Tell us about your role and what you most enjoy about it? 

Although I’d visited the Island many times, when I started my job search, I was pleasantly surprised to find it was home to a well-established Engineering and Manufacturing sector. There are some big global players in the Isle of Man – all quite diverse and unique in their product offering. From aviation and aerospace to precision engineering and traditional manufacturing, it is an industry that is growing rapidly, and in many innovative areas. 
I was fortunate enough to secure the role of Operations Supervisor at Swagelok after sending my CV and cover letter to the organisation on a speculative basis.  Swagelok were very accommodating of my move to the Island and are an exceptional employer. They look after their staff, and the staff look out for each other. It is one of the friendliest environments I have worked in, and I think this is a testament to the Island’s engineering and manufacturing sector in general, where staff attrition is on average much lower. 
These organisations heavily invest in their staff, and this is evident by the number of apprenticeship programmes that run across the engineering and manufacturing industry here. Together many of the leading players create training and development platforms to skill up the workforce on the Island. There are always going to be positions in the industry here – across a variety of areas and seniority levels. 
At Swagelok especially, it’s not all about the bottom line; instead, it is about getting the best out their employees. I certainly feel I have more mental capacity in this role than in my previous job; you don’t have the same pressures but are still encouraged to grow and progress. I did a lot of research on the sector before I moved to the Island, and it is evident that these are safe and sound organisations, with markets that are growing exponentially. It is an exciting time to join, and an exciting time for the Island. 

How was your experience moving to the Isle of Man? 

It was a very easy process; my wife is Manx so she was exempt from any work permit process. I was then able to acquire a co-habiting work permit based on her residency.  
We are yet to sell our property in the UK and were fortunate enough to be able to stay with relatives on the Island until we have completed the sale. However, the logistics of getting here were all quite straightforward, as there are several routes on and off the Island. Something however others should take into consideration when moving to the Isle of Man, is the additional time and cost required when travelling off Island.  
There’s also plenty of online resources, including the Locate Isle of Man website which helped answer plenty of our questions beforehand. Incentives like the National Insurance Holiday Scheme also make the move all that much sweeter. 

What difference has living in the Isle of Man made to your work-life balance?  

My quality of life has drastically improved since our relocation to the Isle of Man. I have more time for me, and to spend with my family. It is hard to put into words, but you just feel more relaxed here. There is less urgency, the drive to the shop is scenic, the community is one of the friendliest I’ve ever encountered, and the air is so clean and fresh – I’d never had such a good night’s sleep until I moved to the Isle of Man!