Frequently Asked Questions

This page answers some of the questions which are put to MGH from time to time, and several which are not. Answers are necessarily general, because the useful details are usually contractual, operational, classified, commercially sensitive, already obvious, or not improved by publication on the Internet.

General

What does MGH do?

MGH operates Production and Defence divisions. The Production division is concerned with events, temporary works and the things that prevent an opening time becoming a theory. The Defence division is concerned with decision-support and engineering programmes for authorised customers. Further detail is available elsewhere on this site, though not necessarily the detail desired.

Why does the website look like this?

The site is intended to be legible on ordinary office equipment and to remain compatible with older browsers still encountered in procurement environments. A page that loads, prints and does not require a moving picture is already more modern than many meetings require.

Can I have a brochure?

Usually. The correct brochure depends on whether the enquiry is about an event, a system, a framework, a career, a tender, or a misunderstanding. Use Contact Us and the request will be routed according to its apparent nature.

May I visit?

Visitors are welcome when there is a purpose, an appointment, suitable identification and somebody expecting them. The absence of public visiting hours should not be read as hostility. It is mostly a scheduling device.

Production

How many stewards do I need?

Enough to satisfy the plan, the licence, the terrain, the weather, the audience, the entrances, the exits, the programme, the transport arrangements and the thing the organiser forgot to mention. A round number quoted before seeing the site is mostly decoration.

Can MGH provide only one service?

Yes. Production can be appointed for a single discipline. We will still ask about the neighbouring disciplines because the public does not respect contract boundaries.

What happens if it rains?

In Britain this is not treated as a hypothetical condition. Plans, cable routes, ground protection, wind actions, welfare, queuing and vehicle movements are expected to survive weather that was forecast, weather that was not forecast, and weather that everyone later claims was unusual.

Can the event open before the paperwork is complete?

Not usefully. It is possible to open many things without paperwork, but it is harder to close the consequences afterwards.

Defence

Can Defence products be downloaded?

No. A public download would be convenient in the same way that an unlocked armoury is convenient. Defence products are supplied through controlled channels and supported under arrangements agreed with the customer.

Does MGH use artificial intelligence?

Some systems calculate, rank, compare, score and explain. Whether this is called artificial intelligence depends largely on who is preparing the slide. MGH prefers systems that show their workings and remain useful after the slogan has left the room.

Can you confirm whether a particular agency is a customer?

No. This answer is deliberately reusable.

Will MGH comment on trials, exports or end users?

No. Silence should not be interpreted as confirmation, denial, irritation or encouragement. It is simply the published answer.

Administration

Where should enquiries be sent?

Call the public telephone line on +44 1569 698 710 or use Contact Us. Direct internal routes, personal names and operational locations are not published on this website.

Why has nobody replied?

The common causes are an incomplete enquiry, an unsuitable enquiry, an enquiry sent through the wrong channel, an enquiry that requires internal review, or an enquiry already answered by not replying. A further possibility is ordinary delay.

Is this FAQ complete?

No. A complete FAQ would either be too vague to matter or too useful to publish.

Page last updated 7 August 2003. Some answers remain under review.