@loubylou
are the enough people, desperate to be controllers, who would fork out the £20-40k required ( the figure was a guess at how much ratings cost , not a statement!) to fill the shortfall in ATCO numbers?
I don't think so
In Spain, after the changes we have been suffering in the last year, if you want to become an ATCO, you have to pay €45k for a 22 week training that only allows you to seek for a post at a small TWR. Job is not guaranteed!
And YES, there are a lot of candidates, because they think they´re going to get €200k a year ... don´t think so ...
Saludos!