From British Gas employee of over 20 years standing to fully fledged entrepreneur. It’s a leap that’s been made with remarkable ease by George Loudon.

He was a training centre manager in Glasgow during the early ’90s before starting up in business in bold fashion with four separate companies. Framing firm Loudon Fine Art and Loudon Property Services, a property management business, were perhaps slightly surprising choices.

The Gas Certification Co Ltd, however, draws directly on his vast experience. It carries out the installation of appliances to both the domestic and commercial sectors and specialises in gas safety consultancy. Recently, George carried out consultancy work for Glasgow Caledonian University throughout its campus. His expertise is also in demand from housing associations.

George’s fourth business - Loudon Training Services - has now been incorporated into the Gas Certification Co Ltd, providing quality, industry-standard training and assessment to gas engineers. It’s a sector that’s undergone some dramatic changes recently as the gas industry looks to prove its commitment to safety and a new tougher competency test, the Nationally Accredited Certification Scheme (NACS), has been introduced.

Previously, it was practical for George to base his business at home, providing training at hotels or on a sub-contractual basis at a training centre in Motherwell. But the introduction of the NACS prompted George to open his own training and assessment centre.

From here, he provides a wide range of training and assessment for gas fitters and can tailor the courses and their timings to the client’s requirements. “People in this industry work Monday to Friday,” he explains. “They want training at night and at the weekend. Colleges aren’t flexible - but we are.”

The training centre includes an assessment room, a lecture room and a training and assessment area equipped with an impressive array of domestic and commercial gas appliances. Its all there, from gas cookers to industrial air heaters. “It has been a big investment,” says George. “Because of that level of investment we have the same level of commitment and we hope that will be obvious. Understated, but obvious.”

George and his wife Elaine, the company’s financial director, worked closely with South Lanarkshire Economic Development to secure funding for the investment, resulting in a Property Improvement Grant and Business Start-Up Grant which were crucial in taking the project forward. SLED also provided property advice to help source a suitable location. After a year of searching, George settled on the Evans Business Centre, 53-58 South Avenue, in Blantyre Industrial Estate, High Blantyre - an easily accessible location which he believes will be a key factor in the venture’s success.

Business South Lanarkshire - Winter 2001

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