Strategic Projects Manager Gordon Ackroyd and Development Assistant Kieran Roberts travelled down to North Arm, for a field meeting with new Falkland Landholdings Ltd General Manager Neil Judd.

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The Falkland Islands Development Corporation (FIDC) is pleased to publish its 2018-2019 Annual Report and Governance Statement.

The report gives an attractive and illuminating account of the Corporation’s work of the past year, supporting economic development through enterprise - and of the people involved.

Print copies are widely distributed to clients and stakeholders, and a digital version is available on FIDC’s website.

Click the link below to download a digital copy.

pdf FIDC Annual 2018 2019 (1.46 MB)

FIDC has completed a full HR improvement project, for its subsidiary Falkland Islands Meat Company.

With its mix of full time professional staff, plus part-timers and the regular influx of seasonal workers – and a requirement to meet demanding health and safety regulations - FIMCo and FIDC were very keen to see the very best Human Resources practices embedded in the business.

An initial HR ‘audit’ revealed the scope of work needed at the start of the year.  More recently, following a competitive tendering process, a contract was awarded to HR industry professionals Sally Hart and Jackie Taylor.

The aim of this project has been to have a coherent HR capability within the business but without adding a management burden.  Sally Hart and her team set to work on recruitment, retention, reward and performance for a profitable enterprise.

Today, new training guides, a comprehensive staff handbook, plus employee and manager ‘toolkits’ and other staff resources are available to ensure FIMCo is, as Sally puts it “a great place to work, a safe place to work, a successful business” and the focus – in line with Michael Ledwith’s Business Improvement programme -  is on “getting the work done”.

FIDC is a strong advocate for robust HR practices for all its client business, and will be adding an ‘HR Basics’  workshop to its suite of enterprise training courses in the coming months.

For further details, look out for information here on the web and our social media.

Over the last year Ruth Stewart has been working towards starting her foot health and nail care business. Ruth made the decision to take the big step into starting her own business after working as a Health Care Assistant on and off for the past 19 years, where she became aware of the need for a foot health care service in the Falklands.

Ruth investigated the route to become a qualified Foot Health Practitioner and received funding from the CDS to help her with the training costs of becoming a qualified FHP. The majority of her studies were undertaken here in the Falklands by distance learning with The College of Foot Health Practitioners in Birmingham, only needing to go overseas for the practical training. Now Ruth is fully qualified and also registered with the Alliance of Private Foot Health Practitioners in the UK. Alongside her studies, Ruth continued to work closely with the Business Development Team at FIDC, receiving advice and support to build her business case, as well as financial support to purchase the specialist equipment needed.

Previously the only foot health care in the Falklands had been a visiting Podiatrist Mr Duran who comes twice a year for two weeks. Ruth aims to provide a domiciliary foot health care service to the community. This service will complement the service provided by the visiting Podiatrist.

Regarding the support that she has received along this journey to starting her own business, Ruth said “I have been very fortunate, and I am very grateful to have received advice and financial assistance from FIDC and the CDS. As a single parent I could not have done this without that support. Therefore my thanks go to FIDC and the CDS staff and committee members, for all the assistance I have received.”

Here at FIDC we are sure that Ruth Stewart Foot Health and Nail Care will be well received and will prove to be a beneficial service to the community and we will continue to offer Ruth business advice and mentorship.

FIDC, Chamber of Commerce and Training Centre host first Business Breakfast for returning students, apprentices and school leavers.

This morning a group of 20 candidates, consisting of students returning from overseas study, apprentices and school leavers looking to continue their training or seek employment and development opportunities attended a Business Breakfast held at the Malvina. The attendees met with 45 business representatives made up of members from the private sector from 12 different primary and secondary industries and a number of FIG departments.

For many of the younger attendees this was their first opportunity to ‘network’ with potential future employers and ask questions regarding the different careers within the represented industries – from specialist areas through to business support services. The candidates were initially matched with businesses where they had expressed potential careers aspirations, and throughout the session were directed to speak with representatives of other sectors where they had either transferable skills or similar areas of interest.

The Business Breakfast was a joint initiative with input from the Training Centre, who coordinated student attendance, the Chamber of Commerce who promoted the event with its membership and FIDC, who sponsored the event via the YES Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme.

The Malvina laid on a delightful spread of breakfast favourites and the room was full of lively discussion, interesting debates and informative perspectives on offer. Many of the attendees impressed the business representatives with their engagement, aspirations and growing confidence.

Farrah Peck of WoolCo, a representative of the agricultural sector said:

“It was really worthwhile, providing a setting for those who came along to interact with the business community and an opportunity for businesses to explain career pathways in their sectors. It allowed us to get to know who is out there and potentially interested in working within our industries. I hope it gave them inspiration and the confidence to make contact in future.”

FIDC announce Lou Ellis is new Development Manager

At the start of year the Corporation began recruiting to fill the role of Development Manager following the departure of Michael Poole in December 2018. At the closing date a strong field of local & overseas applicants were shortlisted.

Business Development Officer Lou Ellis was one of the successful applicants shortlisted for the interview process.  The day after her interview, Lou and family hopped on the Airbridge for her six week holiday England.  While soaking up the summer sun, Lou received word that she had been successful in her application and would be the new Development Manager - subject to signing a contract on her return.

Lou has now settled into her new role as Development Manager, and is embracing this new challenge, or, as the Development team like to put it “just getting on with it.”