JT Pool Party AUG19

Loading on the summer fun at the Lido!

There’s no better way to spend a summer afternoon than with a free pool party and no better location than the iconic Lido at Havre des Pas for a fantastic fun-filled family day out.

JT is helping islanders making the most of the sunshine this August and will host a family pool party, stacked with music, ice cream and – what every pool party needs – giant inflatables on Saturday 10 August between 11am and 3pm.

No party would be complete without music and local DJ Stefan Rousseau will get everyone in the mood with a mix of soul, funk and everyone’s favourite summer throwbacks, making sure the party is one of this year’s biggest summer memories.

“I am really looking forward to playing a tropical and summery soundtrack while everyone has fun in this amazing location,” says DJ Stefunk.

The venue holds 300 people who will also have exclusive access to the balcony at Havre de Pas, giving the whole event a VIP vibe.

The JT team will be there with the ever-popular JT Tiki Hut throughout the afternoon giving away plenty of bio-degradable and reusable freebies for party-goers, including sunglasses, buckets, spades and beach balls and welcoming the first 150 partygoers with a free ice cream.

Just to add to the feel-good factor, the event will support the JSPCA, JT’s chosen charity for 2019 and we will also be running an Instagram competition on the day to win the latest beach tech.  To enter, partygoers need to upload their pool party pictures using the hashtag #JTPoolParty and the best photos will be selected to win a Boompod waterproof speaker.

Tamara O’Brien, JT ‘s Head of Customer Experience, said: “As pool party venues go, it doesn’t get better than the iconic Lido at Havre des Pas. There’s room to chill out, play and party and make the most of Jersey beach life in a safe environment. A community summer party is a great opportunity to bring people together for a bit of fun and sunshine and we look forward to welcoming 300 people to join us, so come down early to find your picnic spot and grab an ice cream!”

JT Pool Party AUG19

Party time at the pools!

There’s no better way to enjoy summer than a free pool party stacked with music, ice cream and – what every pool party needs – giant inflatables.

JT are making the most of the sunshine this August and will host a day of family fun with a party vibe at La Valette Bathing Pools on Sunday 11 August between 11am and 3pm.

The JT team will be manning the ever-popular JT Tiki Hut throughout the day giving away plenty of bio-degradable and reusable freebies for everyone who comes down, including sunglasses, buckets, spades and beach balls. They’ll even be keeping party-goers cool with a free ice cream.

No party would be complete without music, local DJ Nick Beddow will get the party into full swing with a mix of today’s popular hits and everyone’s favourite summer throwbacks making sure the party is one of this year’s biggest summer memories.

Tamara O Brien, JT’s Deputy Director in Guernsey said: “Summer staycations in Guernsey are all about getting down to the beach and our pool party is a great chance to get together with family, friends and neighbours to enjoy the weather in a fantastic and much-loved location. We are really lucky to be able to use the iconic La Valette Bathing Pools, a safe environment to swim and play under the watchful eye of the venue’s lifeguard team and a lovely place for a relaxing picnic. The bathing pools have capacity for 70 people, so please join us early to make the most of a great day out – and before the ice creams melt!”

Security Officer Marcel Le Claire, Security Product Manager, David Salisbury, and Security Consultant, John Bridge

Cyber support boost for Jersey charities

Three of JT’s senior security team have become the latest recruits to the Jersey Charitable Skills Pool (JCSP) and are calling on their industry colleagues in cyber security to join the growing number of expert volunteers offering their knowledge and advice to local charities.

The JCSP was set up earlier this year in response to the increasing need for charities, like businesses, to protect their systems and information against cyber attacks and potential data breaches.

JT’s Group Security Officer, Marcel Le Claire, Security Product Manager, David Salisbury, and Security Consultant, John Bridge, will be donating 30 hours of professional advice to local charities on a range of issues including, cyber security policy, procedures, risk assessment and testing.

Marcel said: “Charities are just as vulnerable as larger companies but very often don’t have the resources, time or finances to make the right investment to safeguard their systems and the data they hold. It can be difficult to know where to turn and hopefully by pooling our skills in this way from people across the industry, it will mean that our local charities are able to get some free expert advice that they so desperately need. We’re truly delighted to be in a position to be able to offer something back to our island.”

JCSP chairman Dave Cartwright said that he was delighted with the addition of qualified and experienced volunteers from JT: “Jersey has more than its fair share of world-class expertise in cybersecurity and communications, and we’re really encouraged by the calibre of the people who have made a time commitment to the JCSP and our community.

“Incidentally, the time commitment doesn’t have to be onerous. Any time that someone with the right skill set and knowledge can provide will make a real difference to a charity or NFP that would otherwise be struggling to find the right advice on a limited budget. The more experts and companies that commit just a few hours per year, the more resources the charities and other not-for-profits that support our community will have to draw on.”

The JCSP was founded by the Channel Islands Information Security Forum with the primary purpose of providing cybersecurity consultancy to charities, but it is hoped that the group will broaden its remit to other business areas and across the Channel Islands as a whole if the cybersecurity pilot is a success. Charities and not-for-profits can apply for time from the pool at http://www.jerseycsp.org.uk/.

JT App Silver Award

Silver success for innovative local App

JT’s free My Account customer app, the only one of its kind in the Channel Islands, has been awarded the silver award in the Best App category at the recent UK Digital Experience Awards 2019 (UKDXA) – coming second to BT’s entry and ahead of Manchester United’s football App.

The JT team led by Dominic Vye, Head of Commercial Development, attended the awards held in London on Friday 12 July. “The team were already so pleased to have been shortlisted but being awarded silver in such a competitive category which included national household names is a really fantastic achievement for both the team and our customers, who have helped us to build it,” said Dominic.

Now in its 5th year, the UK Digital Experience Awards (UKDXA) celebrate the ways in which today’s digital technology is used to enhance customer experience. The awards provide a platform for organisations and individuals to celebrate the partnerships they have formed and be rewarded for their digital innovation and customer-centric culture.

The JT My Account App was built locally, in-house, by JT’s team of software developers working together with Hollis Consulting. The App‘s success is thanks to a collaboration with JT’s own customers who provided the feedback that initiated the idea and continued to help via research panels and surveys throughout the development process. The result of working together with JT’s own customers is an App which provides a way for them to manage their services and view their bills on mobile devices, giving them the freedom and flexibility to monitor and control their account, when and where they need to. JT’s App has now been downloaded over 40,000 times with over 32% of JT customers now actively using it daily.

JT customers continue to play a leading role in the evolution and improvement of the App design and functionality, ensuring new trends and needs are considered. The App now includes live chat which allows customers to interact directly with the JT team and contact them to resolve queries faster than ever before. The simple and easy-to-use App has resulted in customer bill queries reducing by over 50% and has also had a positive contribution to JT’s commitment to the environment by reducing the need for paper bills by 62%.

“The interaction we have with our customers remains hugely important to the success of the JT My Account App, without them this would not have been possible. Being recognised by DXA is a testament to the relationship our teams have developed with our customers, so a big thank you to them for their continued support,” said Dominic.

JT Official Tech Partner of the Super League Triathlon

JT puts the tech power behind RBC Super League Triathlon, Jersey for a third year

JT will power the 2019 RBC Super League Triathlon (SLT) in Jersey, returning as the Official Technology Partner for a third year.

Jersey will once again host the opening weekend of the Championship Series on the 28 – 29 September. Building on the huge success of previous years, JT will provide technical support, mobile communications and full-fibre internet access to the international broadcast team and race organisers.

The Island is due to welcome hundreds of competitors and spectators eager for a weekend of intense competition. The action will be live-streamed around the globe, showcasing both the sporting achievements and Jersey as an island, to a worldwide audience, expected to surpass last year’s figure of 375 million viewers across a 48-hour period thanks to the speed and capacity of Jersey’s full-fibre network.

Returning to Jersey for a third consecutive year, organisers are on track with their five-year plan to make the event a permanent fixture on the Island’s events calendar. Whether you race, spectate or just soak in the atmosphere, organisers are encouraging Islanders to get behind the action and be a part of a legacy in the making.

Daragh McDermott, Director of Corporate Affairs at JT, said: “We are delighted to support such a fantastic event, one that showcases Jersey and the community at its absolute best and are excited to see the Island come to life with Super League Triathlon once again. At the 2018 event, Jersey celebrated the completion of our 100 per cent full-fibre network as a world first and the return of the SLT reminds us all that, in more ways than one Jersey is also in a league of its own.”

Michael D’Hulst, Co-founder and CEO of SLT said: “From the huge success of the past two years, we are thrilled to return to Jersey in 2019 and we’d like to thank JT for their continued support at this multi-national event. With the help of JT’s real can-do attitude and impressive world leading connectivity we look forward to bringing this fantastic island to the attention of millions of people around the world once again.”

During the event, more than 50 world-leading triathletes will compete for the prestigious Super League Triathlon crown, and local individuals are invited to take part in the Age Group and Corporate Team Enduro races as well as the RBC Race for the Kids.

To find out more about Super League Triathlon, visit superleaguetriathlon.com

Appy achievement for JT

JT’s My Account app is in the running for one of this year’s top digital awards, having shortlisted in the Best App category in the UK Digital Experience Awards 2019 (UKDXA).

Judged by a panel of independent international business professionals, against a strict criteria endorsed by Cranfield School of Management, the awards recognise how leading-edge technology and solutions can improve customer’s experience.

The ‘JT My Account’ free app was built locally in-house, by JT’s team of software developers following customer insight gained from focus groups and from JT’s customer insight panel. From this JT identified an opportunity and demand for a unique app which would provide JT customers with a way of managing their services and viewing their bills on mobile devices giving them the freedom and flexibility to monitor, track and control their usage on the go, when and where they needed to.

The aim is to take complex billing information, including a large range of pricing packages in a simple and easy-to-use way – designed and built in a highly scalable and responsive way to ensure customers can use it securely.

The app, which is the only one of its kind in the Channel Islands, allows JT customers to personalise their accounts, set up a roaming ‘bolt on,’ and even create data usage alerts to give them access to real-time information.  The ability to tailor services, add value options and stay in control means JT’s customers are aware of usage and if needed can change services to suit their situation wherever they are. The free app has been downloaded over 40,000 times with over 55% of JT customers now using it daily. Since its launch in 2015 the design and functionality has grown significantly, thanks to customer feedback and new technology it now includes a ‘live chat’ facility which lets customers interact directly with the JT team to resolve queries faster than ever before and even log faults.

Dominic Vye, Head of Commercial Development, Customer Management and Digital Services at JT commented: “The team and I are so pleased to have our app shortlisted for this prestigious award, putting us side by side with many leading tech companies across the UK. Since the deployment of high-speed networks, mobile and internet usage has massively increased, and customers want a quick, easy and reliable way to manage their services. This shortlist is testament to great teamwork between our customers and our development team and encourages us to continue to invest in similar services as part of JT’s ‘digital first’ policy of tech innovation. With a single aim of helping our customers access JT’s products in the easiest way, when where and how they want to.”

Ends

Notes to editors

For more information please contact Anna Thorne at Direct Input on 01534 735253 or at anna@directinput.je

JT Living Wage Employer

JT accredited as living wage employer

Caritas Jersey has recognised JT’s commitment as a living wage employer with the presentation of a plaque at the company’s Forum headquarters.

JT is Jersey’s first large-scale commercial organisation to become a Living Wage Employer, ensuring that all its employees in the Channel Islands and around the globe are paid a fair wage for their work.

In Jersey JT employs over 400 people, and over 600 worldwide. The company’s pledge to provide access to a fair wage across its jurisdictions has been welcomed by Caritas Executive Director John Scally. “JT has set a great example as a large organisation which fully understands the value of its employees and is committed to working with the community to help eradicate poverty in Jersey. The living wage is a two-way street, supporting the community and supporting better business practice. Having valued and respected employees mean that businesses benefit from lower absenteeism, lower turnover and better service from their teams,” said Mr Scally.

The government’s minimum wage rate is separate to the living wage which is an hourly rate calculated by the Living Wage Foundation to cover the basic essentials of living, like housing, food and transport and the aim of the Caritas campaign is to raise people out of poverty by working with local employers.

JT Group HR Director, Nicola Reeves, said: “JT prides itself on being a responsible employer, we have supported Caritas since the Living Wage was formed and this recognition is our step to ensuring that people who live and work in Jersey have access to a wage which covers their basic needs, starting with our own people. We really hope that other Jersey employers across all industries recognise the worth of this campaign and more importantly the value and welfare of their employees which in turn will benefit our community as a whole.”

Today, over 2,500 employers throughout the UK and the Channel Islands display the Living Wage Employers Mark. In April 2019 Caritas announced a living wage rate for Jersey of £10.55.

Companies wanting to know more about becoming a living wage employer can find out more on the Caritas Jersey Living Wage Project website.

Ends

Notes to editors

For more information please contact Anna Thorne at Direct Input on 01534 735253 or at anna@directinput.je

E-safety top tips on the cards for Les Quennevais new starters

E-safety top tips on the cards for Les Quennevais new starters

Thanks to the continued partnership between Les Quennevais School and JT, students joining in September 2019 will not only have a new school uniform as they transition from primary to secondary schooling, they will also have a set of e-safety skills as they begin this new stage of their education.

The Transition Day programme aims to overcome those first day nerves for pupils as they prepare to leave their primary schools and make sure they are familiar and happy with their new surroundings and the new faces that will greet them.

John Assiter, Customer and Digital Services Manager at JT will be speaking to the students and their parents at the briefing on 4th July about the importance and understanding of e-safety, giving an insight into how to stay safe online.

Les Quennevais head-teacher Sarah Hague said that this partnership meant that as well as getting information that would help parents and students feel like part of the Les Quennevais family, they would be getting expert advice on an increasingly important topic.

“Technology and online access are central to enabling learning and open many exciting avenues for our young people, but they do need to know how to use this technology safely and in ways that support their well-being. JT’s presence at our Transition Days furthers our aim to provide our students with the right tools to start secondary school life,” said Mrs Hague.

Tamara O’Brien, Head of Customer Experience at JT said: “Our team hopes to help those attending learn how to strike the right balance between access and e-safety, helping parents understand the ways we can work together to keep our young people safe online and the tools available to help them to do so.

“We’re really excited about partnering with Les Quennevais for a second year, sharing our e-safety knowledge and helping our children make the most of the amazing learning benefits that today’s technology can bring. As a Mum myself I know first-hand how it can sometimes feel like parents are being left behind, but together we can make it less daunting and not just something our kids understand.

At JT we have a range of tools and educational literature to help ensure children are aware of the dangers which can exist. At the evening presentation we plan to share some practical ways to help, demonstrating the Haandle box (exclusive to JT) an affordable piece of technology which allows parents to monitor internet access and the free JT My Account App which includes parental controls.

Socially inclusive access to technology is really important to JT, so we will also be donating JT Smart 2 phones for students whose parents give consent, safety is all about a balance of education, awareness and providing the right tools and we’re pleased to have been invited again to participate in these events.”

The Big JT Together Street Party

Together Street Party celebrates the joining of new life and old connection

To celebrate the reconnection of the Old Quarter to the heart of St Peter Port, JT have joined forces with Bailiwick Estates and Market Buildings to host the Together Street Party on Saturday 6 July.

This free, family-orientated community summer party will also include the many superb restaurants, cafes and retailers located inside The Market Buildings, in Mill Street and the surrounding pedestrian area.

From 2pm a huge range of Guernsey’s finest entertainers and musicians will bring new life to Market Place and The Old Quarter, and in keeping with the old meets new theme there will be stilt walkers, Punch and Judy, roaming magicians, carousel rides, face painters and much more. JT’s popular Tiki Hut will bring a festival feel to the area and there will be a unique ‘Creation Station’ which will have all the necessary bits and bobs required to make party hats, crowns, masks and other fancy-dress items. Familiar local bands and performers will keep the party atmosphere alive until 9pm.

Free tours organised by professional tour guide, Keith Pengelley of Guernsey Walking Tours will take groups through the Market Area and into the Old Quarter to rediscover and explore the vibrant history that created this iconic area of St Peter Port and bring to life it’s vibrant past. There will also be an opportunity to view the ‘Discovering Guernsey’ short film, made by Susan Lloyd and Spike Productions at the newly opened George Crossan Gallery in the Inner Street.

JT’s Deputy Managing Director in Guernsey, Tamara O’Brien, said: “With Summer finally here we all enjoy a summer party, and we felt this party is the perfect way to celebrate the rejuvenation of our Market which has been the hub of our town for centuries. By coming together, celebrating the new and old we’ll get together show our thanks as a community to the men and women that brought the old quarter into what has become today’s vibrant retail hub.

‘We’ll also have our JT team on hand sharing exclusive offers and providing biodegradable and re-usable giveaways for the families and islanders who join us. We hope to see as many people there as possible for this free community event. Given the beautiful location, we strongly encourage everyone attending to collect and take home their rubbish and leave Market Square litter free, not least in support of the sustainable market in the inner market buildings which is helping us all be more mindful of our impact on our island.”

Sonia Taylor Director of Market Buildings said; ‘‘We are thrilled with the result and look of the new pedestrian street that links the Old Quarter with the Heart of Town. All too often visitors would not proceed into Market Street and onto the adjoining retail and restaurants. Since the completion of phase one, there has been a significant increase in footfall towards the Old Quarter and we believe that the additional directional signage will see this trend continue.

“We are delighted to have teamed up with our generous sponsors JT to plan a magnificent family street party that will celebrate this positive step in linking the old with the present cultural and retail hub of St Peter Port. The free JT Street party is from 2pm till 9pm on the 6 July with activities for everyone to enjoy. We hope that families and adults alike come to help us celebrate and join in the fun of what promises to be a great day for all.”

JT Street Party on our events page >>
The JT Together Street Party Facebook page >>

JT Annual Review

2018: a milestone year for ‘Fibre Island’

JT has today published its Annual Review for 2018, describing a year when the Group laid solid foundations for future growth; both in terms of the completion of the full-fibre network in Jersey, and investment in its growing International business.

Overall, JT’s gross profit increased from £92.0m (2017) to £94.5m (2018) on a turnover of £250.5m 4% below 2017 due to a reduction in low-margin voice revenue. As a result of increased investment in our International business and software development capabilities, JT’s operating profit was £7.4 million in 2018, a fall of £3.7 million on the figure recorded for 2017. The decrease is in line with shareholders’ expectations and the company’s intentional strategic plan to invest heavily in future capability.

It also reflects the Group’s considerable investment in customer experience, including a ‘customer dividend’ in the form of substantially lower mobile roaming charges, and unlimited broadband offers.

The Group returned a slightly increased dividend to its owners, the States of Jersey at £4.8m (2017: £4.7m), which formed a total of more than £17m paid to the Government in terms of employee related taxes, corporate tax, GST and dividends.

69% of JT’s revenue now comes from outside of the Channel Islands. This supports JT’s continued investment back into the world-class local infrastructure for our islands, such as the advanced super-fast 4G networks and island-wide full-fibre network in Jersey.

JT Group Chairman, Phil Male, commented: “Following the completion of the full-fibre network, 2018 was a time to look to the future of our business, which we did by investing strategically in our International operations. Grown from a standing start, JT SIMs now power more than 4,000,000 devices around the world, from connected heart monitors in Canada, to traffic management systems in Central America, right through to ‘smart cows’ here in Jersey. We now have a global reach and a growing International
reputation which has seen us secure projects and partner with global brands such as Kraft, BBC, CNN, Nokia, SAP and Amazon.

“JT is an innovative, global communications player, which is making sure the Channel Islands are amongst the most connected places on earth, while also securing our long- term future as a valuable, locally-owned asset, through growing our International business.”

JT CEO, Graeme Millar, added: “When I first joined JT nearly a decade ago, the most common and often strongly worded feedback I got was that broadband speeds were really slow, performance was poor, and coverage could be very patchy. The maximum download speed was just 2Mb/s, making it probably some of the worst in Europe/UK.

“We listened closely to that feedback from our customers, and by 2018 we had completed the island’s full-fibre broadband network more quickly than it has been done anywhere else in the world, and at no cost to the vast majority of its users.
That achievement by JT’s dedicated team has now pushed Jersey to first place in the world in term of the percentage of users directly connected to fibre broadband.

“When we began the project, some people doubted that we would need it – now it’s fair to say we all might question how we would live our connected lives without it.

“With 5G now firmly on the horizon we’re again looking forward and JT will get a trial network in place by the Summer. For broadband, we are preparing to offer customers speeds of up to 10 Gb/s on Jersey’s full-fibre network; and internationally, we’ll be working with global tech innovators such as ARM to get JT SIMs into millions more devices around the world.

“We will continue to couple our investment in technology with our commitment to providing award-winning standards of customer service across all our disciplines so that we are providing the same high quality of service to both our global partners and our valued local customers.”

ENDS

For further information or to set up interviews please contact Anna Thorne at Direct Input on 01534 735253 or email anna@directinput.je

To view the full Annual Review, please click here.