It was British Colonialists who provided India with its first rail networks and its rolling stock plus the added expertise of running it over 150 years ago.

Now we have been forced to bring in Indian railway engineers to help fix our crumbling network because of the skill shortage.

Surely, the blame should be directed at past education ministers and government policy for allowing a skills shortage to occur in this country.

Universities have proceeded to spew out Mickey Mouse qualified jobsworths most of whom are responsible for the unnecessary burdensome bureaucracy within our public and private services.

It is only recently that more attention has been given to artisan qualifications and a proper apprentice scheme and these should be encouraged more by a progressive grant system to students and apprentices who choose an artisan qualification.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/3561852.stm

The skill shortage is now beginnning to bite hard. This whole sorry episode was invented in the late seventies/early eighties when the Thatcher Government decided that a five-year apprenticeship could be whittled down to six months comeprehensive training at a skill centre.

That's Tory policy at its worst for you I'm afraid.

Now that the 'old masters' of industry have nearly all retired, we are largely a nation of skill-less people.

But, man: can we make road cones!

I've been working with these men (I work for Network Rail as a signaller) and several of us have got a great curry recipe from them. Indebted to em!

Originally posted by J_Horizontal
I've been working with these men (I work for Network Rail as a signaller) and several of us have got a great curry recipe from them. Indebted to em!

Well don't mess about let's be having it shared between us all
here.
http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9509&highlight=forum+recipe+book

Just put it in there ... as said in certain films I watch

Who gives a frig where they're from, as long as they sort the bleedin tracks out :)

The cowboys haven't managed to do it so let's see what the Indians can do.

Originally posted by Sam Miguel
The skill shortage is now beginnning to bite hard. This whole sorry episode was invented in the late seventies/early eighties when the Thatcher Government decided that a five-year apprenticeship could be whittled down to six months comeprehensive training at a skill centre.

I'm not sure that is true, but as Labour have been in power since 1997 they have had plenty of time to change things.

However, I just see the expansion of the universities, not craft training. Blaming the Conservatives for all our current ills doesn't wash any more.

I agree that there is a huge problem. Construction feels this especially hard.

Originally posted by Tony
I'm not sure that is true, but as Labour have been in power since 1997 they have had plenty of time to change things.

7 years to roll back 18+ years of abuse of public services by Thatcher/Major is a tall order. Go look at the lessons of Fabian on gradual change.

Originally posted by Sam Miguel

Now that the 'old masters' of industry have nearly all retired, we are largely a nation of skill-less people.


There was something on TV recently about apprenticeships. Apparently if we are successful in the bid for the 2012 Olympics the civil engineering apprenticeship intake will need to treble for the next two years to meet the demand for skilled labour the project would require.

Looks like another open door policy for immigrant workers.

Originally posted by Greybeard
There was something on TV recently about apprenticeships. Apparently if we are successful in the bid for the 2012 Olympics the civil engineering apprenticeship intake will need to treble for the next two years to meet the demand for skilled labour the project would require.

Looks like another open door policy for immigrant workers.

At last, you've come round to the idea that immigration can be a good thing. :thumbsup:

Originally posted by max
7 years to roll back 18+ years of abuse of public services by Thatcher/Major is a tall order.
Well within the context of this thread it would take no time at all to re-establish the colleges for trades, and certainly not 7 years. Like I said, I don't see any evidence of it at all, now or in the future.

Originally posted by max
At last, you've come round to the idea that immigration can be a good thing. :thumbsup:

Care to remind me of where/when I said it was a bad thing ?