages to areas with no phone lines.  We are extremely grateful for the generous donation from Les Quennevais School and to Peter and Vinnie for the many hours they put in at night installing the system. Now with the help of the school and JT, we are always able to answer those important calls from our crew, partners and customers and it will help support our future growth to enable us to provide training and employment for more people with learning disabilities and autism.”

Tom Noel, JT’s Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, added: “At the beginning of this year we set up a Sustainability Team to pool ideas from across the company to help achieve our aim of becoming a carbon neutral business and a contributor to a carbon neutral island by 2030. We welcome and encourage all ideas and opportunities to recycle, reuse and reduce and when Peter and Vinnie suggested this, it really was a no brainer. We’re already making great strides in reducing waste, and this idea is at the heart of what we as a company are trying to do to minimise our impact on the planet. We’re really proud that our people feel empowered to help others and can be part of change for the better. Peter and Vinnie fitted the system in their own time, wanting to get the charity’s new system running as soon as possible. Not only is this a great example of a circular economy, it’s also a really great example of how we can all work together to achieve something good within our local community.”

JT electric car
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JT vehicles to go all electric within next few years

JT has become the latest large company to begin replacing its vehicle fleet with zero emission alternatives. Ten years ago, it was hard to imagine being able to drive more than a few miles in an electric vehicle, on a single charge – today it is very different and with an ever-growing network of charging facilities, more and more Channel Islands businesses are making the transition from fossil-fuel to low carbon electric transport.

JT have begun their transition by purchasing ten Nissan electric vehicles, starting by replacing the oldest of JT’s fleet of Suzuki vans, supporting their goal of achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2030.

Tom Noel, Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, said: “JT has one of the largest commercial fleets in Jersey, with almost 100 cars used daily by our engineers. Our aim is to not only replace all petrol and diesel vehicles but to reduce the number of vehicles on our roads, supporting that with charging points in key locations. As a business that has placed sustainability at the heart of everything we do, we’ve made initiatives like this a key priority of our Sustainability Strategy over the next decade.”

The EV’s may be new to JT but all have been bought at auctions having previously been used by councils in Scotland in keeping with JT’s policy to reuse, reduce and recycle wherever possible.

JT’s people are key participants and drivers of JT’s sustainability programme with many of their ideas now being adopted companywide, including going 100% paperless for note taking by using Rocketbook Fusion notebooks, re-usable water bottles, a solar panelled building and an employee voucher scheme for e-bikes.

‘Moments of global crisis often lead to historical change and the recovery from the pandemic presents a huge opportunity for Governments, businesses and individuals to put action on climate at the heart of their efforts,” said Tom.

Daragh Mcdermott
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JT provides additional support during COVID pandemic

Following the announcement of the ‘circuit breaker’ over Christmas and New Year, JT is providing a series of measures to help its customers, many of whom will be working from home or self-isolating.

In addition to the 1GB broadband speeds, which have continued to be available island wide since March, customers can make free landline calls to local numbers while the restrictions announced on Wednesday remain in place. Customers who are not already on an unlimited home broadband contract will not be charged if they go over their monthly broadband usage limit during this time.

Daragh McDermott, Managing Director JT Channel Islands, said: “We wanted to act quickly to support those in greatest need at this time of year. We also wanted to support the Government’s plans to keep islanders safe which is why we’re making it free for our customers to stay in touch as we head towards Christmas. We’ve got one of the fastest networks in the world and we want to make sure that all of those who are now working from home will have the same access as they would if they were in the office. Whilst the vast majority of our customers are already on unlimited packages, for those who are not, no further charges will be applied in the event of them going over their allowances for usage while this period of uncertainty continues.”

During December, JT will be keeping a close eye on COVID-19 developments and will continue to work closely with the Government and the Regulator to support the community as the pandemic continues.

COVID19 Initiatives

Supporting our Islands through COVID-19 >

Reed Conservation Tom Noel
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JT support for National Trust conservation

A team of volunteers from JT have joined others reconnecting with their island’s natural beauty last week swapping their desks for a day of volunteering for the National Trust in Jersey.  The team helped maintain bird hides and reed beds in St Ouen.

Six members of JT’s new sustainability team supported the Trust with habitat restoration and enhancement of the bird hides and reeds at Les Mielles de Morville. It’s part of JT’s commitment to our local environment and community and our desire to help support the wellbeing of islanders.

Jon Parkes, Lands Manager for the National Trust for Jersey, said: “Like everyone, the Trust has had an unusual year with plenty of challenges, but we are lucky enough to work with lots of corporate partners and groups. This year has seen the countryside, including National Trust sites, busier than ever, as people rediscovered the island they knew and discovered parts they never knew existed. We are delighted that people are reconnecting with nature and really valuing what we have here in Jersey. Support for the Trust from local businesses like JT is really meaningful. Especially in difficult times like these, when we all need to work together for the benefit of our community and island.”

The National Trust is continuing with its busy programme of conservation and management work at its sites across the island.

Tom Noel, JT’s Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability said: “JT is actively pursuing our new strategy which puts our planet, our people and our community at the heart of everything we do. It’s not only about reducing carbon emissions, it’s also about how our people are embracing sustainability, coming up with their own ideas for green initiatives and supporting local organisations such as the National Trust. Seeing our volunteers so passionate on such a worthwhile project like this, demonstrates their genuine commitment to making a real difference. These projects are great for team building, exposing people to new experiences and really helping to keep our environment at the forefront of all our minds, helping to maintain and protect our island for future generations – plus, it’s something we really enjoyed.”