Skipton-Summer2025-ISSUU

THANK YOU

We have received some excellent Feefo feedback again this quarter from our customers:

Skipton International are always on the ball with notices for expiring bonds sent with time to adjust investments and always suggesting the possibility of continuing the investment at suggested rates without the need to make contact I have always found telephone conversations very helpful and its good that security questions are checked regularly.

Excellent, clear instructions good security process. Simple no nonsense products, with easy to understand benefits, and conditions.

It does what it says on the tin. No mess, no fuss. Very responsive when needed, which is not often.

Being resident on Guernsey I am able to call in and have a face to face conversation and get help as and when required. Always happy and helpful staff.

Mohammed communicated well and regularly updated me on the steps required for certification.

Very professional, efficient, and courteous in answering my questions. I would certainly recommend them.

From the Editor

Welcome to the Summer 2025 Skipton Times Newsletter

Welcome to the summer edition of The Skipton Times, a round up of all things ‘Skipton International’ for the past quarter.

And what a quarter it has been!

The weather changed from dull and grey to hot and sunny; we saw huge Channel Island celebrations take place as the Bailiwicks marked the 80th year of Liberation, and the world watched in trepidation at the antics of Putin and Trump in the USA.

Q1 saw the introduction of so many new initiatives at Skipton International, including the Star Awards, @Thrive learning tool and Viva Engage on SKIPI, with many more enhancements

on the way. We are learning to adapt at a fast and furious pace, and it is testament to everyone at Skipton International, who has risen to the challenges with tenacity and positivity.

This will be my last edition of The Skipton Times, as I head into a new chapter of my life with retirement. I’ll be around until the end of July, so please do say goodbye if you are passing.

I wish you a wonderful summer.

Happy reading!

Julie Todd Editor

People Services Team

PROGRESS SINCE THE ONE TEAM SURVEY

At the end of 2024, colleagues across the business took part in the One Team survey, led by our People Services team. Your feedback was invaluable and since then, we’ve made significant progress on the key themes you raised.

Much of this work has been taking place behind the scenes, but we’re now excited to share the strides we’ve made.

You asked for: A better work-life balance

We introduced:

• Enhanced flexible working arrangements: You can now work from home up to three days a week (previously just one), subject to business needs, giving you more flexibility and control.

• This change supports a healthier work-life balance and reflects our trust in colleagues to manage their time effectively.

What You Told Us — And What We’ve Done 1 2

You asked for: A stronger focus on wellbeing (67%)

We introduced:

• More Mental Health First Aiders and First Aiders across the business.

• Walking Wednesdays — a weekly initiative encouraging movement and mindful breaks.

• An updated Wellbeing section on SKIPI, offering helpful resources and guidance.

• Regularly shared wellbeing calendars via SKIPI and the Thrive L&D platform, providing daily tips, activities, and educational content.

• A reminder to take your 2024 Mental Health Day, with the 2025 day to be released in July for all permanent colleagues.

• An open invitation to join the Mental Health First Aiders team — with 10 colleagues already expressing interest.

You asked for: More empowerment (67%)

We introduced:

• A refreshed SMART objective-setting approach, giving you greater ownership of your development.

• Increased visibility of business drivers through Town Hall events and regular updates.

You asked for: Better two-way communication and information sharing (65%)

We introduced:

• Viva Engage on SKIPI — a platform to share feedback, ask questions, and connect.

• On the Radar — a weekly, companywide update featuring key news and events.

• Continued quarterly Town Halls and regular publication of The Skipton Times to ensure connection and transparency.

You asked for: Better training opportunities

We introduced:

• A new Learning & Development lead to drive our training strategy.

• @Thrive — a free, comprehensive online platform to support your learning at your own pace.

• A new Managers’ Training Programme to equip leaders to support their teams.

• Many more training programmes are in development — we’ll keep you posted!

You asked for: More recognition for your achievements (68%)

We introduced:

• The launch of the STAR Awards, giving you the opportunity to recognise colleagues who go above and beyond.

• Continued Surprise & Delight initiatives, including Employee Appreciation Day and Easter treats, reinforcing our culture of appreciation.

• Ongoing recognition through PeopleHR , where achievements are shared and celebrated.

Let’s keep the momentum going. #OneTeam 3 4 5 6 AND WE’RE JUST GETTING STARTED

As the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day but in just six months, we’ve laid strong foundations for a more connected, empowered, and supported workplace.

With your continued feedback, we’ll keep building a culture where:

• Every voice matters

• Achievements are celebrated

• Everyone has the tools and support to thrive

The next six months hold even more potential and together, we’ll shape a future we can all be proud of.

Credit Team

With summer here, a lot of the Credit Team’s news isn’t from the office!

In work-related updates, Sean Gauvain has been to SBS with colleagues Pete Turner and Shane Konken to meet their counterparts and look at ways to better leverage the power of the group and best practices.

We are looking forward to welcoming back Claudia D’Arcy and Samantha Falla from the Remediation Project.

On the social side, the team enjoyed a meal at Village East to say good luck to David Luker as he left to start his new role within the business.

Pete Torode attended a braille workshop hosted by the Blind Association.

Sean Gauvain took part in a beach clean –sensibly taking the family and dog with him to assist!

OUT OF

OFFICE

Tom Fellows has been off on an exciting adventure in Japan with friends – putting the Japanese phrases he learned to the test. He’s pictured here at the Kyoto National Museum.

Pete Torode has been on holiday to Austria.

SPORTS SUCCESS

Finally, congratulations to Rob Overcuks, who won ‘Rover Railway Player of the Year’ in the local football league!

Mortgage Sales Team

Q2 has been a very busy period for the sales team, and now the pipeline is rocking over 80m, which is a great uplift from the beginning of the year. The local markets, especially in Jersey, have been very buoyant.

On 1 May we partnered with Andium to participate in an open day, where we had more than 35 people visit us specifically for quotes. These are now being seen through to application. Thanks to everyone who assisted, including Amanda our receptionist who ensured the visitors were all well fed and watered!

It’s great to see the local housing market showing some good signs of recovery from a relatively flat period, and this has been fuelled by a further decrease in the Bank of England base rate and slight reductions in housing prices. Green shoots are definitely on the way.

A big shout out to Ryan Moroney, who has worked like a Trojan whilst we have been short staffed, and also to Emily Knight from the Credit Team who took up the mantle with client meetings in Guernsey during this time, it is really appreciated.

Lorraine has been out of the business for a few weeks having a new knee. She’s back and can report it is working well.

For the last nine years we have been a strong partner of Andium Homes, supporting local clients purchase Jersey properties in either re-sales of the housing stock, or their new build developments. These properties are sold with up to 25% deferred price, meaning they are more affordable for singles couples and families to get onto the housing ladder.

We are now entering holiday season and looking forward to hearing everyone’s plans for the summer, in the sunniest place in the British Isles!

Finance Team

We’ve had a busy few months in the Finance Team, with some great new additions and a very special celebration!

WELCOME, ROB SEARLE

Rob Searle joined Skipton in May as our Interim Financial Reporting Lead, based in Jersey. He brings a wealth of experience from the Government, Finance, and Commercial sectors, having worked across a wide range of finance functions.

Outside the office, Rob is most often found outdoors, playing sport (and cheekily avoiding his wife), spending time with his young son, or tending to his garden. He’s also a big fan of barbecuing and admits to spending far too much time browsing for new grills at garden centres.

WELCOME, ANDREW DAY

Andrew Day recently joined Skipton as the Finance Operations Manager, bringing nearly 20 years of experience across Accounting, Financial Reporting, and Treasury Services.

Outside the office, life is full and fast-paced — Andrew is a proud parent to three energetic children aged 5, 7, and 8. When he’s not crunching numbers or chasing little feet, he serves as a Royal Engineer Reserve Officer in the British Army. He is also passionate about giving back to the community and currently acts as Treasurer for both the Jersey Deaf Society and Triumph Over Phobia.

A self-confessed data nerd, Andrew enjoys diving into automation tools, exploring the

latest spreadsheet functions, and visualising insights with Power BI. He’s particularly keen to hear how these tools are being used across the business.

NEW STARTERS IN JULY & JUNE 25

We’re pleased to announce that John Plume and Samson Mbilinyi will be joining the Finance Operations team as Management Accountants at the end of June and the beginning of July, respectively. Their expertise will be a welcome boost to the team as we continue to grow and evolve our operations.

CONGRATULATIONS, JENNA!

Huge congratulations to Jenna formerly Kok Shun now Parslow, Senior Finance Manager, who got married in May at St Joseph & St Mary Church. It was a beautiful day, with celebrations continuing at Les Cotils.

Commercial Team

May saw the Bank of England Base Rate reduce by 25 bps to 4.25%. The Commercial Team led the implementation of a rate change to approximately 50 variable products with nearly 9,000 accounts.

The Commercial Team was also kept busy supporting the roll out of the revised Buy to Let and Residential Mortgage policies.

The new structure for the team comes into effect in July, with the Marketing and Communications function being led by Fran Vadher – who is joining Skipton on 1 July. Aaron Walden will continue to lead the Commercial Team. Aaron said: “I’d like to thank Dani Barnett, Julie Todd and Alicia Bridel for their hard work and contributions over the years. Dani will remain at Skipton and is moving to the new change function, Julie will be retiring/returning to the UK and Alicia is moving to London to take up a role at Fitch Rating Agency.”

In July Skipton International will be hosting the Group Marketing Forum, with colleagues joining from Skipton Building Society, Connells and Skipton Business Finance.

On the Communications side, Julie Todd and Ben Corbet have been extremely busy ensuring Skipton’s key initiatives receive the media attention they deserve – resulting in lots of sponsorship and business coverage.

IT’S NOT ALL WORK …

Dani Barnett organised another successful Race for Life, raising over £25,000, with all funds raised donated to Cancer Research UK - Guernsey Branch. Amazing effort!

Aaron Walden captained Guernsey Basketball to their ninth consecutive inter-insular win against Jersey. Congratulations to him and the team!

Jonathan Dell

In Conversation with Balancing Leadership, Values and Vision

As Skipton International transitions into a new leadership chapter, we sat down with Jonathan Dell, our Chief Financial Officer and current interim CEO, to reflect on his journey with the Skipton Group, his priorities for the months ahead, and his thoughts on what makes this organisation special.

You’ve stepped into the CEO role on an interim basis until Susan joins in September. Has anything surprised you so far?

I wouldn’t say I’ve been surprised, but there’s a greater weight of responsibility! I’ve gained a broader perspective and a new appreciation for how much is happening across the bank. I continue to be impressed with the can-do attitude across the bank –the office move is a recent example of colleagues working together across

departments and with suppliers.

What are your top priorities over the next three months?

There are two main priorities.

First, we need to help the bank transition from the remediation programme activities to business as usual. Our new change management function will play an important role, and it will be a gradual transition rather than a flick of a switch.

Second, we are setting the foundation for the future by developing our corporate plan, not just for the next 12 months but for the next five years. That starts with understanding our purpose, setting clear strategic objectives for how we’ll return to controlled growth, manage risk, and use technology to automate and streamline processes.

How are you planning to keep colleagues across Skipton informed and engaged during your tenure?

I’m a fan of ‘On the Radar’, and we’ll continue to use it along with our town halls. Beyond that, I want to be approachable and listen. I am happy to join team meetings or have one-to-one chats. I’d also encourage colleagues to talk to the ExCo team –ask questions and give us feedback.

You’ve been part of the Skipton Group for almost 24 years, starting as a trainee accountant in 2001. What is it that’s kept you here?

I started at Skipton Building Society Head Office in 2001 and then moved to Guernsey in 2003 to set up the finance function. After three months, I intended to return to Skipton BS. I’m still here 22 years later!

I enjoy working at Skipton because it has a family feel, and colleagues care about each other. We also have a significant focus on the customer and community.

Over the years, I’ve completed my studies, taken on new projects and challenges, and progressed in my role.

If you’re ambitious, Skipton is a place where you can build a career. Be curious, take opportunities, and try different things. We’ll support you if you want to develop or gain qualifications.

Ahead of Susan joining in September, how are the two of you coordinating the handover?

It’s pretty funny – we discovered we’re garden neighbours. We haven’t put a gate in yet, but we’ll see what happens!

Seriously, though, Susan has a strong people focus and is passionate about our colleagues, customer service, and the community. We’re currently collating documents to provide an overview of the bank, and I will provide a complete handover in September.

Susan plans to spend the first few months understanding our business and performing a review of the business, which will tie in with our corporate plan and set longer-term plans.

What do you hope Skipton colleagues will remember about your interim leadership?

My tenure is relatively short, but I hope we can achieve stability and share our vision over the next few months. I want Susan to inherit a solid foundation,

clear business plans, and real momentum to return to business as usual and what we all enjoy – growing the business in a controlled way and serving our customers.

Finally, tell us a bit about you. How do you like to spend your time outside of Skipton?

I enjoy volunteering as Chair of Citizens Advice Guernsey. We have a great team of volunteers, paid staff and Board. It’s inspiring to see what can be achieved with limited financial resources.

Outside of that, I enjoy travelling. I have family in the UK, so I tend to split my holiday time between visiting them and going further afield.

As it’s full-on most of the time, I try to switch off entirely and enjoy walking the lanes, eating out, listening to music and falling asleep 20 minutes into a box set!

Compliance Team

ARE YOU READY FOR RISK?

Rolling out the Group Risk Management Framework at SIL

As shared in our recent Town Hall and internal updates, Skipton International is now implementing the new Group Risk Management Framework and over the coming months, we’ll be switching on different elements to embed it across the business.

You might not have “risk” in your job title, but the truth is you are already a risk manager in your day-to-day role. Whether you’re customerfacing, managing projects, supporting systems, or analysing data, risk is everywhere — and how we handle it directly impacts our success.

Why Risk Management Matters

Skipton can’t operate without taking risks, some are positive opportunities, others require careful control. Our new Risk Framework helps us:

• Maximise opportunities for customers, the business, and ourselves

• Minimise threats by identifying and addressing issues early

• Build resilience, ensuring problems don’t escalate if they arise

A strong, shared approach to risk helps us act quickly, make informed decisions, and support each other in doing the right thing.

What’s Actually Changing?

Great question! The new framework gives SIL:

• Clearer guidance on how to identify, assess, and escalate risks

• Consistent processes across teams — no more guesswork

• Better tools and training to support confident decision-making

• A shared language so we’re all on the same page

• A growing positive risk culture that recognises great risk management

And importantly it is designed to integrate with your day to day work, not add unnecessary red tape.

So Why Should I Care?

Because risk management isn’t just about major incidents. It’s about:

• Missed handovers

• Unclear ownership

• Shortcuts that backfire

Tackling the small stuff early prevents bigger problems later. But the framework only works if we all use it. It’s not a magic fix it’s a tool, and its impact depends on how we apply it.

What Can I Do?

• Get curious – if something doesn’t feel right, ask questions

• Speak up early – raising a risk is never the wrong thing to do

• Stay informed – attend team briefings and check out the updates coming your way

Coming soon to SKIPI: the Risk Hub, with procedural guides, FAQs, templates, and everything you need to support your understanding of the Framework. If you have any questions do reach out to us by email or Teams: malcolm.king@skiptoninternational.com fiona.o’driscoll@skiptoninternational.com

Communications Team

The last few months have seen some successful marketing campaigns. The Andium Homes Open Day at our Jersey Mortgage Centre was a huge success, as detailed on the Mortgage Sales page. This event saw an incredible level of engagement, and the Marketing and Communications Team was happy to provide pre and post event support.

We’ve recently increased our digital presence in the marketplace and we’re already seeing great results with increased visits to our website. We are actively monitoring the client’s journey through our site, being able to see what’s working well and where they’re dropping off, allowing us to improve our customer journey and carefully target our marketing further.

The announcement that Susan Fouquier is to become our new CEO didn’t just happen, as the 12 telephone conversations, numerous Teams messages and 62 emails back and forth (including the Skipton Group, our Company Secretary and our Chair) were testament to! So many ducks have to be put in a row for senior appointments such as these, not least legal and regulatory obligations, but it was worth it to announce Susan’s arrival at exactly the same time as the Group did. The media were exceptional and have been nothing but positive – something which reflects well on the Skipton brand in the eyes of the public at large.

Jersey’s Home Life magazine recently focused on the local mortgage marketplace, with editorial containing perspectives from long serving and new colleagues, which was well received.

Skipton’s sponsorships are keeping us busy, especially with the onset of summer and more events taking place. We’re thrilled to have signed a three-year deal to support Jersey’s basketball teams , including the men’s and women’s teams, and six junior teams. The branding is pretty good too!

We’ve also been working tirelessly with the Youth Commission of Guernsey and Alderney for the launch of their ‘ Youth Club on Wheels’- it has been a labour of love but is proving hugely successful as it holds pop-up evenings across the Bailiwick for children of all ages.

As recently announced in On the Radar, the Commercial Team will be dividing in two!

From 1 July, the team will be separated as follows:

• Aaron will continue to lead the Commercial Team (Chris and Abi, plus new recruits) for all analytics and product development work. In addition, Aaron will be stepping up his involvement with the Corporate Team as we focus on rebuilding our corporate book and strengthening relationship management with the newly formed team.

• The new Marketing & Communications Team will be led by Fran Vadher, who joins us on 1 July as Senior Manager of Marketing & Communications, based in Jersey.

We’re also pleased to welcome Mike Wilkins to the Marketing & Comms team in Guernsey from 7 July.

We’ll also be saying/have said goodbye to a few amazing colleagues:

• Alicia has left Skipton to start a new role in London.

• Julie will be retiring on 31 July and beginning a new chapter in the UK.

• Dani has moved on to a new role within the business, joining Ben Rive in the Change Management Team.

With all these changes, it’s probably easier to liaise with either Ben (Communications) or Fen (Marketing) should you have any questions.

Change Management Team

A new addition to the Skipton Times, we are pleased to welcome input from the Change Management Team.

CHANGE DELIVERY HIGHLIGHTS

We’ve made great progress across several core projects, including Triggers and Flags, MMP, and Savings Quick Wins. These initiatives are helping to drive efficiency and deliver real value across the business.

NEW CHANGE MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

The rollout of our new Change Management framework has now begun. This marks an exciting step forward in how we deliver change across the business. You’ll see more activity and engagement around this over the next quarter as we embed the framework and continue to focus on delivering change that counts.

NEW JOINERS

We’re pleased to welcome Dani Barnett , who joins us from the Commercial Team. Dani has been with Skipton for five years and brings a wealth of knowledge and a fantastic skillset to the team. We’re also looking forward to welcoming a new Change Manager, who will be joining us very soon– more details to follow in the next edition.

Onboarding Team

NEW FACES IN FLOD

We’re delighted to welcome Beki Barnes to Skipton International. Beki brings a wealth of experience and insight, and we’re excited to have her leading the First Line of Defence (FLOD) Team.

Also joining the FLOD team is Kate Le Gallez. You can get to know her a little better in her interview with Ben, featured in this edition.

In April, David also joined the FLOD team and has hit the ground running — with a bit of extra support from his loyal sidekick, Teddy!

For those who remember our glamorous retiree Jan Stucky, her recent transatlantic holiday came with an unexpected twist. We hear she had a surprise visitor! Who needs a tall, dark stranger when the universe delivers something even more memorable?

TEAM NEWS & MILESTONES

Tom moved house at the start of the year — congratulations on the new place.

Tamim has joined the Onboarding team as Assistant Manager — welcome!

Ellie is currently house-hunting — good luck with the search.

Chloe will be promoted to Senior in July — well deserved!

Some of the team went for a morning dip in April ( Evie, Zoe & Chloe)

Interview:

Pete Torode

To his kids, Pete Torode is a much-loved dad, who has shown immense strength and courage throughout his life. Although, as Pete himself will tell you, “I’m just an ordinary bloke.”

Pete is our colleague at Skipton International and he works in the Credit team at Tudor House. As anyone who listened to his recent Royal National Institute for the Blind podcast will realise, Pete is full of positivity despite identifying as blind.

“I was approached by Chantelle from the Guernsey Blind Association earlier this year and asked if I’d like to be interviewed”, says Pete, in his usual matter of fact way. “It was recorded via ‘Teams’ from a studio in Glasgow, but was very easy and relaxed, and I really enjoyed it.”

This informal approach sums up Pete perfectly. From the age of seven Pete was sent to Coventry (he laughs as he explains this) – in fact, a school called Exhall Grange in Coventry, where he was fully supported with his sight issues. Despite fluffing his 11+ exams, Pete found himself moving up regularly until he was in the top educational set as the school moved to a comprehensive model.

In those days, Pete had some sight, but this has declined over the years meaning he now can only distinguish between light and dark.

In 2019, a detached retina caused scarring on his retina. “I have heard the retina described as like a piece of wet paper tissue stuck to Velcro”, he said. A cornea graft operation in November 2024, replacing a previous failing graft, gave him a little more detail and colour.

Pete found the Covid era initially challenging, particularly when the idea of him having a work laptop was originally considered as being a potential security risk, but this was overcome with strong teamwork between the I.T. team and Pete, meaning he was able to continue working in a role he enjoys. “I mostly supported the team who were actually doing my job for me while I did reviews using my own device,” he said. When he had to quarantine after a day trip to the UK for checkups, the IT team supplied a work laptop having seen that he could black out the screen and carry on as if

nothing was different (which it wasn’t). The period also gave him the opportunity to challenge himself and learn new keyboard skills and research the use of specialist technology in more detail. Anyone who knows him is aware he has an enquiring mind, and he is always happy to lay the foundations for others with accessibility issues, whatever they may be.

Specialist software means Pete can operate Microsoft Office and the systems extremely well, although the amount of shortcut keys he has in his memory is astounding! “Technology is progressing at an incredible rate. AI now gives me the ability to get descriptions of images and inaccessible text as well as being able to drill down to points I need to know by asking questions,” he said.

Pete is a great sounding board for accessibility to

systems – for example, he loathes Teams, which, he proclaims, needs the use of over 30 buttons for anyone with sight issues, and isn’t at all friendly. “The screen reader tames this by letting me convert the buttons into a list I can move around by using the first letter of the button,” he commented.

He trialled a few of the new @Thrive learning tools, fully supported by the People Services team – one worked fine, the other proved impossible!

“The refreshing change was that @Thrive has accessibility testers so I could get on a call with them to show the issues and they ‘got it’, I believe they are committed to fixing them. As a side benefit of this, I learnt how to screen share on Teams and share

audio so next time I can pass the screen reader audio across so people can ‘hear the issues’.”

Pete is a keen advocate of raising awareness of these things and provides valuable feedback to the IT organisations concerned that they need to do better when it comes to sight impaired users.

Pete continues to be an inspiration to his colleagues. If you’d like to listen to his RNIB podcast just search for ‘RNIB Pete Torode’ on your podcast service.

It’s been a sociable few months for the Jersey office, with a number of fun activities to bring the team together.

MARCH: DISCO BINGO

Unfortunately we did not win the bingo, but we had so much fun singing and dancing to all the oldies. The evening also included a delicious basket meal so we were well fed along with being well entertained.

APRIL: PICKLE BALL

The evening started with a training session before we were all let loose to see how we got on with some games. The competition was taken seriously, but a good time was had by all.

APRIL: POOL NIGHT

Once again we saw plenty of competitiveness at the pool tables on this evening out, which also included a finger buffet. Everybody thoroughly enjoyed it and it was a great team building event. Thank you to Thomas Rowlands for organising this event for the Sports & Social team.

JUNE: BOWLING

The bowling event was another great success, with lots of fun and some healthy competition. A big shout out to the top scorers: Shane, Geraldo, Hugo and Manny!

SO BAR

No losers for this one – we were all winners at our night out at So Bar. We had lots of fun while enjoying some great food including tasty curries, burgers, steaks and plenty more.

It’s been a lively quarter for our Sports and Social Club and there’s plenty more to look forward to for the rest of the year!

In April, we held our “Curry and Climb” event at Up Climbing, where members pushed their limits on the walls before tucking into a well-earned curry.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:

Saturday 5 July – Battletec

May brought sunshine and cider, with a private tour of the beautiful Rocquette Cider orchard. The highlight? A very popular tasting session that went down a treat.

Saturday 2 August – Sports Day at St Martin’s Football Club

September – Skittles at Hampshire Lodge (date TBC)

October – Pumpkin Farm visit (date TBC)

November – Multiball @ Kings (date TBC)

Friday 28 November (TBC) – Sports & Social Christmas Party

Friday 12 December – Skipton Guernsey Christmas Party at OGH

Want to get involved? It’s never too late to sign up to the Sports & Social Club. To join, just drop us an email at sportsandsocialclub@skiptoninternational.com

Customer Operations Team

QUARTER 2 HIGHLIGHTS

Here’s a snapshot of our team’s activity and achievements over the last quarter:

• Walk-ins 969

• Calls handled 6,847

• Customer emails received 4,531

That’s a huge amount of support delivered; thank you all for your continued hard work and dedication!

WELCOME ABOARD

We were thrilled to welcome Eddy, who joined the team at the end of April, great to have you with us!

WHAT’S NEW?

We’re preparing to go live with our brand new IVR Telephony system. This upgrade will help streamline customer queries and direct callers to the right department more efficiently.

We’re also continuing with our procedure reviews , both updating existing processes and creating new ones. Once finalised, these will be made available on Skippi to ensure easy access for everyone.

TEAM SHOUTOUTS & CELEBRATIONS

STAR Award Winner: A big well done to Georgia , who was recognised for showing brilliant ownership — well deserved!

Competition Winner: Congrats to Marnie for choosing the winning name for the rebranded Remediation Project!

PERSONAL MILESTONES

celebrated his 18th birthday.

Shirley marked a fabulous 60th birthday.

Shirley and Natalie enjoyed a sunny week away in Majorca.

Jamie explored the sights (and food!) of Italy.

Georgia became a homeowner, huge congratulations!

Rubi has moved over to join the Banking Team, so we wish you all the best in the new role!

And perhaps the biggest highlight of all, Gynette met the King, recognised for her incredible fundraising work for the charity Walk the Walk. Amazing achievement!

A lovely time was had by all at this year’s summer parties in Guernsey and Jersey, organised by the Sports & Social Committees in the islands. The sun shone in both islands and everyone had a fun time, as you can see from these photos!

Kate le Gallez

Interview with: Sanctions Screening Analyst and six-time Guernsey Snooker Champion

From sanction-screening to building breaks under the lights, Kate le Gallez keeps illicit funds and cue-balls firmly in their place. We caught up with Kate to learn how she helps form Skipton’s first line of defence and why the snooker table is her happy place.

What is your role and what do you do?

I’m the early-bird gatekeeper. Each morning before 9am, I review the overnight sanction-screening on our client base. Any potential match is investigated and, if necessary, escalated so that no payment leaves the bank in breach of sanctions. I also carry out transaction monitoring, checking that customer profiles and source-of-funds evidence are watertight so if a regulator asks: “Why did £50k land here?” We can show a rocksolid audit trail.

How do you balance your professional life with Snooker? Walk us through a typical day.

It’s sanctions first, then mid-morning transaction reviews. At lunch I sometimes go to play snooker, before a busy afternoon takes hold. Because I start early, I usually finish up around 4pm, just as the club opens.

I’m often first on the table and squeeze in three hours’ solo drills or match-play with stronger players before league fixtures start at 7:15pm. I also coach a 19-year-old who has just started playing, which I really enjoy.

It’s six days a week in season, with Friday my only night off; the club’s a bit too lively for serious practice once the Friday crowd piles in. But mostly, my evenings and weekends are practicepractice-practice – and I love it!

What are your career highlights so far?

I’m unbeaten in the Guernsey Snooker Ladies’ Championships and have won it six times. But my latest career highlight has to be coming second at the British Open Challenge Cup back in March, which took place in Landywood. This was my first World Women’s Snooker trophy. I was so close to winning it and that would have been fantastic, but just to just to get a trophy at that level is amazing.

What sparked your love of snooker?

Beating my dad at pool before I could see over the cushion!

After I finished playing football competitively, I trialled for the Guernsey Pool team, won the Island title, then helped form a women’s snooker squad. We were told we were going to compete in Division 3 against the guys and we had three months to get ready. So literally from that day, I found myself a snooker cue and I practiced day and night and made sure that when I turned up, I was not going to get hammered.

Those first three months made me very happy and realise that when you’re plotting break-building angles, everyday worries just melt away. I think other sports people probably experience something similar when they are training.

Who inspires you?

In Snooker, it’s Mark Selby and Reanne Evans, who’s widely considered one of the greatest snooker players of all time, having won the World Women’s nooker Championship a record 12 times. I have actually played Reanne before in Belgium, which was a great experience.

In sport generally, it’s got to be Lewis Hamilton. He’s not your typical F1 driver, he’s just a normal person, very relatable.

In business – it’s Karren Brady. I know she’s famous for being on The Apprentice, but I know of her through Birmingham City Football Club, where she became Managing Director aged 23, smashing football’s glass ceiling and championing women in leadership ever since.

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

“You don’t lose, you learn.” Sometimes, when I’m on my own travelling to events or I’m in the middle of a snooker competition and I’ve not done as well as I’d hoped – I’m not going to lie – it’s horrible. But then I remember that mistakes or disappointments are opportunities to grow, and that mindset gives me permission to reset, refocus, and go again.

Lately, I’ve been watching some of the two-minute courses on our new

Thrive learning platform, and they’ve been helpful reminders about the important things in life: health, family and doing the right thing.

What’s next for you, both at Skipton and at snooker?

I’m in the right place, at the right time, with the right team at Skipton. We’re evolving and my aim is to continue to develop my career here. In snooker, I’ve worked my way up into the Premier League locally and having played the current World Champion and the World Number 1, I know what’s required to get to the next level. To that end, I’m about to start working with a dedicated coach for the first time in my career.

And finally, how do you relax outside of work?

I love a roast dinner. Top tip: Sunday teatime is the best time for a roast otherwise it interrupts all the sport on TV!

Honestly, I find it hard to relax because I’m so determined to get better at everything I do. But my partner keeps me grounded and we love spending time in the garden, having barbeques, and going to sports events around the island.

Interview with:

Jim Coupe

As we bid farewell to our CEO after 15 years at the helm of Skipton International, he shared his thoughts on his career and the business.

What would you like your legacy at Skipton International to be?

The main thing I would say is the brand that Skipton has developed locally. This has been achieved through a combination of factors. Firstly, the great customer service provided by our team over the years. Additionally, we have significantly increased our community sponsorship and involvement. For example, we have supported events like Skipton Swimarathon, Skipton Boxing Day

Dip, and the Skipton Community Fund. During the dark days of Covid, we sponsored a football match between Guernsey FC and FC Isle of Man when Aurigny set up the air bridge between Guernsey and the Isle of Man. The Skipton Community Fund is something I am particularly proud of because it helps smaller good causes on the island that might not get support when competing for funds against larger projects. It’s been a pleasure working with the team here, and I believe Skipton has great service and a strong brand presence in the financial services sector

Looking back over your career, what is your proudest moment?

There have been many proud moments, but one that stands out is becoming the Managing Director after joining the bank as Commercial Director.

The previous MD left after I had been at the bank for 18 months, and I was pleased and proud to get the opportunity to lead such a great organisation. I am also proud of the awards we have won for customer service, which are a testament to the quality service provided by our teams. Additionally, I am proud of our efforts to help more people into home ownership, particularly firsttime buyers. We have also supported the Guernsey Housing Association, helping more people get a foothold in home ownership

What was/were the biggest challenge(s) that you had to overcome workwise?

The most significant change has been the affordability struggle for first-time buyers, particularly in the Channel Islands. House prices have gone

up significantly due to limited supply and high demand, which has made it challenging for first-time buyers. However, we have introduced initiatives like the 100% mortgage to help more people into home ownership. Additionally, we have started lending to expats and foreign nationals to enable them to purchase a property in the UK for rental purposes, which has been a different but successful venture.

How do you plan to spend your retirement?

My wife and I love it here in Guernsey, so we plan to stay. We believe it’s a great place to bring up kids, with excellent education and opportunities. We have many friends here and love the community. We also plan to travel and see more of the world. I never took a year out when I was younger, so I want to have some adventures and explore new places. I am a keen skier, so look forward to spending more time on the slopes. While I am not actively looking for work, I am open to new opportunities that may come my way.

Many thanks from all of us for the past 15 years, and enjoy your retirement Jim!

Silver anniversary for Skipton customers

Martin and Michelle Stanfield have been loyal customers of Skipton international for over 25 years. Hear from them about why good service matters.

Long-standing Skipton customers, Martyn and Michelle Stanfield recently celebrated a major milestone when they paid off their 25-year mortgage – and even managed it a few months early!

The couple has held the mortgage since buying their St Peter Port property back in 2000, originally taking out the loan with Standard Chartered then holding it through Skipton when they bought that business in 2002. During that time, their lives and their property have changed and evolved – but they say the service they’ve received from Skipton has been a constant.

“When we bought the house in 2000, we were recommended to speak to Nigel Pascoe at Standard Chartered,” said Martyn. “When we showed him our plan as to how we could afford to buy the house and then renovate it, he was really supportive. From then, we’ve never considered changing to anyone else – the service we’ve had over the past 25 years has been excellent, nothing has ever been a problem.”

While many of us might have looked to move house during the last quarter-century, Martyn and Michelle say it has never crossed their minds. For them, their house is the perfect fit – and they feel exceptionally lucky to have come across it in the first place.

“Finding the house was really a case of being in the right place at the right time. We’d wanted for a long time to buy, but every time we managed to get a deposit together the goal posts moved, so we decided to put that dream to one side and rented a flat,” said Martyn. “We were then at a party in the communal garden of that flat and started talking to our neighbours. It came up that their parents had inherited a bungalow near Fort Road they were putting on the market. Half an hour later we’d left the party and were looking at the house!”

Despite the property needing a significant amount of work, Michelle said they were immediately certain it was the home for them: “It was the perfect little bungalow for us. We loved the convenient location on the St Peter Port and St Martin’s border as well as being surrounded by agricultural land. It’s so peaceful – we knew once we moved in we’d never want to leave.”

But while Martyn and Michelle haven’t wanted to move, they certainly have wanted to improve their property. Over the past 25 years, they have improved and extended it –with the interior layout now unrecognisable from its former life.

“The inside has changed so much from when we bought it. As soon as we moved in it was obvious the kitchen should be where the bathroom was, the bathroom should be where the lounge was, and so on,” said Michelle. “We spun the whole house around and it works so much better. We have also added an extension on to the kitchen as we soon realised we needed more space – and Martyn definitely wanted a garage. Over the years, we’ve had so much help from family and friends to make the house what it is today and we’re very grateful.”

Despite that help, those changes came with more financial demands for the property, and at one stage the couple had four different mortgages on the house, all held with Skipton. Martyn said the process was as seamless as possible: “The team at Skipton was excellent. Every time we came to them with another plan and another alteration, they were so helpful. Originally the mortgages were due to expire on the same day, but we paid the first one off a number of years ago, the second a few years back, and the last two just a few weeks ago. It came around a little earlier than we thought, and

With the mortgage now paid, Martyn and Michelle have plenty of plans for the property – and for themselves. Michelle has cut her working hours to a four-day week, and Martyn is determined to finally finish the ensuite bathroom he’s been working on for longer than he wants to admit. But with the whole house future proofed for the years ahead, they are also just looking forward to enjoying it.

Skipton sponsors JHOYS

Seasoned equestrians and enthusiastic novices are all catered for at this year’s Jersey Horse of the Year Show (JHOYS) at Home Farm Equestrian. The event in September will see hundreds of competitors take part, ranging from primary schoolers to retirees.

Five years on from the establishment of Home Farm Equestrian, the club is fulfilling its mission to be an inclusive, welcoming facility – and that extends to its most high-profile competition, the Jersey Horse of the Year Show. The 2025 event will be the third JHOYS competition it has held.

Home Farm Equestrian’s Club Secretary is Nicolle Maltwood. She explained how the club came about: “Home Farm was established on 9 May 2020 during the Covid lockdown by our Chair Karen Barette. We started with a strong ethos that it would be a place for riders of every skill and ability to come together. No matter what level you are at or how nervous or new to riding you are, you are welcome here. We have riders who come in and are terrified of a walking pony up to very experienced equestrians happy to jump over one metre and ready to head off to UK competitions.”

Once the club was established, the team behind it was determined to showcase its riders’ abilities. For Nicolle, a competition like JHOYS is the perfect way to inspire everyone: “Some of our members have competed at high level events in the UK, and have been lucky enough to take part in the prestigious Horse of the Year show, the Traditional Gypsy Cob of the Year Show, and various top dressage events. Experiences like those are absolutely incredible, so we were very keen to try to recreate some of that magic for everyone here in Jersey. We wanted others to experience that buzz and excitement – these competitions are about more than just you and your horse, you are a part of a community with everyone who has their own dreams about riding.”

In 2022 that dream became a reality with the first JHOYS, and after a break last year will return this September to the Home Farm Equestrian grounds. Taking place over three weekends, it is a major event for the Committee to organise. “In previous years we have had up to 500

competitors over the course of the event, riding at all levels,” said Nicolle. “As well as preparing the venue for the different competitions, we are also bringing over officials from the UK.”

While riders don’t need to qualify for JHOYS, it does showcase Jersey’s top equestrians. The three competition weekends culminate in the final showing championship of the year. Sponsored by Skipton International, the last day will see the ‘Supreme Champion’ competitor crowned.

Along with sponsoring the final day of competition, Skipton International’s support includes providing a new jump for the club, which will be used during the showjumping weekend and throughout the year.

Senior People Services Business Advisor Ceri Powell is also a committee member at Home Farm Equestrian. With her experience of both, she thinks the two organisations are a perfect fit: “Through its community fund, Skipton is well known for reaching the smaller causes that can be missed by others – and Home Farm’s ethos is to ensure that it caters to everyone in the riding community. That community support and drive for inclusivity is certainly a theme for both organisations. We are so appreciative of Skipton’s support, which will make a significant difference to the success of the event.”

While the club says that riders of all levels are welcome, so too are non-riders. Refreshments will be served throughout the three weekends, so everyone is encouraged to come and enjoy the atmosphere and entertainment.

THE JHOYS SCHEDULE

The JHOYS competition takes place over three weekends in September, with a different focus for each of the dates.

12-14 September will focus on dressage events, along with a dog show for the smaller fourlegged friends.

19-21 September is the showjumping weekend, which will feature Skipton International’s new jump.

27-28 September will see the event out in style, with the showing aspect of the competition taking place on the final weekend before Skipton’s ‘Supreme Champion’ is crowned.

An update from around the Group

Skipton Building Society –Homes and Money businesses!

Here at the Building Society we’ve got two end-to-end customer facing businesses – Homes and Money.

Here’s how things are going at this early stage in the year…

Homes

We want 50% of our lending to support First Time Buyers in 2029. We’re constantly innovating in this space to ensure we’re helping as many people own their first home as possible. So far this year, we’ve helped over 10,000 First Time Buyers step onto the property ladder –making up 50% of our overall lending.

The amount we’ve lent out to customers in total (completions) currently stands at just over £2.7bn (at the end of May), which is ahead of where we expected to be in the Corporate Plan at this stage of the year, mainly due to the stamp duty increase from April. March saw our biggest ever month for completions, with over £900m worth of completions, helping 3,445 customers get the keys to their first home.

Money

Our key commitment is making our members’ money work harder through innovative products and propositions, making advice accessible for all.

We’ve seen net retail inflows of £690.45m at the end of May, bringing in £3.53bn of new money. At year end our total savings book is expected to be £30.3bn (9% book growth this year).

We want to make advice accessible to all and we set ourselves a target to increase our advised conversations by 90% this year. So far this year (to the end of May) we’ve had 38,680 advice conversations against the plan of 29,250.

Want to know more? Reach out to your building society colleagues and ask some questions!

Bits and Pieces

We had another fantastic Skipton Book Club meeting last week, where the book of choice was discussed in detail – not always positively, but with plenty of laughter and a shared love of good books. If you would like to join the Book Club in Guernsey, we meet once every six weeks. It’s informal and fun, and we all share a love of reading. For more information, please contact Jake Delbridge: jake.delbridge@skiptoninternational.com

Huge congratulations to the first recipients of the Skipton International Star Awards, presented in the June Town Hall. There were some worthy winners and how wonderful to know you have been nominated by colleagues – what a fantastic achievement. Here’s a photo of the Jersey winners, proudly holding their trophies and certificates.

Back in April teams from both offices took to the islands’ beaches to give them a good clean – all part of our efforts in sustainability. A great time was had by all!