2021: the year of new beginnings for Sure

Paul Acton Sure Jersey Chief Executive shares why 2021 was the year of new beginnings for Sure.

Though perhaps not as strange as its predecessor, the COVID-19 pandemic will see 2021 go down as an unconventional year. Yet, for Sure it represented one of our busiest and most successful years yet, as it saw the appointment of new leaders and a renewed set of goals, visions, and brand purpose. This new beginning for Sure is incredibly exciting, and I’m proud to both look back on a successful year and look forward to exploring how we’re continuing to evolve to offer the communities and businesses of Jersey the best service possible.

On a personal note, 2021 was an important year for me as I stepped into the immense shoes of Graham Hughes and took on the role of Chief Executive of Sure Jersey. I know that everyone at Sure is immensely grateful for Graham’s nine years of service as he helped shape the business into what it is today, and we wish him all the best in the future. It’s an exciting time to take on the role of Chief Executive, especially considering the Group’s recent investments in crucial Channel Island digital infrastructure. I’m focused on the part we play in our island community, with a special emphasis on connecting them for a better future. After 20 years of working in blue-chip telecoms and IT companies, I look forward to leveraging my knowledge and experience to put an increased focus on our customer engagements to ensure that Sure continues to offer increasing value and be an important service provider.

2021 was another busy year for our Sure Community Foundation, which once again made some vital charitable contributions. Some specific achievements that I’m particularly proud of include the charity’s partnership with Durrell Wildlife. The ‘WildSnap’ project was designed to help youth groups and secondary school students build wildlife cameras. We donated 20 power banks which allowed the children to snap pictures of the eclectic range of animals and learn more about nature in the process.

Other highlights included donations to Brighter Futures, Dementia Jersey, and the Family Nursing and Home Care Children’s Team to help with the various needs of the charity. The Sure Community Foundation continues to support local good causes and all the work that the voluntary committee continue to put in is a huge source of pride for everyone at Sure.

Though it hasn’t been without its challenges, I’m immensely proud of everything we’ve managed to achieve this year. Our multimillion-pound investment in the undersea cables that connect the Channel Islands with gigabit ultra-high speeds to the world has created a solid foundation on which to make future network improvements, and we’re always looking for how we can improve our customers’ digital lives.

I’m excited for what 2022 holds, but for now I’d like to thank every member of our fantastic team, connecting the island would be impossible without you. And to our customers, thank you for supporting Sure through an unprecedented year and we look forward to seeing you in 2022, connected and ready to make our island better, together.