Anyone is at liberty to apply to run a Seminar however it has to meet certain JAA requirements regarding content. That means that you have to have a number of presenters with the relevant experience; if you include helicopters that increases the number of presenters. They need to be paid and so does the venue where these are held. There are currently around 7 Seminars a year and a unexpired FI may attend at any time in the 3 years of rating validity. If each Seminar offers typically 40 places (some have catered for more) there are 840 places available; now as you can only revalidate by Seminar every 6 years, that means 1680 instructors are catered for. Supply exceeds demand.
Initially there were 4 potential providers, thats before the JAA effectively halved the number of likely attendees. One failed to meet the grade, another ceased trading and the 5th has never offered a Seminar. In order to recover the costs you need to guarantee at least 25 candidates, some Seminars have run on less than that. I would suggest that its a free market and that the supply currently exceeds demand which from an economic point of view is likely to deter any new provider. Instructors need to get there act together so that they take advantage of the available Seminars rather than waiting till the last minute and them blaming everyone else.

Doesn't help those who didn't plan on instructing again beyond line training for a while, but suddenly find the need for the rating! I realise it is a free market, and don't blame anyone except whoever made the rules that I apparently can't just go and do a shortened course, but have to wait for a specific event.

Oh, and my own impatience!

In response to Whopity, I dont understand your business model, seminars could be more frequent, and run for much smaller numbers. A minimun of 25 people attending is roughly £6500, so taking into account hotac, conference facility, trainers fee, admin that's still quite a good profit margin. Seminars could run on a profit on 15 people. But more importantly, from an educational point of veiw there is an optimun number when facilitating such courses, which is between 12 and 19.

Whopity, please do not take offence, but I just wondered if you have a commercial interest here.