Welcome to our series “Meet the Team.” In this series, we meet the people behind businesses in the Channel Islands and find out what they do and what makes them tick.
Today we meet Sharon Coburn (pictured), Associate Director in the People & Culture team at Saffery Trust.
1. Please tell us about your background and past experience.
I was born and educated in Guernsey and started working in human resources (HR) almost 30 years ago. I felt an affinity for helping colleagues achieve their career goals and helping companies achieve their goals.
The HR landscape has changed significantly over the past 30 years, and the scope of my own role has expanded accordingly to include facilitating staff movement during mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. It was a great experience, but what attracted me to his Saffery Trust was its stability as a long-established, independent company with no intention of merging with other organizations.
As a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Personnel Development and a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Management, I understand the challenges of gaining professional qualifications while being employed full-time and the challenges of career development. Understand the positive impact of learning for.
With my experience working in a multi-jurisdictional environment, I look forward to working with teams across Saffery Trust’s five global offices to support innovation across the company.
2. What is the most interesting thing you are currently working on?
I join Saffery Trust at a very exciting time for the company. The company is based in Guernsey for the first time in two and a half years.He has over 100 staff and a new employee value proposition (focusing on the company’s culture to ensure everyone feels they belong and are valued). EVP).
Our EVP describes our culture and approach to benefits, development opportunities, the types of work employees can expect, and what employees and prospective employees can expect from Saffery in terms of compensation and benefits. decide on the policy. Additionally, this gives her the opportunity to talk about how Saffery has earned such a trustworthy reputation not only as a service provider but also as a great employer.
We understand how important it is to create and maintain a positive, respectful, fair, collaborative and employee culture, and to give our employees the opportunity to reach their full potential, progress and develop. It cannot be underestimated. These are all characteristics that I see every day and place Saffery Trust firmly in the employer of choice category.
3. What makes Saffery Trust’s People & Culture team stand out?
At Saffery Trust, possibilities and personal encounters exist.
Our People & Culture (P&C) team understands that employment is just one part of a person’s life, and each segment can impact the others.
At Saffery Trust, possibilities and personal encounters exist.
I am a mental health first aider and all members of my P&C team are mental health first aid champions. For property and casualty insurance professionals, being able to demonstrate emotional intelligence and consider employee well-being rather than just key performance indicators is critical.
This approach allows employees to feel supported and to raise concerns without judgment.
Saffery Trust boasts an impressive staff retention rate of 95% across its offices (ends 2023) and has a large number of long-serving staff, including some who have been with the company for over 30 years. This is proof that this is a great place to work. .
4. Describe your job in three words.
- various
- cooperative
- challenging
5. What trends are you seeing in the workplace today?
Across most industries, employees are increasingly prioritizing a healthy work-life balance, and this is supported within the Saffery Trust. We understand that the perfect balance is subjective and what works for one person may not be suitable for another. With this in mind, we have introduced a flexible working policy for all team members, with no core time restrictions, to help our employees find the right balance in their lives.
Our Directors are demonstrating the benefits of flexible working. This director-led approach helps empower staff to do the same. For example, Guernsey and Cayman Islands director Lisa Vigia plans to use her flexible working hours to swim in the sea according to the tides, and says it’s important for individuals to take time out for their health. Be open about things that are beneficial both personally and professionally.
I believe prioritizing a healthy work-life balance is a trend that is here to stay, but Saffery Trust is ahead of the curve in the level of flexibility it offers its staff.
6. What do the next few years hold for you and the People & Culture team?
In line with our EVP goals, our P&C team continues to look for opportunities to support our employees and the broader community. We run several initiatives, including lunch and learn sessions covering a wide range of topics, from technical expertise and career development to mental and physical health. Lunch and Learn sessions will continue to evolve to meet the needs of employees and businesses, alongside other benefits initiatives to promote a healthy work-life balance.
We regularly review our policies and procedures to ensure we can support our employees, and ultimately our clients, as effectively as possible. Going forward, this will include further developing our performance management framework and building collaborations with other offices.
7. How will you measure success?
For Saffery Trust, ‘success’ means providing first-class customer service, supporting opportunities and enabling the success of our customers, intermediaries and staff.
Our performance and development framework takes into account your individual career goals, learning objectives and contribution to corporate social responsibility initiatives. This holistic approach ensures that “success” is measured across a broad spectrum and focuses on the individual.
8. What are the benefits of being based in the Channel Islands?
Living and working in the Channel Islands offers many benefits for both clients and staff.
For our clients, Guernsey benefits from its close relationships with the UK and the EU, while maintaining protection from the political, legal and financial unpredictability of each.
Guernsey’s independence in governance is consistent with Safari Trust’s independent ownership structure. We have the expertise to plan for the future and the flexibility to adapt now.
Our Guernsey office is beautifully situated on the east coast of the island, and our staff enjoy sea views from the beach directly opposite the office.
Our team works collaboratively with our other offices in the Cayman Islands, Dubai and Switzerland, and staff visiting Guernsey from other jurisdictions enjoy living and working closely in such a beautiful location. I often comment on how lucky I am to work. community.
9. If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself?
- No one understands everything, no matter how much we seem to be together.
- Don’t beat yourself up if you make a mistake. The most important thing is to learn from your mistakes.
- Enjoy and appreciate the simple things. Be happy, laugh and have fun.
- Ask questions, be curious, don’t be afraid to try new things, and never stop learning.
- Have the confidence to speak up for yourself, no matter how difficult it may be.
- Always be kind, considerate, and considerate.
- Stay true to yourself and be the best version of yourself.
10. How do you spend your free time?
I like to stay active and enjoy going to the gym, cycling, and taking daily walks with my Labrador Reggie.
I also love yoga, reading, traveling, spending time with family and friends, and good coffee.
Saffery Trust’s Guernsey office is a leader in complex multi-jurisdictional structures and non-standard assets, including cryptocurrencies and digital assets. Additionally, our team’s extensive experience allows us to confidently and competently succeed as a mediator, even in contentious work that other providers shy away from. For more information please contact us by email or phone +44 (0)1481 721374.