Yes, it probably was a good idea. Trouble was that most of us, myself included never bothered to open the folder, which was complicated, in many ways irrelevant and to complete it impressed nobody. At the end of the day all that employers were interested in were your hours and licence. The said blue folder offered no more than that which your logbook and licence would show. Net result nobody filled it in! We were all too happy just to receive the tax discount! (and why not?)
One of the reasons that Her Majesties Government gives for removing NVQ status for commercial training was that there was ’ very little uptake!’ Fact of the matter is that there was a HUGE uptake, but it was impossible to differentiate between those who wanted a cheap PPL and those who genuinely were after a vocational qualification. Why, because there were virtually no records of completed courses under the NVQ scheme. NVQ was removed to stop scuba divers, PPLs and other recreational sportsmen benefiting from a loophole, and, you can see the point of that.
Yes, approved FTO’s should have been more responsible, but…….
Ladies and Gentlemen, ….we have ourselves to blame….(and I stand counted, I have that empty blue folder!).