but licenses don't get granted overnight....what happens while they are spending up to a year or more getting their licenses?
Nodrama - the transition to SARH is not happening overnight either. In theory the preferred bidder will be announced shortly, the first bases to be transitioned are the 4 MCA ones which already have licensed engineering followed thereafter by the RAF & RN bases with the final transfer not til 2016/2017 (cant remember the exact timeframe). There is plenty of time there for people to be identified and training programmes put in place while they still provide the current service to SKIOS. I accept there may be an employment law issue over conflict of interests between SKIOS & new company but I'm no solicitor either so dont know the answer on that.