Interesting article, as I started reading qfgingerbeer post about the 150 apprentices, I thought it was going to finish "And all were given suits and jobs in offices" A guy I work with has a son who is a worlds favorite apprentice. Only 30 on his course and when he is out of his time in a couple of months, he's not going on the tools, he's driving a desk as are 21 others. Eight new tradesman for a firm that size. Just what the world needs more chiefs.
I don't know if any of you guys are internet wizards but if you are could you forward the BBC article to any and all management you have the email address of, do it. The sooner they wake up and invest in this noble profession the better.
You can take a school leaver off the street train him to be a pilot and have him on line in under 18 months. Try a minimum of 5 years under JAR66 for a certifying engineer. Need we say more. Unfortunately yes, because in 5 years we will have an even bigger shortage a new layer of semi-skilled tradesman that need to be supervised and a new aircraft with 550+ people and 250 tonnes of fuel on board relying on our skill's, judgment and experience to keep them from making large smoking holes in the middle of central London.
Pay us more and you will attract more people in on the bottom rung and keep the people that are here already. We are not just an annoying necessity we are an assett.