The Briefing

The Weekly Briefing from The Quarry

All the latest from The Quarry newsroom.

Dig This:

In this episode Dirk Bischoff shares his entrepreneurial journey from East Germany to London, where he founded impact companies and non-profit programs, and now Guernsey.

He believes the island has potential to diversify beyond financial services, with new initiatives like his Pitch Guernsey connecting startups with investors and resources beginning to help.

But there is a need for more early-stage support programs, mentorship, and government involvement to foster entrepreneurship, as while as recognition of the importance of experimentation and overcoming the fear of failure to build a thriving startup ecosystem in Guernsey.

Listen to Dig This on Spotify

In other news...

• Les Bourgs Hospice will open a new charity shop at Oatlands Village selling children's clothes, toys and accessories following an amended planning covenant

• The Development & Planning Authority and Oatlands Village owners agreed to modify retail restrictions to allow the specialised charity shop

• The amendment supports the hospice's fundraising efforts while protecting general retail in St Peter Port and the Bridge

• Oatlands Village's planning covenant normally restricts retail to niche outlets to avoid competing with main shopping centres

• The children's items focus was suggested as a solution that meets the needs of all parties involved

• Parents, students and school staff across Guernsey and Alderney invited to participate in smartphone usage survey

• Independent research team from University of West England Bristol will conduct study adapted from Bristol research

• Survey focuses on smartphone use by children under 16 and effects on school environment

• Findings will inform future education policies and school smartphone policies across the islands

• Research follows launch of 'Screens Away, Time to Play' campaign for parents of babies and toddlers

• Guernsey Motor Neurone has donated £30,000 to support a three-year biomedical research project at Oxford University

• The research investigates mitochondria's role in nerve cell communication breakdown in Motor Neurone Disease and Frontotemporal Dementia

• The project is led by Dr Ruxandra Dafinca and Professor Kevin Talbot in collaboration with the Motor Neurone Disease Association

• The study aims to identify drug targets and support treatment development to slow or halt disease progression

• GMN Treasurer Vito Priore presented the donation to Dr Brian Dickie MBE at the MNDA headquarters in Northampton

• Caritas Guernsey's two emergency sleeping pods have been used for over 71 nights since launching in mid-December

• Users include people who were sofa surfing, sleeping in cars, ex-offenders leaving prison, and those with employment-related accommodation issues

• The charity anticipates increased pressure on emergency accommodation as winter lets end and seasonal arrangements change

• Some people who contacted Caritas about the pods secured alternative accommodation before needing to use them

• The charity is hosting The Big Skipton Sleepout on 20 March to raise awareness and funds for housing insecurity support

Coming up for paid supporters...

The Overseas Aid & Development Commission is promoting its Community Partnership Awards.
The awards will match-fund donations from local organisations for international aid projects.
Recent funding has been approved for two Rotary Club of Guernsey initiatives: End Polio Now and ShelterBox.
The OA&DC aims to enhance Guernsey’s contributions to global development.
Local fundraising efforts can receive match-funding up to a specified ceiling.

The Confederation of Guernsey Industry advocates for alternatives to the proposed Goods and Services Tax.
The group suggests government spending reviews, higher income tax, increased company registration costs, corporate taxes, and deferred pensions.
CGi Chair Garin Dart criticises GST, claiming it would adversely affect small and medium businesses and the local economy.
The group prefers modest income tax increases for efficiency and equity in revenue collection.
CGi calls for government reviews of expenditure alongside potential tax reforms.

Guernsey Post will end its dedicated mail plane service by July 2026.
All standard mail will be shipped to the UK via sea freight.
The decision follows rising supply chain costs making air transport unfeasible.
A daily air service for urgent mail will be secured with commercial partners.
New parcel options will be introduced alongside the transition.

Traffic & Highway Services and the Health Improvement Commission are introducing a Bikeability Family programme.
The programme aims to teach parents and children safe cycling practices on Guernsey’s roads.
Sessions will include practical coaching in a traffic-free environment and road cycling skills.
Two groups are planned, each with specific session dates at different locations.
Participants need to be able to cycle confidently and provide their own roadworthy bikes and equipment.