Relocation business sets up in Guernsey for businesses and individuals

An enterprising business which is unique in Guernsey has been set up to support the needs of businesses seeking to relocate employees or private individuals looking to move to the island.

Quintessential Relocation Consultants is headed up by managing director Jo Stoddart and provides a bespoke service for corporate institutions and private individuals seeking to establish themselves in Guernsey.

‘I decided to set up this relocation business having seen an obvious gap in the local market,’ she said. Now some six months on, the consultancy has hit the ground running having relocated several individuals and families both commercially and privately.

Previously located with her family in Jersey for four years and prior to that in London and Paris, Stoddart has done her fair share of setting up home in a new country and said this helps her to understand what is needed.

'Having spent most of my adult life on the move I know it can be a very difficult time and sometimes traumatic, particularly if you also have a young family to consider,’ she said.

She also believes that her professional expertise adds to the business. She has gained a significant amount of knowledge working as an estate agent specialising in commercial property in Jersey and Guernsey as well as in-house in the Human Resources department of the OECD in Paris.

Fluent in French, Stoddart is an associate member of the Association of Relocation Professionals and as such is able to guarantee the standards of practice set by the association which is part of a vast global network.

Quintessential Relocation works with all the local estate agents to help clients find the right property at a fair price. Quintessential also provides help and advice on life in Guernsey, assistance finding the right educational and childcare solutions and guidance sorting out all the logistics of settling on the island.

‘I believe there is a need for someone to help companies and individuals project manage their relocation. Each client has different needs and Quintessential tailors the services provided specifically to each individual case,’ she explained.

‘Although there are obvious fiscal advantages attracting wealthy individuals to the island, a big part of my job is to sell Guernsey to families and individuals who are considering moving to the island for professional reasons,’ she added.

One of Quintessential’s initial clients was Kathryn Platt, senior risk officer for a major bank, who relocated from Moscow to Guernsey. ‘My experience of international relocation has taught me that the involvement of a reliable adviser is crucial to success and QRC have delivered in every area: straightforward explanations of local regulations and requirements, excellent coordination with my employer, strong working relationships with the island's estate agents and clear, regular communication on progress and next steps,’ said Platt.

Managing director of HSBC Securities Services in Guernsey, Amit Taylor, said the company provides a balance of information and informal but objective advice with its induction tour. ‘Then, once we had made our decision, the real value that we found was in the local contacts and knowledge of the housing market which provided a fantastic service and saved both us and the bank time, stress and money in finding a great property that matched our requirements,’ said Taylor.