From: Guernsey Chamber of Commerce Mailto:Carrie

From: Guernsey Chamber of Commerce [mailto:

Sent: 13 January 2010 09:26

To: Alan Bougourd

Subject: BRITISH AIRWAYS BACKS GUERNSEY BUSINESS WITH TICKET GIVEAWAY

Dear Members

Please see the following press release which may be of interest to you:

British Airways has today Tuesday 12th January launched a package of measures to help small and medium sized Guernsey businesses beat the recession and regain their rightful altitude.

The airline has teamed up with the Guernsey Enterprise Agency and the Commerce and Employment Department to offer 10 return flights to any of its 155 domestic, short haul or long haul destinations. This is worth up to £40,000 in total to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Guernsey win new business from overseas markets. British Airways is also calling on other big businesses in Guernsey to throw their weight behind smaller local companies by offering their support for SMEs in Guernsey through the offices of the Guernsey Enterprise Agency. The aim will be to provide products, services or expertise that the Guernsey Enterprise Agency can offer as part of a wider economic stimulus package of help, in addition to services already provided.

Karen Dufty, BA Manager of Sales and Marketing in the Channel Islands, said: “Small and medium businesses are an absolutely essential part of the Guernsey economy and, like lots of businesses across the UK, many are facing big challenges as part of the global economic downturn. We are working with the Guernsey Enterprise Agency to provide flights that will support Guernsey business as it tries to spearhead the island economy’s recovery. We live in a globalised economy so business opportunities don’t always live on your doorstep. This initiative gives small businesses the chance to promote and sell their products overseas. We’d love to see other Guernsey businesses pulling together in order to help the island through the difficult times that lie ahead. We’ve put up the flights to allow the SMEs to travel to do business and we’d be delighted if other companies would join in by offering services and skills that will bring real value and benefit.”

The Chairman of Commerce and Employment’s Business Guernsey Sub-Group, Deputy Robert Sillars, said: “This is a great initiative and we are grateful to British Airways for taking the lead in providing this support. Although the global slowdown has meant increased challenges for businesses, it has also created opportunities internationally for Guernsey companies that want to expand into other markets. This initiative should help them achieve that, as potentially, many thousands of pounds can be saved on the cost of a long-haul flight for example.”

John Stares, GEA Managing Director, added: “The Guernsey Enterprise Agency is dedicated to helping companies connect and build their business locally and internationally. We think that the British Airways initiative will be of great help to our small and medium sized enterprises in developing their overseas businesses, primarily in long-haul markets.”

SMEs interested in finding out more information about the scheme and the help available from the Guernsey Enterprise Agency should visit Businesses wishing to join British Airways and offer help to SMEs should email the Guernsey Enterprise Agency at . Businesses who wish to help are asked to offer services and expertise that will add real value to small companies - all applications will be assessed.

For further information, please contact:

 Tina James at the Guernsey Enterprise Agency on 01481 710043 or email:

 Susan Redmond at the British Airways press office on 0161 489 2631.

FREE BRITISH AIRWAYS FLIGHT OFFER FOR GUERNSEY BUSINESSES

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