Child-operated trains were common in the USSR, so it’s not a novel concept, rather it’s a heritage that the Hungarian city has chosen to preserve.

More than just tradition
Would-be employees between 10 and 16-years old attend Gyermekvasútas Otthon to learn about and work on the train. While it may seem like the ideal way to skip school, it’s really an unconventional opportunity for extra-curricular education.

Once they have passed their railway workers exams, successful applicants are excused from school every two weeks to go on duty, but only if their grades don’t slip.

To the railway children, the train represents more than just tradition: selling tickets is an exercise in maths, operating switches is a lesson in physics, and welcoming foreign visitors is an English class.

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That is according to Christian Braunschweig, the new branch manager of AGS Movers Hungary. Christian explained our recruitment philosophy to local magazine Xpatloop.com in his interview: insights into the lives of expats & local leaders.

In just four years, the native German has already travelled many kilometers along his career path at AGS Movers.

Christian commenced his career with the Group in 2017 as a trainee branch manager in Berlin before being promoted to branch manager of AGS in Poland later that same year.

In October 2020, he was appointed to manage our branch in Budapest, Hungary.

It is always gratifying to see our recruits evolve rapidly, taking on more responsibilities as they develop.

With is obvious passion to succeed, it’s no surprise that Christian’s motto is:

If you can´t fly then run

If you can´t run then walk

If you can´t walk then crawl

But whatever you do

You have to keep moving forward!

When AGS Movers Budapest’s Branch Manager, Ingrid Lamblin, was notified on March 27 that her branch was the first removal company in Hungary to be FAIM Plus accredited – a quality-certification issued by the International Federation of International Movers (FIDI) – she had numerous reasons to celebrate.

Not only did the branch audit take place on her birthday in March (Ingrid’s staff presented her with an AGS-branded cake as a unique commemoration) but April 1 marked her 14-year work anniversary with AGS.

Coming from a background of international transportation and sales, Ingrid joined AGS in 2000 in a sales role; and in 2007 was appointed as Branch Manager of AGS’ branch in Budapest. Following this she was also President of ADA-Europe for two years.

AGS Belgrade now also FAIM PluS

As was detailed in the feature article in the March AGS newsletter, when AGS branches are ISO 9001:2008 accredited and renew their FIDI Accredited International Mover (FAIM) certification they are now being audited under the more stringent FAIM Plus standards.

This is what makes AGS Movers Belgrade’s achievement – another branch to have been newly accredited with FAIM Plus on April 4, and also the first removal company with this status in Serbia – particularly important.

Alexandre Lebègue, AGS’ Senior Group Quality Manager, congratulated AGS Belgrade’s Branch Manager Vladan Jankovic after the branch’s FAIM Plus accreditation was obtained with a 100% compliance rating – a strong recognition of the branch’s service quality.

“This award is simultaneously a great encouragement and obligation, and is the result of many years of hard work from the whole AGS Group,” Vladan commented on the FAIM Plus certification.

“As a fully dedicated team, Vesna, Bojan, Saska and myself will continue in the most effective way to provide the best quality services in a manner which is friendly, on time and with highly professional cooperation in order to fully meet all customers’ expectations.”

As a company that maintains close ties to its clients and their families, it was the natural choice to assist the organisation during its Family Day in Hungary.

AGS Budapest sponsored a jumping castle and toboggans (sleds), and was delighted to see the children’s faces light up. The event took place at the Fehérvárcsurgó Károlyi palace, where a host of activities entertained both adults and children alike. These included a traditional barbecue and petanque (boules) tournament.

At AGS, we know that children are very important and sensitive during a move. For this reason we provide a guide that clients can access on our website to make the move easier for their children. The guide provides helpful hints, and includes tips like helping children learn about the new country, packing their favourite toys or games before leaving, and making them feel part of the move.

Helping the Union of French Citizens Abroad not only strengthens relationships between France and Hungary, but gives AGS Budapest the opportunity to join families and show them that we care.

With 141 locations in 94 countries, AGS moves over 75,000 families every year. With AGS Budapest, all our clients deserve the best.

She is one of a select group of dynamic volunteers driving global competitiveness in Hungary by showing high school children the importance of learning a foreign language.

The AmCham Language Learning Initiative is a project between the American Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of National Resources in Hungary. The goal is to encourage children to learn a foreign language at an advanced level, so that they may better compete in the global business world.

Ingrid, who speaks fluent English, French, Hungarian and Spanish, said that the initiative was particularly important in her country, as Hungarian is hard to learn and not an international language.

She said: “We live in a world where communication is essential to survive in business. It is also vital for your personal development and growth.”

During the initiative, Ingrid and her fellow volunteers will speak about the exciting aspects of their jobs and how they would never have been offered their work opportunities without the skill of a foreign language.

Ingrid hopes that the initiative will also benefit the AGS network.

Well done Ingrid for walking the walk and talking the talk.