It's not my employee number - it's my Engineering Council Registration Number. Those two pieces of information would allow you to contact the Engineering Council and verify my status which you seemed to be doubting. If you weren't then fair enough, I misunderstood what you were saying.

Feeling philosophical this morning after reading this article on the BBC website which is about young people entering traditional trades, leatherwork, wheelwright etc.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-42441366
I have a science degree, am pretty good at practical skills and hold an atpl. Relative difficulty aside; I think that piloting sits firmly in between the academic and practical worlds in terms of approach, understanding and competence.
I think that is why I really enjoy it because it is challenging and rewarding on many levels.

I have an ATPL and a Master degree in Science and Business.
I have to stay that trying hard to get my licence current for the past 15 years
as a professional airline pilot was much more of a sacrifice on an intellectual and personal level than the time it took me to do the degree (from a well-respected university in Europe).
So I am really in favour of the Spanish initiative!