This Is Guernsey

Barry Cash of the Chamber of Commerce conducts the small-business workshop. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0604104)

SMALL businesses are making themselves heard. The Chamber of Commerce has run four brainstorming sessions with owners of such firms to find out what problems they face.

Chamber director Barry Cash said the organisation would be taking its findings to the States. ‘It’s up to us to find ways of solving the key issues that we’ve identified. We’ll be putting our case to all the relevant government departments in order to work together and find a solution.

‘We’ll also be holding a one-day seminar later this year at which we’ll have presentations by gurus from on and off the island to learn how they’ve overcome their problems.’

One of the major issues that came out of the sessions was how small business owners are unable to find time to move their firms forward when bogged down by administrative duties. ‘How can you look beyond the horizon when you’re digging the trench?’ said Mr Cash.

Keith Wilen, who runs Suave Media by himself, said it was tough to balance managing day-to-day tasks with the bigger picture. ‘Because it’s your own business, you become very attached to it whereas when you’re an employee, you have a degree of distance.’

Garrick Jones, who co-owns E. A. Carey (Europe) Ltd – an online mail order pipe and tobacco firm – said he was often too busy to spend time developing a business strategy.

‘I’m doing the accounting, HR, everything. It gets very time-consuming when you’re mixing all those things together.’

Mr Jones, who employs 14 people, said finding and keeping good quality workers was also a big problem.

‘Perhaps we expect more out of them than what we’re willing to pay when compared with the finance industry.’

Other key issues included the high cost of marketing and advertising a small business, land and classification, the cost of fuel and energy, increasing harmonisation with UK legislation and the negative perception of Guernsey as a tax haven.

‘It’s good to hear about the problems that other small business owners are facing, even when they’re in different industries,’ said Mr Wilen.

‘I’ve found Guernsey has not been as open to new businesses and ideas as other places where I’ve worked such as London, so it’s been a way of breaking down barriers.’

Mr Jones said he was optimistic that solutions for each of the key issues would be found.

‘When Chamber has put together all the bits and pieces, we’ll have a more focused direction on how to help small businesses. If we know what the issues are, we can tell the States and hopefully work something out.’

Mr Cash added: ‘It’s always the person with the biggest voice who gets heard. We thought small business owners might appreciate the opportunity to air their views so that we can start dealing with them.’

The sessions were well attended by a diverse range of businesses from industries including public relations, law and retail.

‘It’s been stimulating and I’ve appreciated the honesty and frankness of the people who have attended,’ said Mr Cash. ‘I’m looking forward to moving this on.’

Article posted on 11th July, 2008 - 2.29pm