Local company receives £26,000 pay-out

The Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) has awarded a £26,000 grant package to local business McNicholas Construction Services, who are contractors to Phoenix Natural Gas Ltd.

The substantial sum was awarded as part of the Gas Proficiency Grant scheme, which is coordinated by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and aimed at training local installers in the installation, servicing and maintaining of natural gas systems and appliances.

David Cooper, Head of Building Engineering Services at CITB said: “There are now over 200 businesses who have received the DEL grant for achieving new Council of Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) registrations through the scheme. The huge growth in the natural gas business has been fantastic but we need to maintain and enhance the number of installers becoming CORGI registered so we can meet the demands of the industry’s future growth. With the grant now available for local operatives, we would encourage as many businesses as possible to come on board.”

Sam Gibney, Phoenix Operations Training Manager commented: “As the natural gas industry grows overall, the shortfall in highly qualified installers is also increasing. Each grant award enables us to build the business in terms of training and expertise and pass this level of quality on to our customers.”

(CL)