Locate Jersey led an Island delegation of legal and finance professionals to the Mining Indaba conference, which took place in Cape Town, South Africa last month.
The event is the world’s largest mining investment conference and Africa’s largest mining event, regularly attracting over 7,000 delegates from more than 100 countries and territories.
It was the fourth successive year that Locate Jersey had attended the event and the Island was also represented by Assistant Chief Minister Philip Ozouf, who addressed the conference.
In his speech Senator Ozouf spoke about the results of research titled Jersey’s Value to Africa, which was recently commissioned by Jersey Finance and published by Capital Economics, and discussed Jersey’s potential role in facilitating inward infrastructure investment in Africa.
This year, Locate Jersey secured a more significant presence at the conference, while the Jersey delegation was the largest ever to attend the event, with 16 representatives from 12 intermediary firms in the legal, trust and banking sectors.
They included Alex Picot, Carey Olsen, Crestbridge, Elian, First Names Group, Hatstone Lawyers, JTC Group, Moore Stephens, Mourant Ozannes, Ogier, UBP and Vistra.
In addition, Jersey mining companies Randgold and Centamin featured heavily in the conference programme.
In recent years, Jersey has seen an increase in the number of mining, natural resources and related businesses setting up a corporate operation in the Island, with more than 20 such companies now established.
Two businesses have relocated to Jersey following introductions to Locate Jersey at Mining Indaba in previous years.
In addition, a growing number of those companies are employing local staff, with 40 jobs for entitled Islanders having been created in the natural resources sector.
Senator Ozouf said: ‘Jersey has a useful role to play in assisting African mining companies. It is a highly competitive industry and Island businesses have the expertise to facilitate investment and provide wealth management services which can assist African businesses in keeping their assets secure.
‘This area offers Jersey businesses exciting prospects and there is clearly real potential for the Island as we look to grow the economy and create jobs for local people.’
Name: Howard de la Haye
Age: 59
Name of business: Cherry Godfrey Insurance Services (Jersey) Ltd
When it was established: 2004
Position there: Director
Number of employees: Ten
What was your first job?
Selling hi-fis and Hammond organs at Regent Radio in Halkett Street on Saturdays and in the school holidays. It was a great experience for dealing with the public.
My first full-time employment was at Kleinwort Benson in their securities department.
Your first break in business?
Setting up my own IFA business with my good friend Martyn Weeks in 2000.
What could the States do to help businesses?
Ease restrictions on employment of non-locals where skills shortages demand it.
Advice to anyone setting up in business?
Be realistic but hopeful. Remain flexible and consider alternative options, in case your original plan needs to be altered. Commit to hard work. Rise to the challenges and enjoy the moments.
Best thing about being in business in Jersey?
Working in a relatively small community gives you the opportunity to know your customers well and to tailor their needs accordingly.
And the most frustrating?
A lack of appreciation of how fortunate we are to live and work in such a pleasant island.
Family?
I’m the youngest sibling of six and proud to be a member of a very supportive family linked to Jersey for centuries. Wife Trudie (head teacher at a local primary school), sons James and Jonathan, daughter-in-law Rachael and Pip – our 15-year-old cat.
Hobbies/interests outside work?
Watching MasterChef and practising my own ‘signature dish’. Playing keyboard music (piano, Hammond and pipes). Samaritans. Holidaying in Canada.
Favourite way to unwind after a hard day at work?
Walking or cycling through the country lanes, lost in my own thoughts and soaking up the breath-taking scenery and sounds. Reading an engaging thriller in front of the log fire. Enjoying a meal and a good glass of wine and mischievous banter with friends and family.
