Our journey starts with the creation of a Joint Venture (JV), Lufthansa Resource Technical Training (LRTT). This complimentary partnership blended Lufthansa Technical Training expertise with Resource Group pedigree and access to UK and adjacent maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) markets. Originally established in South Wales, LRTT offices, workshops, and classrooms were located in Cwmbran while the practical training aircraft and equipment were set up in a leased hangar at RAF St Athan.

LRTT’s first training aircraft was the VFW-Fokker 614, one of only 19 ever manufactured. LRTT’s example was originally operated by the Luftwaffe and latterly by MUK Air. The aircraft had been languishing at an airfield in Sweden for 2 years before LRTT rescued it and Lufthansa Technik in Hamburg serviced it sufficiently for one flight only into St Athan on the 15th April 2003.

The first major challenge for this fledgling JV was to obtain the appropriate UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) training approvals. LRTT started with Category A1, Maintenance Certifying Mechanic fixed-wing approval which was achieved through the delivery of its first-ever apprenticeship programme for 12 FLS Aerospace apprentices. Humble beginnings indeed!

B1.1 Technician Approval soon follows

LRTT was soon targeting additional capability, primarily Cat B1.1, Maintenance Certifying Technician fixed-wing. During this period most UK CAA engineer licence holders had limitations applied to their licences when moving from British Civil Airworthiness Requirements (BCAR) to the brand new European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) system. LRTT established a bespoke course under its new Cat B1.1 approval which helped remove the limitations from many hundreds of engineers licences thereby enabling them to progress in their careers.

As a highly ambitious JV, LRTT was continually looking to expand. An opportunity was soon identified to support helicopter operators working in the offshore oil and gas industry through the achievement of Cat A3 and B1.3 approvals related to rotary wing aircraft. Significant investment to establish the training material and purchase practical training aids (including training helicopters!) were rewarded by achievement of the approvals and the engagement of CHC Helicopter as the launch, rotary wing apprenticeship customer.

Building on it’s success and blossoming reputation for excellence with the UK CAA, LRTT was eager to complete the suite of training approvals. The final approval was Cat B2 related to Avionics. Once again this required significant investment in both time and materials but the unstinting ambition of the company to become the best in it’s field spurred it on to gaining the approval in 2008.

2008/09 – BAE Systems make enquiries

By now, it’s success in the civil aviation sector had established LRTT as a driving force in UK aviation technical training. With a requirement to train around 500 new maintainers and no ‘in house’ capability, BAE Systems engaged LRTT to come up with a solution, as always LRTT was equal to the challenge! The first Agreement for Apprenticeship Services was signed in 2009 with BAE Systems Cohort 1 being trained at a LRTT refurbished facility in Doncaster, close to the BAE Systems customer bases.
This was just the start of the LRTT / BAE Systems training partnership which endures to the present day and encompasses training at all levels from Mechanic to Graduate.

Another strand of parallel activity ongoing over this rapid period of expansion was the engagement of LRTT by the Icelandic Flight Academy in Reykjavik to establish a B1.1 Technician Training programme on the Island. Traditionally individuals had been trained at a variety of sites overseas but the growing demand from Icelandair and other operators on the Island merited the set up of a local solution.

LRTT played an integral part in a coalition with the Icelandic Flight Academy, the Icelandic Technical Schools, most of the operators on the island and critically the Icelandic Trade Unions to facilitate and deliver a 2400 hours training programme that has endured to the present day.

The move to a purpose built Aviation Technical Training Academy

Established as a market leader, it was now time for LRTT to move it’s offering to the next level. The creation of the brand new, purpose built main base at the Cotswold Airport was the culmination of 7 years of highly successful service delivery. Drawing from this significant experience, LRTT management designed the new facility down to the last power socket and equipped it down to the very last screwdriver. A 10 year lease was signed in September 2009 and the business was relocated and fully operational in it’s new base by June 2010. An incredible achievement!

2010 – BAE chairman’s award for sharing best practice

Throughout this period, LRTT was continuing to grow the service offering to BAE Systems at Doncaster into a full career programme for its maintainers. Even winning a prestigious BAE Systems Chairman’s Award for sharing best practice from the civil to the military aviation technical training environment.

By the end of 2011 it was clear that the JV had run it’s course. Requiring greater flexibility to grow than the terms of the JV would allow, an amicable parting of the JV partners was negotiated with Resource Group buying the Lufthansa Technical Training 51% share.

Not wishing to lose the association with its LRTT brand heritage, the company renamed from Lufthansa Resource Technical Training Ltd to simply LRTT Ltd and became a wholly owned Resource Group company.

Now free to expand both geographically and through it’s product range, rapid further expansion followed including the establishment of a web based training offering that continues to grow to this day.

2013 – The Resource Group brand is established

Now a fully-fledged member of the Resource Group of Companies, LRTT was involved in the 2013 consolidation of the Resource Group brand into a single entity becoming it’s Aviation Technical Training Division.

2014 – Expanding to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Never shy of engaging in parallel activity, Resource Group’s next big project was already firmly on the horizon! Commissioned by BAE Systems Saudi Development and Training to establish the first ever EASA Part 147 training approval in Kingdom including courseware, instructors, workshop set up and equipment as well as on aircraft practical training exercises.

2014/15 – Resource Group facilitate a new Academy at Humberside International Airport

With the BAE Systems relationship going from strength to strength, it wasn’t long before the business outgrew the facilities at Doncaster. As a result, BAE Systems challenged Resource Group to develop a brand-new Aviation Maintenance Academy to service all of its aviation maintenance training needs.

Drawing on the experience and intellectual property of setting up the new LRTT main base, Resource Group set about this new challenge with gusto. An impressive collective management effort over a 6-month period resulted in the recommendation of a new build at Humberside International Airport that was fully accepted by BAE Systems.
The subsequent 12-month period was a blur of activity including new academy build management, equipment procurement and positioning as well as the continuance of training at Doncaster and the gradual transfer of capability from one site to the other. An individual highlight was the acquisition of 4 ex-RAF navigation trainer Dominie aircraft, two of which were flown in to be maintained in taxiing condition for live flight line training.

The BAE Systems Aviation Maintenance Academy opens its doors

The Aircraft Maintenance Academy opens as a partnership between Resource Group and BAE Systems. The site is known as the R .J. Mitchell Academy in recognition of Reginald Joseph Mitchell, a British Aeronautical Engineer with the accolade of developing the Supermarine Spitfire

Apprenticeship Standards

Resource Group becomes one of the earliest adopters of the new Apprenticeship Levy funded apprenticeships and achieves recognition on the first iteration of the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers. With the formation of a dedicated Apprentice Centre Team, Resource Group embraces the requirements of Ofsted and moves the apprenticeship offering to new levels whilst receiving multiple accolades along the way.

Trailblazers

Resource Group is a member of the Aviation Trailblazer Working Group which consists of aviation experts and employers who have been selected for their industry knowledge which is used to design and develop the aviation engineering standards for the Apprenticeship programme.The group meet regularly to ensure the standards are fit for purpose, meeting the requirements of many stakeholders. The standards produced by the Trailblazer Working Groups were the first Apprenticeship programmes designed to meet the new government requirements set for May 2017.

Resource International Group Investments (RIGI) is formed

Through the process of a management buy out (MBO) which included our own long serving Managing Director Ian Fitzpatrick, the Resource Group brand entered a new era. With a Swiss based holding company in RIGI and a clear cross divisional focus the emphasis on quality and compliance is even sharper.

New branding and new website

With each pin on the Resource Group wheel representing the 3 divisions adopting their specialities, Recruit, Train, Deploy.

The new business of Learning Design is formed

Committed to expanding the business through new product streams, Resource Group research showed that although widely recognised as experts in training delivery, an opportunity existed for a more complete service to our clients that included analysis and design. This led to the establishment of a fully capable Learning Design team and associated new business streams.

Learning Design launch new logo, services and website

Further innovation led to the adoption and creation of Flight crew eLearning products, the creation of the Resource Group Online Academy and the hosting of training products on our bespoke Learning Management System.

In line with plans to expand geographically, Resource Group is in the process of setting up a collaboration agreement with Abu Dhabi Aviation. Utilising the GCAA approval achieved in 2018, this effectively moves the entire Group offering 7 hours further East and is sure to present many more exciting opportunities for the business to grow.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) still in place but project paused due to the 2020 Pandemic.

Throughout the lockdown periods and the coronavirus pandemic, our priority has always been the health, wellbeing and safety of our clients and staff. Like many businesses in our sector, we faced a multitude of challenges and can confidently state that we have maintained our efforts to provide the very best outcome for our clients, promoting programme continuity through innovation and remote training delivery.

Through an amazing show of commitment from our clients and students for our industry’s future, we were able to continue delivering our Apprenticeship programme, Technician Training programme in Iceland and UK CAA & EASA Part-66 modular training via remote delivery.

The aviation industry has been hugely affected by Covid-19. However, with the passion for what we do and the ability to adapt, utilise new technologies and our creativity we will continue to step up and deliver for our clients wherever possible.