Nelia Lythgoe, right, owner of Nelia’s Bakery, had applied to Housing for a manager’s licence for Valentina Teixeira, left, but it has been turned down. Mrs Lythgoe said her business could not survive without Mrs Teixeira. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0774358)
THE owner of a popular bakery has made an impassioned plea to the Housing Department after it turned down a licence for a worker she says is key to the business.
Nelia Lythgoe, who runs Nelia’s Bakery in Victoria Avenue, said that the business would not survive if her expert Portuguese cake maker, Valentina Teixeira, had to leave the island.
Mrs Lythgoe, who built up the bakery by working 12-hour days and which has gained a large local customer base who have begun writing to support it, said she cannot run the bakery without Mrs Teixeira and needs Housing’s support.
‘She is one in a million and she is being turned away. She is key to my business because she makes special Portuguese cakes and bread and understands the Portuguese ingredients, she speaks English, is great with customers and I trust her to manage,’ she said.
‘I really want housing to help me – from the bottom of my heart. I am asking because I have a great, small business with hundreds of local customers.’
Mrs Lythgoe, who has lived in Guernsey for more than 20 years and whose daughter is at The Ladies’ College, said the department’s response that said she should instead hire two part-time workers missed the point.
‘The local workers would not understand the Portuguese produce so well or make the cakes, which is not easy to teach, and they would probably not be able to speak both languages, as she does. It would also cost me more and I need someone who can manage so I can take time to look at expanding the business.’
At present she works 70-hour weeks, she said.
If it could expand she may well take on local part-time workers, she said, but the essential Portuguese team of her, Mrs Teixeira and the baker, needed to stay.
‘Our turnover is about £250,000, and I could be doing £350,000 if I could get this licence.’
‘I know the Housing Department is just doing its job and that not everybody can have a licence, but we will just be the next small business to close because of a lack of help. She is essential and we play a big role in the community – please help those who need it.’
Continued on Page 8
Article posted on 25th May, 2009 - 2.30pm
20 Article Comments
Isn’t it marvellous:
The people who responded to the lady whose bakery is a success; ask for a little understanding.
‘So people who really have no idea of what they Should be doing suggest such outlandish suggestions, it makes one wonder–no not really -I was going to say should know what they’re doing, but that’s wrong they’re about as clueless as the rubbish at Mont Chouet.
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what an absolutely ridiculous decision – once again Housing have got it wrong – what a surprise. To have someone making authentic cuisine from another European country is great, so why on earth deny this poor lady her right to work ? Of course her skill and experience are fundamental to the business – its selling portuguese cakes for goodness sake. Living off the island I havent yet had the chance to taste them but I hope very much they will be there next time I come.
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(Q)Why is Mont Chouet better than the states?
(A)Because Mont Chouet is HOT!
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If she worked in the finance trade and earnt £75K+ then they would grant a “essential” local license when it is clear that open market is an affordable option. But no, valuable workers on lower wages who can’t afford open market are forced off the island. To the detriment of local businesses and residents
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Whilst i am not opposed to the lady getting a housing licence at all it does make me wonder how Miss Lythgoes business would survive if ever Miss Teixeira was off long term through illness or accident.
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I wouldn’t fancy being Dave Jones if Housing class a baker of foreign cakes as an essential licence….there are far more specialist and essential skills that have seen workers being denied extensions…like medical staff, teachers and also senior managers and business professionals that have helped Guernsey make money and generated near full employment.
I’m sure there are many states departments and private employers that make take a dim view of “cakes for guest workers” being deemed more worthy that their claims for doctors, teachers, business leaders etc.
If long term licences are up for grabs how about making sure they go to healthy, childless, high earners that can contribute more to the island in income tax and Social security payments without using any of the islands resources and services?
Now that seems like an essential that Guernsey could benefit from right now!
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I think she will have to marry a local man?
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Come on! It is clear that a woman baking cakes with 4 dependants is not essential to the well being of this island. I am suprised that the Guernsey Press has chosen this particular case with a full colour Front page. There will be many more deserving cases than this, we all know that Housing has a difficult job maintaining the islands population, campaigning to keep these 5 dilutes the message for those who Guernsey really needs to keep for the well being of the island.
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Building your business around a temporary licence isn’t very clever.
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For all my slagging of Deputy Jones I can’t see how they can possibly grant this woman a licence.
I agree with Housing’s decision.
She will have to bake elsewhere.
Portugese bakers must be ten-a-penny.
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Portugues bakers may be ten a penny, although i’m not so sure, but people who write dumb comments certainly are ten a penny! Just because other areas of employment get refused essential licence’s does not justify this lady being refused! The whole licensing system needs sorting out.If someone manages to get away with a speeding ticket in court does that mean everyone can speed. I don’t think so. You cannot use one wrong descision to justify another. This is a case of a hard working lady who has obviously brought some joy to the community, that in my mind is essential. Is Guernsey losing all its values?
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I had almost 30 years industry specific experience when I was informed that the States would only extend my licence by 2 years in order that I could find and train a local replacement….maybe Mrs Lythgoe should learn to bake?
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“2 years in order that I could find and train a local replacement”
I applaud that sound policy. Training up local staff is the right response.
If Warrys can make Frech bread I’m sure Mrs Lythgoe could knock out a Madeiran cake.
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What about the Good old Tommy loaf; get the army in? or currant loaves; currants are mainly from Greece.
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Geoff
What a load of old tosh.
Baking can be learned as Jackie alludes to, as can other skills.
I know of Police Officers, professionals with Doctorates and other such people who have had to leave as they were not given a licence.
What is more important, law and order, governance and accountability, or a Battenberg Cake?
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I find the people who argue for a more liberal housing licence system are usually also the first to complain about the amout of traffic on our roads, excessive building development and the loss ot “Guernsey values”.
You can’t have it both ways. We either have strict housing rules (which means making unpopular decisions like refusing Mt Teixeira a licence), or we allow Guernsey to gradually grow into a mini Hong Kong.
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Taking an objective viewpoint on this as much as possible, if Guernsey is going to maintain a steady population and control immigration then this kind of thing is going to happen. They cannot make exceptions to the rule and as Jackie pointed out, to build your business reliant on a temporary licence holder is somewhat unwise. In taking this action Housing are simply fulfilling their mandate and sentimentality has nothing to do with it.
That said, personally I welcome a certain amount of immigration as it’s great to have people from many different nations living here. I wouldn’t have a problem if this lady remained as I like the diversity. They have much to offer, for one thing we learn that there is life outside this rock – something many of us locals are quick to forget; they also make great friends, for example I am looking forward to my (soon to be born) child being babysitted by our African friends – for one thing the quicker they realise that not everyone is white and local the better.
Finally, I read a lot of stuff about “local jobs for local people” and “preserve the local way of life” on these websites. It’s very simple people – if that’s what you want then be consistent. Don’t blame the States when your thoughts are translated into States policy and they conflict with your sensitivities. Take responsibility – you asked for it, you got it! Just be prepared to pay the price: for example you won’t be able to have your nice little luxuries like bona fide Portuguese cake.
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Don’t you know that Warry’s can only employ the
French (French Bread, Pain au chocolate) Danish(Danish pastries) Scots (Scotch Pancakes)?
C’mon it’s baking for crying out loud. Don’t get me wrong my cakes are awful and I wouldn’t subject anyone to them, but quite frankly if you can bake and can follow a receipe then I doubt portuguese cakes are any more difficult than any other combinations of egg, flower and water. I am also quite certain of the fact that there are now a lot of island residents with local status or open market status with Portuguese heritage – if that is indeed the route she wants to go down.
BTW – 12hr days when starting up your own business? what has that got to do with anything? that’s normal working hours for many people out there who don’t have their own business to contend with.
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Darren writes: “What is more important, law and order, governance and accountability, or a Battenberg Cake?”
Why do I keep hearing Homer Simpson’s voice in my head saying “mmmm Battenburg Cake”.
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CD – LOL :)
mmmm – cake (slurp).
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