At LHR, in recent months we've had about 5 validations, yet with departures to sandier climes, our net gain in valid atcos has been 1! Each watch has 2 or 3 trainees, if they don't get trained then with retirements etc. the net figure WILL head south, furthermore many people are on the cusp of deciding whether to start learning arabic. The pension shaft WILL push them towards a one-way ticket to Dubai and beyond.
fewer staff, no AAVAs and other duties, yep £100,000 a day fines WILL become the norm.
And all that at a small provincial airfield to the west of London!
Multiply it throughout the other NATS airports and en-route and pension costs WILL suddenly seem cheap