We have been catching up with Jake and Kundi, to see how they are finding life between AGI and College.

So, 8 months on from when we first caught up with you – how have you been?

Jake:  I have been good! Due to the global pandemic of Covid-19, I had to complete the rest of the 1 year OTJ part of the apprenticeship from home since March. I had to complete all of my assignments that were issued remotely to me by the college from home, these consisted of a mixture of health and safety units and mechanical and electrical engineering units.   I wasn’t able to return to college to complete the last few practical and written assignments until June.

As well as completing my assignments, I spent the majority of the time whilst working from home revising for the written and practical exam of my course. I completed the Level 2 Mechatronics course gaining distinction grades in my exams.

Kundi: I have been great, thank you. Especially now that I am back at work and building on the skills and knowledge I have gained over the past 8 months.

What challenges have you encountered since lockdown? How has it impacted on your work / studies?

Jake: I returned back to working on site at the beginning of September. Since then, I have been issued with a job rotation plan where I will be spending time learning and working in each different departments of both production and engineering. So far, I spent my first few weeks working in the stores department where this helped give me an insight as to how the materials are purchased into the company and organised before the parts are assigned to the shop floor staff to build.

I am now currently spending time learning and working in the mechanical assembly department. To begin with, I shadowed some of the engineers by watching them build a specific order and then I became confident enough to build a product independently. I have so far learnt different skills including how to safely use a variety of tools and equipment.

As I entered year 2 of my apprenticeship in September, I am now working towards a level 3 engineering fitters qualification where I have been studying electronics. I attend college now once a week and spend the other 4 days a week gaining hands on learning and working experience at AGI.

Kundi: The challenges I encountered during lockdown was that it was harder to get in contact with college lecturers as everything had to be done remotely from home. It was also a shame that I could not return to the workplace until September as I was enjoying it.

Looking forward what are your plans for next few months?

Jake: In the next few months I am looking forward to spending time rotating around the different departments at AGI, where I will be able to learn new skills and further understand the process that a particular product goes through throughout each department. I will be able to see how the product is built together and tested/inspected before being sold and dispatched to a customer.

Kundi: My plan for the next few months is to gain as much knowledge I can about the differences between Mechanical and Electrical Engineering to understand which is best for me. On top of that, I want to learn and pick up as many skills I can from my supervisors and fellow work colleagues who have experience in AGI and engineering as a whole. I plan to finish my first year of level 3 in the coming months so I can progress onto my second year. I will ask as many questions as I can to gain further knowledge on AGI and how and why they do things a certain way.

It’s great to see how both Jake and Kundi have adapted to studying and working during this year. We will catch up with them next year to check how their apprenticeships are progressing. 

We have virtually caught up Charley our new HR apprentice at AGI.  Here’s what she’s been up to… 

What is your background?

I live in a small village called Hazelbury Bryan, my house is surrounded by fields and animals. I went to one of the smallest schools in Dorset where I did all my studies. I took A Level Business, Media and Photography. Throughout school, business had always been my favourite subject I knew I wanted to go into something that had a business aspect. I am definitely a practical and hands on learner, my choice of studies can reflect this. I knew an apprenticeship would be a good style to learn in and build my experience.

How does your apprenticeship work?

My HR apprenticeship is for 18 months, every week I attend Poole and Bournemouth college for a day to study and grow my HR knowledge. I am set assessments to complete for certain dates, each week learning about a new topic relevant to what the assessment is on. At AGI I learn new skills and do tasks that are relevant to what I am working on at College, I will also discuss what I learn with my team and we will have conversations about how it can be linked to AGI.

What is it about AGI that interests you?

As a student who studied business for the past four years, I wanted to go into a sector of business that really interested me and felt would challenge me. HR was something that I felt I would fit into well and enjoyed learning about it previously. Engineering was a completely new industry for me and working within this made it seem even more appealing. I felt this could challenge me further, having no experience in the industry opened a massive gap of valuable knowledge and experience I could have.

How have you found AGI?

So far, I genuinely love it. To make a decision at only 18 on how I want to start my career and which path is best to go down, I really feel I have made the right choice. From my first day, everyone has been so welcoming and friendly. The team I work with are so supportive and I never feel I am unable to ask questions.

Hobbies & Interests?

I’ve always been into sport, I represented North Dorset for both gymnastics and netball which I enjoyed thoroughly. I did cheerleading for a year when I was 13 and then went on to begin my kickboxing journey. Now, I have achieved a First Degree Black Belt in Kickboxing, also achieved a credit pass in my black strip. Additionally, I’ve always been creative. I love art, photography and media, when this can be combined with a task in HR, it’s one of my favourite tasks to be working on. This is one of the reasons why I love working for AGI, I am able to show AGI what I can create and additional skills I am able to offer. AGI is really open with this and has been very supportive with projects I have worked on already.

How are you coping with home working during the current COVID-19 situation?

It’s definitely a little different to normal but I’m still able to work effectively thanks to AGI providing me with the resources I needed to be able to work at home. AGI has been really supportive through this process and have helped wherever they can to make sure when I work from home I have all the equipment necessary. The hardest part is not being able to socialise with everyone in the office, it is what makes the apprenticeship all the more enjoyable than how much I like it already. My role hasn’t been majorly impacted, physical tasks that I have, I tend to do when I’m in the office, I just have to make sure I schedule my tasks for when I’m in and out of the office. This has improved my organisation skills though which I count as a bonus.

Aeronautical & General Instruments Ltd (AGI) have been awarded Government backed Cyber Essentials Plus certification. This enhanced accreditation supersedes previously held Cyber Essentials certification.

In order to achieve this new certification, AGI had to undergo external technical verification in line with the National Cyber Security Centre’s requirements to ensure that its IT infrastructure was robust enough to withstand common cyber threats.

With these stringent cyber security controls in place, customers and suppliers can feel reassured by AGI’s capacity to handle sensitive information for the provision of technical products and services.

Aeronautical & General Instruments Ltd (AGI), in partnership with its technical support agent Owen International Pty Ltd, are pleased to announce the successful commissioning of the new Visual Landing Aid System onboard HMAS Choules, the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Bay Class Landing Ship Dock (LSD).

A collaborative effort between the Royal Australian Navy Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG), Atlantic & Peninsula Australia (A&P), AGI and Owen International saw the delivery of an integrated digital system of advanced visual cues, with the capacity of being seamlessly upgraded to support UAV systems in the future.

Owen International, who support and sustain AGI’s systems in Australia and New Zealand, commissioned the new Visual Landing Aid System and attended the First of Class Flight Trials which were conducted off the east coast of Australia by the RAN’s Aircraft Maintenance and Flight Trials Unit (AMAFTU).

AGI Managing Director, David Hyde commented: “this is a very significant achievement, a milestone in the continued growth of our sustainment capability with Owen International in the Asia Pacific region. The successful commissioning of the system by Owen has set a new benchmark in the development of AGI`s Australian Industrial capability”.

Reducing pilot workload and increasing operational capability, AGI’s Visual Landing Aids are the choice of the worlds most advanced navies. The core product offering which includes an Advanced Glide Slope Indicator (ASGSI), latest generation Stabilised Horizon Reference System (SHRS) and DeckfinderTM Ready Combination Deck Lights provides greater awareness of vessel position and motion with advanced visual cues.

As the global capability for supporting the operation of Unmanned Arial Vehicles (UAVs) progresses, the system can be seamlessly upgraded to incorporate automated UAV landing features.

As part of a strategic consolidation of our Land & Aircraft Lighting Solutions within the AGI Holdings LLC Group, Aeronautical & General Instruments (AGI-UK) we have transferred all future sales, design and the manufacture of our Portable Airfield/Airport Lighting product range to our sister company, Hoffman Engineering, located at 8 Riverbend Dr, Stamford, CT 06907, USA.

Hoffman Engineering since its foundation in 1955 have played a lead role in the photometric and lighting business within the Civil Aerospace and Military Aviation markets, including the development and manufacture of LED based lighting solutions for these markets. We are pleased to be able to maintain our Portable Airfield and Airport Lighting capability within the Group whilst strategically aligning with our other aviation-based solutions.

Click here for a list of affected products

All products are now available on the Hoffman Engineering web site, as per links above.  For all new business opportunities, please contact Hoffman Engineering

Existing Contract enquiries:

All existing contacts will be honoured and managed by Aeronautical & General Instruments Limited

In service Support:

For all existing and future In-Service Support  including the provision of spares, repairs and technical support service please contact Aeronautical & General Instruments Limited

AGI can confirm that we have carried out risk assessments for our office and shared the results with our employees in compliance with the Government’s guidance on managing the risk of COVID-19.

The current COVID-19 crisis has prompted a need for global change in how our business and the wider industry operates. To keep the lines of communication open and maintain effective links to our customers, AGI has adapted the way in which critical support is provided to our worldwide customer base. Pivotal to delivering that solution is our network of technical support centres.

Our highly skilled and knowledgeable staff based within AGI`s UK test facility and our `on-site` service engineers have been increasingly reliant upon these established centres to take on the challenge of delivering on-site local support with as little disruption as possible. This move has strengthened the ongoing development of our technical support partners and the overall expansion of AGI’s global footprint.

Never has delivering and maintaining that existing capability been tested quite as much as we have seen over the last few months but they have risen to the challenge, from attending routine service callouts to the commissioning of complete visual landing aid systems.

Over the course of this week we will showcase some of these technical support centres, giving you an insight into the services they provide and how they have maintained and delivered service to our many customers. Read more about each centre below.

Owen International Pty Limited – Sydney, Australia

Quality Performance Inc. (QPI) – USA

HiPoint Services – India

ST Engineering – Singapore

(Photo by Lily Banse on Unsplash)

ST Engineering are a global technology, defence and engineering collection specialising in the aerospace, electronics, land systems and marine sectors. ST Engineering bring innovation and technology together to create people-centric, multi-disciplinary, smart engineering solutions for their customers in the defence, government and commercial segment in more than 100 countries.

To find out more visit their website @ https://www.stengg.com/en/about/

What services do you provide for our customers generally?

We provide delivery of AGI’s equipment to customers along with consistent technical support and repairs where necessary. We are the local contact for AGI’s customer base here in Singapore. Like our other customers we support, we believe in AGI’s products and are glad to be their point of contact for them.

How have you adapted during COVID-19, have there been any major changes to what support you can provide at the moment?

ST Engineering were classified as a ‘provider of essential services’ so therefore continue to operate from our premises (including aerospace hangars, shipyards, automotive factories and electronics workshops) during this period. ST Engineering strengthened its business endurance plans in February and has swiftly stepped up measures aligned with the latest government advisories to protect the health and well-being of employees, customers and other stakeholders. We will conform with all procedures as required by the government in Singapore and elsewhere where it operates, to continue with its operations at its various locations, including safe-distancing, shift work/split teams, staggered hours and work-from-home arrangements.

How do you work with AGI to ensure the customers get the best service?

We have regular status update calls with various teams within AGI. AGI’s Business Development team operate in various international regions. This works great for building relationships and trust between both companies and how we both support customers.

Hipoint are leaders in offering a wide variety of integrated solutions and services to the Marine and Petrochemical segment in the Indian subcontinent. With a solid commitment to these industries Hipoint have gained an incredible amount of domain expertise and project performance to aid in smart utility transformation solutions and services. 

Supported by ISO certified process frameworks, flexible and agile service delivery and technology support; Hipoint have earned the honours from all their clients and appreciation from the Consultants involved. 

For more information, visit their website @ http://www.hipointservices.com

What services do you provide for our customers generally?

Hipoint Services have been the authorised System Integrator within India for AGI since 2001 representing AGI products whilst also providing technical support specifically for the AGIMET and AGILOG systems. Support typically ranges around the entire business process including Marketing, Sales, Supply, Installation, Factory Acceptance Tests, Annual Maintenance Contracts and Post-Sales Support. These services are managed by an in-house team comprising of technically competent and AGI trained engineers/technicians.

How have you adapted during COVID-19, have there been any major changes to what support you can provide at the moment?

In spite of the lockdown directives as mandated by the Government of India for specific zones within the country that have a high rate of Covid 19 cases, Hipoint Services through its pan India network continually manages to provide the customer, in our case the Indian Navy, with exceptional service so that the high number of ships within the Navy fleet having AGIMET systems on board are exploited to the fullest of its potential.

How do you work with AGI to ensure the customers get the best service?

Biennial visits by Hipoint personnel to AGI factory in Poole, training of Hipoint engineers/technicians by AGI experts on various systems, regular interaction between AGI and Hipoint personnel over calls/mails and joint visits by AGI and Hipoint to customers within India are some of the methods employed so as to ensure customers within India get the best of experience handling an AGI make Military grade system.

QPI’s key business is to market, sell, and distribute exclusive products, which are manufactured by quality international companies, to Government and Commercial Customers throughout the USA. In accumulation QPI provides all of the lifetime support facilities needed to sustain high dependability and maintainability. Post-award services include program management, engineering and technical support, installation and checkout support on site, factory training, spare parts logistics support, technical documentation, and depot-level maintenance repair.

For more information, visit their website @ https://www.goqpi.com/

What services do you provide for our customers generally?

We provide AGI equipment to our customers along with technical support and depot level repairs on the AGI equipment.

How have you adapted during COVID-19, have there been any major changes to what support you can provide at the moment?

We have adapted in that we are recommended by law to keep our groups to less than 10 people.  While we have 13 employees at QPI, Imore than half of them telecommute from home.  The production staff are sanitizing regularly and we disinfect all incoming packages and let them sit for 24 hours before processing.  To date, no one at QPI has been infected or has come in contact with anyone who has to our knowledge.

How do you work with AGI to ensure the customers get the best service?

We contact AGI immediately on any issues we have that require their attention.  We also have weekly and biweekly calls with several of the AGI staff for updates and we provide reports of all fault analysis we have of the AGI equipment in for repair.