Manx Gas is sponsoring the award for Workplace Wellbeing at this year’s Isle of Man Newspapers’ Awards for Excellence.

The utility company is currently pursuing an ambitious programme aimed at bringing the company into the 21st century with staff undergoing training in high quality customer service skills and being encouraged to pursue professional qualifications.

Managing director Ian Plenderleith said: ’People development is key to future success.’

Mr Plenderleith added: ’Professional qualifications are all important and in 2019 I hope to announce an apprenticeship programme and will be looking to the colleges of the island to help us put in place a graduate engineering programme.

’There is a need for high quality vocational training here in the island. I would like to see what can be done in the longer term to develop opportunities for Manx people to obtain professional qualifications whilst working on the island which in turn will help us to retain more talent in the Isle of Man.

Mr Plenderleith explained that Manx Gas is in the process of putting in place a new works management IT system for all operational and service staff.

He said: ’Our people work in all weathers and at all times to repair the network and repair boilers. To enable them to interact with this new system we will provide our operational staff with tablets so they can review plans, receive jobs and send information back to the office whilst they are out in the street carrying out their work.’

He added: ’We have invested in an exceptional customer engagement/management system that enables customers to give us their views in a simple system that sends information back to the company almost instantly. This system enables us to analyse the specifics of each customer’s comments and take appropriate action, be it a problem with their equipment, their bill or the service they receive.

’This is a very powerful system which is used by major utilities in the UK and I believe has not yet been used on the island. Once we have the system fully operational I will be more than happy to invite people from Government and business to see how this system works and how we can use it to help develop customer service across the island.’

â?¢ Have you entered this year’s Isle of Man Newspapers’ Awards for Excellence? There are 16 award categories offering opportunities for companies of all sizes, individuals, public sector teams and cultural and charitable organisations. You can find full details and download entry forms at www.excellence-awards.im. Entries close on Wednesday September 19.