January still busiest for Guernsey Registry

Thursday 17th January 2013, 11:00AM GMT.

Alan Bougourd left a senior position in the finance industry two years ago to become registrar of companies. Much of its work is now online, but it intends to preserve some paper company registrations. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 1295393)

THE Guernsey Registry, high above Fountain Street in the Markets building, is busy on a daily basis.

But January, a time for annual filings and validations, is when the office really comes to life. And this year especially so, with the recent high-profile adoption of image rights and foundations laws, both of which require registration through the Guernsey Registry.

The island’s company records moved from their historical home at the Greffe to the registry when it opened in 2008. And with that move came a cultural shift.

Just like its UK counterpart Companies House, the registry has moved away from paper records and embraced technology. It has also embraced the customer, recognising that customer service is key alongside the statutory obligations of administering the island’s Companies Law.