Originally Posted by
ManUtd1999
I thought the college trainees were already let go last year?
Pretty sure it went like this: trainees were let go in September 2020 - then the union pressured NATS to keep them on through the furlough scheme. The argument was that this wouldn't cost NATS anything, so they may as well do it and see how things play out. Then as of June, the furlough scheme required employer contributions - so NATS formally terminated contracts, rather than pay the furlough contributions. I believe the college trainees all have the guaranteed right to return to training when it does start again - but that this would likely be no earlier than mid 2022 based on current estimates. This is based on bits I've heard through various grapevines. I would also love to know what possible scenarios NATS might have planned for in terms of restarting training - but I honestly think the situation is still too volatile for any meaningful answers. I'd say '2022 at the earliest' is probably the best answer for now.