Originally Posted by
TURIN
When the UK armed forces contracted in the late 70s and 80s there was a rush of great engineering personnel into civilian roles, about the same time the civilian companies reduced their apprentice intakes dramatically, in fact, some stopped recruiting completely.
There is now a shortage across the industry of suitably qualified and competent mechanics and engineers.
I've no idea what the pay rates are in the armed forces but a post apprenticeship mechanic can now expect between £40k and £50k. Licenced Engineers, almost double that.
Not all LAEs are on 80K. But to get anyone in civvy street unless it is KLM UKE that seem to be having to take on armourers now as ex service source, you pay market rate. Serco, Babcocks etc, will not.