Farewell to MAG-O


Last Friday I said goodbye to the MAG-O team, having spent 11 months working there in communications. During my time at MAG-O, I have been afforded lots of opportunities and privileges that I consider myself incredibly lucky to have received in my first graduate role.

Despite my previous lack of experience (and indeed knowledge) of both the digital and aviation industries, I have been very impressed by the wide range of specialisms that I have observed within the MAG-O operation. From the work of the Trade team, who optimise over 200,000 price points per day, to the Web team creating new Chatbot features for individual airports, the number of business ventures is vast, and the teams are constantly developing more.  

However, for me personally, the defining feature of MAG-O is its culture. Even without experience of other work environments, it is clear to see that the culture that is promoted at MAG-O is exceptional. Disregarding the cool work spaces, one-way mirror customer experience lab, top-notch coffee machine, on-site gym, massage sessions and monthly Dominos pizza, the enormously positive atmosphere that is so prevalent at MAG-O is created by the people who work there.

Not once since my first week (a long time ago in a bay hanger lovingly referred to as ‘The Shed’) have I ever felt excluded by anybody at MAG-O. Even despite not being officially part of a larger team, I have sat with almost everyone, and always felt welcome.

MAG-O has been a fantastic introduction to the world of work and its processes and I leave having gained some extremely useful experiences. Here are a couple of my highlights:

Disconnect 2 Connect (October 2nd/3rd 2017)
Coordinating the team-building trip to Windermere was my first proper internal comms task and I really hoped it would go well. However, on the Monday morning the bus turned up late and Monarch airlines went into administration, meaning that about a third of the team couldn’t come…
Despite these initial set-backs the range of activities, designed to re-focus attention to the objectives of the business as well as encourage positive colleague relationships, were a lot of fun and everything went swimmingly (not least of all because one such activity involved swimming in Lake Windermere).



4M Housewarming Party (November 24th 2017)
The party was a chance to invite business partners and members of the wider Group to come and explore the new offices in the 4M building, onsite at Manchester Airport. The office looked brilliant and the official red ribbon was cut by the CEO of MAG, Charlie Cornish, using a pair of large novelty scissors.  
It was a very proud moment after lots of hard-work and organisation and a big milestone for MAG-O. All those involved, colleagues and stakeholders alike, were extremely pleased, however the real winners were the cheese and tomato tartlets.


  
Manchester Half Marathon/ 10k (May 20th) and Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge (June 12th)
Two charity events in support of MAG’s partner charity CLIC Sargent. It was great to see several colleagues stepping outside of their comfort zones, encouraging each other to get stuck in, and smashing those all-important HR health and wellbeing targets!
Ultimately we raised over £1,500 for the charity, which was a fantastic achievement. CLIC Sargent thanked us massively, though our legs definitely didn’t…  


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