Genghis,
Too late for me to do the other thing and I don't hate this profession. In fact I agree with you that most office based jobs in this business suck and that the best times have definately involved turning spanners and the like.
Perhaps I am just getting a little jaded..... come to think of it I followed exactly the path Jim is talking about. All I meant was if you are a academic type then an office career might be more appealing than what you have to admit can be some quite harsh working conditions.
However, I do stick by my opinion that the A levels will not be much help if Jim has a change of heart. After 5 years they will not get him back into acadamia without some sort of access course.
Nuts