blog.gov.jeThrough a series of targeted workstreams, the Financial Services Competitiveness Programme is helping to streamline Jersey’s business environment. Helen De La Cour, Director of Financial and Professional Services at the Government of Jersey, shares what’s happening behind the scenes, and why the impact could reach beyond the financial services sector.
Helen, you’re leading Workstream 2 of the Competitiveness Programme. What’s the main objective of this work?
At its heart, the objective is simple: to remove unnecessary barriers to doing business and to improve how companies interact with government, regulators, and other agencies. We’re focused on making it easier for Jersey’s financial and professional services (FRPS) sector to operate efficiently, but many of the changes we’re looking at will also benefit the broader business community.
How are you approaching it?
I’m a very action-oriented person, and the team will tell you my motto is to just get things
done, no excuses. So that’s exactly what we’re doing. We’ve started by gathering ideas and suggestions directly from industry stakeholders, things that are getting in the way of doing business. From there, we’re prioritising the most achievable and impactful ideas, focusing first on the “quick wins” while preparing for longer-term improvements.
How has industry responded so far?
The response has been overwhelmingly positive. There’s a real sense of momentum and
shared purpose. We’ve held several industry workshops already, and the level of engagement has been fantastic. People have been honest, constructive, and really enthusiastic about the chance to shape meaningful change.
How many suggestions have you received?
At the last count, 249 proposals! We’re in the process of finalising the list, refining and de-duplicating it, and then we’ll carry out a prioritisation exercise. But you’ll see that we are already turning some of those suggestions into action.
Are there any early themes or issues that stand out?
Absolutely. Schedule 2 of the Proceeds of Crime (Jersey) Law has come up repeatedly,
particularly around private trust companies and private lending. Government is working through an assessment of risk, and based on the outcome, we may be able to make changes through Ministerial Order fairly quickly.
Another area that’s been flagged is the reliance regime for customer due diligence; it’s widely seen as challenging to use. If it ends up high on our priority list, that’s something we’ll commit to exploring next year too.
While this work is focused on financial services, will other sectors benefit?
Definitely. Many of the ideas relate to how people interact with government, regulation,
and public services more broadly. Improvements in customer engagement, efficiency, and
responsiveness will support the whole economy, not just FRPS.
How does this work connect to wider government efforts?
Workstream 2 complements other government actions to remove barriers to business,
many of which were identified in 2023 and are still being addressed. This is part of a wider drive to make Jersey as agile, responsive, and competitive as possible.
What’s next? Will there be another update soon?
Yes. I’ll be giving a full update at the industry event on 23 July 2025. I’m excited to share what we’ve achieved in this short period with you then. We’ll also be looking at whether the changes have had the intended impact, and I’m keen to run more workshops later in the year or early in 2026 to reflect on outcomes. Another date for your diaries is 24 November 2025 for our annual FS event.
Final thoughts?
This has been a genuinely collaborative process, and that’s what makes it powerful. My door (metaphorically) is always open, and I’d encourage anyone with ideas or feedback to get in touch. You can reach me at growthfs@gov.je.
For more information the Competitiveness Programme, please see: Financial Services Competitiveness Programme.