With our borders reopening this week are we expecting not just an influx of tourists but also of new residents? Working Week spoke to Lucy Kerr at Rock Relocations.

’I think the recent coverage the island has had about the way it has dealt with Covid has been a big positive. The Isle of Man is definitely more on the radar now,’ says Lucy.

As she points out, anyone who has bought a property here will have been able to come to the island over the last year, as long as they followed the quarantine rules when they got here. ’I’m sure more people are planning to come now they don’t have to isolate,’ she says.

She has a lot of praise for the Locate Isle of Man team at the Department for Enterprise.

She says: ’Their campaign is brilliant, reaching out to people around the world, and they have lots of information for them.’

Rock Relocations becomes involved with new residents a little further down the line when they have got all the legalities such a visas sorted out and they want to know about the actual nitty gritty of day to day living in the island.

Lucy says: ’I had one client recently who wanted to be able to walk the children to school and live in a lovely village community so I was able to give her options for that.

’Generally, they want to know about the lifestyle - how their life will be here.’

The Isle of Man’s biggest attractions are the work-life balance: a comparatively short commute and lots of activities within easy reach. Safety and the low crime rate are also important, especially to people coming from South Africa.

Rock Relocations helps smooth the way for new arrivals, with everything from finding a property to where the nearest supermarket is.

One recent client wrote: ’My first week on the island with no car, no groceries and no furniture would have been a disaster if it wasn’t for Lucy at Rock Relocations. I rang Lucy in a panic - she is the warmest and most caring and patient person - exactly what you need as a stressed-out newbie on the island. Lucy was my advisor, tour guide, driver, assistant grocery shopper, support network - everything in one. Thanks to her I got all the furniture I needed, as well as groceries and even a car.’

Lucy’s ’inside knowledge’ includes recommending some of her own favourite places on the island. She says: ’I live in Port Erin and I’m a big fan of Port Erin. I often recommend it for families as it has the best beach in the Isle of Man.

’The other place I love is White Beach, near Niarbyl. It has beautiful rocks and scenery and because you have to walk to get there there’s usually not many people there.’

Rock Relocations offer a number of support packages including one dedicated to finding accommodation, both temporary and permanent, and another entitled ’Lifestyle, School and Settling in’.

You can find more details by visiting www.rockrelocations.im