Im converting a (f)ATPL for a flying job.
You should have told us. I assumed you were converting a PPL.
I have no idea about additional issues such as this with an ATPL. You might want to ask in the professional studies forum.
I wasnt aware that you could fly VFR out of sight of the surface in the UK. I have an IR so I may take advantage of that!
The restriction I talked about was a restriction on a UK or UK-issued JAA PPL without IMC/IR. I have no idea whether the same restriction applies to a CPL without an IMC/IR, but in any case there may be airspace restrictions as well! So you can't just fly VFR-on-top across the whole of the UK now that you have an IR.