05 December 2023
A significant step has been taken towards making business interactions with Government as simple and efficient as possible for new and existing businesses, entrepreneurs, and social enterprises.
The Barriers to Business report sets out the challenges and limitations faced when doing business in Jersey, and gives 38 recommendations to address them.
Commissioned by the Minister for Sustainable Economic Development, the Barriers to Business report identifies eight areas that are creating barriers to doing business in the Island:
- Availability of skills and people
- Interactions with Government
- Government administrative processes
- Logistics and customs
- Legislation and regulation
- Taxes
- Lack of vibrancy in St Helier town centre
- Issues which specifically affect small businesses and start ups
The Minister for Sustainable Economic Development, Deputy Kirsten Morel, said: "I know that members of the business community are often frustrated by what is seen as 'red tape', and I made a commitment in my 2023 Ministerial Delivery Plan to identify and begin to remove that 'red tape' and lower barriers across Government.
"I am tremendously grateful to Jersey Business and the many, many people who contributed their time and expertise freely to this project, and for their openness, honesty, and desire to see Jersey improve and prosper as a place to do business.
"The key to unlocking potential in the Island is to ensure that government interactions are simple and efficient for new and existing businesses, entrepreneurs, and social enterprises, by removing or reducing barriers to doing business across government and related entities. For the first time, we have clearly defined the constraints and challenges; the next step will be to address them to create an enabling culture and a more thriving ecosystem where all industries can prosper."
The report makes 20 short-term, nine medium-term and nine long-term recommendations. They are split into three pillars:
- a clear long-term road map focusing on the economy, enabling legislation and regulation tailored to provide a fair and competitive environment with clear accountability, integrity, priorities and understanding
- two-way collaboration within Government, and between Government and businesses and industries, where all understand their roles, responsibilities, commitment and purpose
- simplicity and simplification of processes, regulation, legislation, and communication
Deputy Morel said: "Some recommendations are already being addressed, but there is still work to do and I will be working with other ministers to remove or reduce barriers, enabling Jersey businesses to start, to grow and to flourish."
Throughout the research, businesses were asked to identify the positive experiences they have of doing business in Jersey. The main themes that were clearly expressed were:
- Jersey is an amazing, safe place in which to live and work
- It has relatively easy access to the world
- Jersey has a strong balance sheet and the fiscal outcome looks good
- Jersey has a great fibre communications infrastructure
- There is a strong community spirit and within the business community there are strong networks and people are willing to help each other
The report has been published on the Future Economy Programme section of the Government website: gov.je/FutureEconomy
gov.je