SATCO
This is from a thread earlier in the year and accords with what I have seen in company briefings.
New legislation from our European Bretheren means that shortly a rating may only be held for 5 years without validation, whereupon you have to re-train. Thus not much point in NATS giving Tower to Area controllers, or APR to Tower-only unit controllers, until they actually shift to another unit or discipline. Thus the concept of single rating training at the college has been born, and will commence within the next year [not 150 course, as was mentioned].