Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

Another reason was Blair's obsession with getting 50% of the country's kids to go to Uni regardless of the fact that apprenticeships would have been better for many.

Now we have lost those apprenticeships and can't afford the 50% of kids attending uni.

.

Dil - i agree with the thrust of your comment .... unfortunately, uni has been held out as the holy grail, whereas many and perhaps even most are only capable of modest degrees from third rate institutions and in worthless subjects .... the graduates are then totally bewildered that they are effectively unemployable

that most degrees could actually be completed in 2 years rather than the 3 allocated is another possible matter for discussion ..... i can't remember how many hours lectures per week are (generally) now given and/or obligatory, but it is risibly few

.

http://youtu.be/E4yzvwVFW3w

Apprentice decisions are "made and payed for" by the Employer in conjunction with the particular Trade Union in that Industry and know one else. It is not a job for Government at all, so lets get that straight. The destruction of our manufacturing is a matter of fact and not opinion in this Country by the Conservative Gov. from the late 80's to this day.. Another historical fact.. despite that fact annoying some people.

Dil,

I thought at the time that the Blair policy, of change of admission policy and university education to allow 50% of "youth", in order to pursue some "Mickey mouse" courses was crazy.

It may be that part of the policy was to massage unemployment figures of the period.

However, as you know for yourself, some are slow learners and I think that the opportunities for ongoing education should be life-long. The education does not have to be restricted to academic courses and could be of a vocational or self fulfilling nature.

--------------------------

The beauty of some of the "old" Techs" was that many entered from or on a "apprenticeship" bases, then went on to more academic courses, research and later to develop engineering businesses.

stan - imo your post is badly flawed ..... trades unions have minimal or no influence (thank goodness!) over whether apprenticeships should be offered ..... you're right that many companies, especially small ones, cannot afford to offer apprenticeships, but assuredly the gov't of any hue can make them more financially attractive to employers ..... plumbers, electricians, brickies etc etc are often sole traders (i think that's the right term) who absolutely do not have the financial ability to offer apprenticeships, yet there is a dire shortage of such skilled artisans, but "newcomers" need and are often required to have "field experience" ...... how are they meant to get it?

fred if education is the way to making money why is that 98% of people that i do no
are either on the dole or working in a factory .
I had a uni guy or girl from a top uni ever year for 20 years .
only met one with any common sense and most were thick as a plank
and one girl told me they will get you the papers no matter our thick you are .
so the de gree is worthless . and today companys no this .
so they train there own workers

fred . i have no education started to work at 11 now 64 retired at 54 and want for nothing .
but do care that the uk is now a cesspit .
all the MPs over the last 20 years have been rubbish filling there own pockets
and not interested in the country .

it is time to start again vote UKIP and give them the chance
cameron is a BLOODY WIMP

Tanker,

I hope you doctor, dentist, lawyer, teachers were educated and went to suitable universities etc..

Perhaps, I should remove doctor from that list.

Cynic, please read my post again.

Part of the particular Trade Union's role is to look after the interests of Apprentices as well as the Journeyman/Women. Whether the Companies employees have Trade Union representation is another matter. National Grid is a good example as to how a good Apprentice system should work for "all" in the long run.

The smaller Companies likewise but on a smaller scale of course, as for a Sole Trader more often then not they are usually happy to be a "one man" band with the wife doing the admin stuff, As training more people who are not family members is only making competion for them in the future and would threaten their own ability to get a better price for their services i.e. Plumbers.

imo, trades union leaders look after themselves, as such is human nature ..... and yes, i admit that imo, maggie thatcher did a wonderful job breaking their backs and baleful influence - 3 very large cheers!

with regard to small companies, whether in the service industries or m'facturing or artisan (eg garage mechanics) and sole traders, they absolutely cannot afford to take on apprentices irrespective of whether they fear later competition

.

fred doctor never trust them . dentist have never had a tooth out .
lawyer can do it my self and bought and sold 5 houses never used a solicitor .
teachers will not teach you anything ,
if you want to learn and have common sense do it your self .
if any one wants to find out and find is way in life you need no one today its all on the internet to take in even for medical .

fred if you are over 68 and want to die go in to hospital its very rare to live these days avoid hospitals at all cost the nurses are not nurses most are immigrants who do not give a toss just they for a rest and work somewhere else i no of at least 7 that have other full time jobs and that is from one hospital they go there to sleep.

mna foe once i agree with you ,

Tanker, sorry you are just typing carp. Go out in the snow and make a snowman. :-))

dream the weather here is loverly .
what i have posted is fact

any one today thinking of buying a home is a idiot
the uk is now a place of part time work
full time work will be a thing of the past
people thinking of buying if they are not well off
forget it .
insurance for the home maintence
you can not call the council or landlord
and it does not come cheap

rent and if you are out of work you have no worrys
the chance of some one starting out today getting a job for life iis gone you may get one for a year at most .

my age group had the best years and you are going to pay for our greed
sad but true

.