This Is Guernsey

By Joel de Woolfson

OFFSHORE International has made two employees redundant.

However, managing director Peter Grange (pictured) said the company was actively recruiting in different areas.

The redundancies, from the advertising agency’s production team, had been driven by changes to its clients’ needs, he said.

‘We have recently had to make two staff redundant in the production part of the business where volumes change markedly,’ said Mr Grange.

‘Redundancies are always a matter of concern and regret because they affect the lives of real people. However, every business has to review its position in the market place and its staffing requirements.’

One of the employees, who asked not to be named, said he was disappointed to be let go.

‘It’s the whole credit crunch thing,’ he said.

‘People are not spending too much on their marketing at the moment.

‘The decision didn’t shock me as much as I thought it would.’

Mr Grange said the Offshore International Group had successfully gained major contracts in recent years, which it retains, and had recently hired an experienced senior creative.

It is also looking to employ two new client-facing account managers.

Mr Grange added that the Oi Digital team within the group had grown to employ four staff in the past year with forecasted continued expansion as clients increasingly embrace digital media.

‘The Oi Group continues to grow and is better positioned for the challenging environment that all businesses will face in 2009 and beyond,’ he said.

‘We have chosen to shift the balance of staff away from those purely involved in production towards more of an emphasis on creative and client services.

‘Every business has to deal with change. From our perspective, creativity and exceptional services are what our clients require and which we aim to deliver.’

Offshore is not the only local design agency that has had to adapt in the current economic climate.

The Partnership confirmed it had let one member of staff go.

‘We have unfortunately lost a member of staff from the publishing arm of the business due to reduced client spend in that area as a result of the economic situation,’ said director Tony Tostevin.

‘However, we have also recently hired seven new people across the group, which reflects our ability to adapt and grow in a changing environment.’

n Recent figures showed that unemployment in the island has risen by more than 50% in the last year.

There were 343 people registered as unemployed at the end of December, not including those who lost their jobs at Woolworths.

Article posted on 13th January, 2009 - 2.29pm