18 MANX Gas engineers are the only engineers in the British Isles to hold certificates of competence from the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).

The engineers have been trained under an accreditation scheme developed by Manx Gas and are currently working on the Natural Gas Conversion Project. 

Aidan Baglow, the natural gas conversion project manager, said: "All 18 engineers have been trained in the specialist skills necessary to deliver the conversion project for our customers.

"They now hold certificates of competence from the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) showing them to be certified conversion engineers. They are the only engineers in the British Isles to have this accreditation under a scheme which has been developed by Manx Gas.  

"This demonstrates that we have the skills here on the Island and are using them for the benefit of all our customers. It is a great privilege to work with such a team of engineers."

The engineers are currently carrying out pre-conversion surveys on all 6,800 properties which will be converted to natural gas in the spring of next year. Over 3,000 properties have already been surveyed and work has now moved to the south of the Island.

Aidan continued: "The survey work is ahead of schedule and we have successfully identified and resolved many potential safety issues for our customers. 

"The whole basis of the programme is to ensure any inconvenience is kept to an absolute minimum and our dedicated conversion call centre has also played a key role in bringing this about."