I can’t believe I’m reading the posts above justifying such appalling trining pay.
If NATS only wants trainees with the support of bank-of-mum-and-dad then go ahead and take the Mickey - why not charge people for the privilege of training for a chance to become an ATCO? If we want the best, most motivated and qualified trainees in a world where we compete to attract them away from well paying careers we surely have to try harder. It is shameful that NATS actively filters out those trainees who can not afford to survive on the crumbs being offered and leaves us all poorer. I have seen good trainees resigning when they could no longer survive on the money available and I’m willing to bet some failed training outcomes have been as a direct result of trainees being unable to adequately feed and house themselves.
Talk conditions down to the bottom if you like, but like with pilots you will not get fairness or high-calibre this way.
Stockholm syndrome?