fohnwind/ERSA;
It may seem the way you see it, but there are other factors. I flew offshore for years, did all the P2/P1U/S stuff and then got a command. I got into on-shore by chance a year after being made redundant, the learning curve was nearly vertical at first, and I had some great mentoring from a few really knowledgable guys.
The problem doesn't stem from the operators (I'm writing about corporate/charter here) it stems from the customers and their insurance companies. We have exactly the same two crew procedures as offshore (Ok, we don't fly ARA's) we train two crew exactly the same way. We also multi-rate, so all pilots fly 2-3 different types and everyone flies both single pilot IFR and multi-crew IFR. BUT, the people who insure the customers as the key men in their companies don't like accepting P2/P1U/S hours. I spend hours every insurance renewal arguing with the underwriters, but the keyman underwiters want 2500 hours P1 with IR, and if you stick that on the hull insurance then you get cheaper premiums, and the aircraft owners will always grab a quick saving, no matter how many banks/hedge funds/supermarket chains they own. They do, not/refuse to accept that the ever widening skills gap is causing a huge crisis in a tiny industry, and they are largely responsible
The next snag is crew cost. I can't afford to hire someone purely as a P2, they have to be able to fly P1/P2 on multiple types from day one, and a sound safe knowledge of on-shore procedures (including landing on a T in Devon on a dark night in winter) is a big advantage.
I wish I had answers, but I don't, I am desperately concerned for the future of the on-shore helicopter industry in the UK. I am due to go in the next retirement block, the difference in hours and experience between me, and one other here pilot here and all the other guys are is huge, I have more P1 at night than one of my guys has total time, and that should not happen.
I can understand the HEMS hiring process on cost grounds, they can create their own specialists in exactly the same way that off-shore has done for years, but the workload on the P1's, especially on NVIS will be high.
SND