Employer accreditation for the Channel Islands

Better workplaces.

Most employers mean well. Starlight helps you show your staff that you do, and shows you where you could do better.

Apply to joinHow it works
Employer accreditation.
Built around people.Guernsey - Channel Islands
TELL ME.SHOW ME.DEMONSTRATE IT.PROVE IT.
Starlight: a golden star shining over the Channel Islands

What Starlight is

What you say, and what your staff see

Your staff see your culture in small things: how decisions get made, whether anyone listens, and what happens when they need help.

Starlight gives you 12 standards to check yourself against. You'll see what's working, what isn't and what to fix first.

A small business won't be asked for the same as a large one. What we ask for depends on your size, how complex you are and the risks you carry.

See the 12 standards

How it works

How it works

You do the work. We give you the structure and check the evidence.

01 /

Join

Tell us about your organisation and name a senior person to lead it.

02 /

See where you are

Score yourself against the 12 standards, then pick out what's going well and where the gaps are.

03 /

Make changes

Agree what comes first, decide who owns each action and keep a record of what you change.

04 /

Show what's changed

Look back at your progress and apply for the level your evidence supports.

The levels

The three levels

Start at Foundation and move up as your practices improve.

LEVEL 01

Foundation

40-59% required overall, with at least 1 out of 4 on every Foundation standard.

You know where you stand and what you're going to work on.

  • Self-assessment across all 12 standards
  • Strengths, gaps and improvement priorities
  • Named senior sponsor and action plan
  • Foundation recognition, subject to meeting the requirements

The basics are in place (policies, processes and who's responsible), with some early evidence that they're being used.

LEVEL 02

Established

60-79% required overall, with at least 2 out of 4 on every Established standard.

You're doing what your policies say.

  • Updated assessment and progress review
  • Evidence of employment practices
  • Active management of outstanding actions
  • Accreditation once you meet the Level 2 criteria

Staff understand how things work, practice is consistent and there's evidence to back it up.

LEVEL 03

Leading

80-100% overall, with at least 3 out of 4 on every Leading standard.

It's normal practice, and your staff would agree.

  • Strong evidence that it happens day to day
  • Employee feedback and effectiveness reviews
  • Continuous improvement over time
  • Required external validation

You measure whether it's working and keep improving year on year.

Every standard counts equally. To reach a level, you need the overall score, the minimum score on each standard and the required evidence. Membership runs year to year. Coaching and guidance are optional and priced separately. We'll confirm fees and requirements before you sign up.

Made in the islands

Made in the islands

Starlight was set up for Channel Islands employers. On a small island, everyone knows someone who works for you, so how you treat your staff gets around.

The 12 standards

The 12 standards

They cover the whole time someone works for you, from the first interview to their last day. Open each one to see the questions behind it.

Apply to join
01Employee voice & psychological safety

Can people speak honestly, challenge decisions and raise concerns without fear of negative consequences?

02Pressure, boundaries & saying no

Can people work responsibly without being expected to absorb every demand placed on them?

03Trust, autonomy & micromanagement

Do people have the clarity, authority and trust they need to do their jobs well?

04Decisions, escalation & accountability

Do decisions have clear ownership, and can they be challenged fairly?

05Workload, working hours & time off

Can people disconnect from work without the organisation depending on their continued availability?

06Fairness, inclusion & individual needs

Do working practices recognise different circumstances, needs and ways of working?

07Performance, development & opportunity

Are we developing people, or simply relying on capable employees to keep carrying more?

08Recruitment & the employee promise

Does the way we recruit reflect the organisation we claim to be?

09Healthy leadership & accountability

Are leaders accountable for how they achieve results, as well as the results themselves?

10Resilience & shared responsibility

Can the organisation function without repeatedly relying on the same people to rescue it?

11Management ownership & HR support

Does HR help managers own their responsibilities?

12The employee lifecycle & evidence

Does the employee experience support the promises the organisation makes?

Company portal

Your company portal

Keep your notes, evidence and actions in one place, so you always know where you're up to and who's doing what.

Company portal · secure access
✦ STARLIGHTILLUSTRATIVE PREVIEW
YOUR ORGANISATION

A clear view of progress.

12standards
3levels
1
See where you areYour scores and evidence
2
Plan your changesActions, owners and dates
3
Show what's changedProgress and next steps

A LITTLE MORE CLARITY

Questions employers ask us

Who can take part?

The programme is intended for employers of different sizes and sectors. Starlight is based in the Channel Islands. Tell us about your organisation through the application form so we can discuss participation.

Do we need to be perfect to start?

No. You can apply while developing your practices. Accreditation requires the overall threshold, the minimum score for each standard and the mandatory evidence for the level.

How much does participation cost?

Participation carries an annual fee. Pricing will be confirmed before you commit; submitting this application does not take payment or create a subscription. Additional professional support is optional and separately priced.

What evidence will we need?

Evidence can include policies, processes, anonymised employee feedback and examples of improvements. Requirements depend on the level and should be proportionate to the organisation’s size, complexity and risks. Level 3 also requires external validation.

Does accreditation guarantee legal compliance?

No. Starlight is a voluntary improvement and accreditation programme. It does not replace employment law, health and safety obligations, professional advice or your responsibility to address concerns.

What happens after we apply?

Your details are saved for review by the Starlight team. You receive an on-screen application reference. Acceptance, participation terms and any fees are confirmed separately. After approval, your administrator receives a private setup link for your company workspace. Your workspace tracks statement scores, improvement actions and progress against the standards.

YOUR NEXT CHAPTER

Ready to apply?

Tell us a bit about your organisation and we'll be in touch.

01 Fill in a short form.

02 We look at your details.

03 We agree the next steps with you.

Nothing is paid here, and applying doesn't mean you're accredited.

APPLY TO JOIN THE PROGRAMME

Tell us about your organisation.

Fields marked * are required.

Read the Employer Commitment Statement

Starlight Employer Accreditation - Building better workplaces, one commitment at a time.

STARLIGHT EMPLOYER COMMITMENT STATEMENT

Starlight is about helping employers move from good intentions to everyday practice, and then to evidence. How an organisation treats people shows in its decisions, its leaders and how it handles pressure, more than in its policies.

A good employer doesn't have to be perfect. It has to be honest about where it is, take responsibility for the changes it makes and listen to the people who work there.

Starlight asks: Tell me what you stand for. Show me how you work. Demonstrate it day to day. Prove it through what you do.

Company Commitment & Agreement

By joining Starlight Employer Accreditation, we, the organisation named below, commit to the following principles:

  • We will be honest about where we are now and will not present aspirations as achievements.
  • We will consider employees' experiences when reviewing our practices.
  • We will provide appropriate routes for employees to raise concerns and challenge decisions.
  • We will take responsibility for addressing the gaps we identify.
  • We will assign owners and target dates to agreed improvements.
  • We will consider accessibility, inclusion, reasonable adjustments and different working needs.
  • We will review whether our stated values are reflected in decisions and everyday behaviour.
  • We will provide accurate information for assessment.
  • We will use the Starlight Employer badge only in accordance with the programme's rules.
  • We understand that participation is a commitment to improvement, not a guarantee that every aspect of our workplace is already perfect.
  • We will review our progress and maintain our commitments as part of the renewal process.

Date: recorded automatically when you submit your signed application.

Starlight Employer Accreditation - Building better workplaces, one commitment at a time.

The date and time of agreement will be recorded when you submit. Applying does not award accreditation.

GET IN TOUCH

Get in touch

Questions about Starlight, or need help with your company portal? Send us a message.

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