Are local business people concerned that they are unable to share their
experience and knowledge with younger people? Is it the paper work
and/or Health and Safety that puts people off supporting young people
to sign up for apprenticeship schemes. There is a concern that
practical trades are dying out in the Purbeck area. It would be a great
shame if we lost these practical skills. Would anyone like to comment
about this?
Posted by Anonymous to swanageview at 3:16 PM
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Local Apprenticeships
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
40 comments:
A good point and well raised. As with most things in life it's not a black and white question. First of all we need two things – an employer and an apprentice – surprise! (cuz I'm lazy – emps and apps) At the moment we have both but we have fewer emps who want/need additional employees. From heresay many of the larger emps have been laying off sub-contractors, this may be best from a long term point of view as they keep their experienced full-time staff and can always bring the 'subs' back in if/when things pick up again.
Cuz of the recession there are probably more potential apps, for fewer posts. Our one man and a van type of crafstman probably has no, or little, need for an employee. The family firm seems pretty much to have died out; 'when I were a lad' the '& son' was quite common, I've a feeling that that's now a thing of the past.
We used to have Winfrith, how many apps did they turn out each year? We've now got Cobham and Flight, 15 to 20 apps a year each. I'm not sure about this, and if I'm wrong I apologise, but I'm pretty sure that Queensbury used to take on apps – do they still?
Back to the 'man and his van', he obviously has to employ someone and pay them at least £95 a week, add on 'on costs' and your looking at 6.5 to £7,000 a year. A Training Co-ordinator will visit to check on H&S issues, so maybe more cost, and then as the emp you are probably going to have to train and observe your app. The NVQ part is work based, the app does some work, taking photo's and writing it up, the emp then signs it off to say that this happened, then the assessor assesses, which may well include visiting to see/check the work – that must be quite an onerous responsibility until you're used to it. Plus of course your app will be at College for one day a week doing the tech cert and keyskills.
When your app qualifies, of which (nationally) approx 2/3 rds do, they'll want a pay rise, some get laid off and a new app is taken on!
Another bit that I'm not at all sure about is that emps have to pay into a training fund, when the app qualifies then they get there money ++ back, but as I say I'm not sure about that.
As for the future – who knows? Try this, we're creating apps, the typical plumber will get a van, £25K a year and all the overtime (ot) they can handle – recession allowing. Aged 20 to 30 that's probably quite a bit! Aged 30 to 40 the ot probably becomes less attractive and at 40+ hopefully they're starting to slow down and want out of the 'rat race'. Perhaps that's when they'll go self employed and start working in their local community. Then at 50+ they may just want an app to do the hard work for them!
There again, I may be totally wrong – nuffink noo there!
I thought the apprenticeship system fell apart in the 1980s when it was realised that learning by tea-making was no longer viable and firms were suffering in the recession. .
In many ways this was a tragedy because the route to the boardroom in engineering and other industries was generally via apprenticeship and hence from the shop floor. This contributed more to social mobility than the 11+ ever did. Widening access to university has not entirely cured this.
I thought the apprenticeship system fell apart in the 1980s when it was realised that learning by tea-making was no longer viable
But you can now get a qualification in this and also how to catch a BUS. A farce really.
Its not just apprenticeships that have gone. When I left school in the 60s you could article yourself to an accountant, a solicitor, a surveyor and a number of other professions with your O levels and stay in Swanage until you qualified. Its all graduate entry now. The garages have gone, theres not much left in the way of building firms either. This is general to small towns across the country, nothing unique to Swanage of course
Then again perhaps we should go back to the rules for quarry apprentices that said you had to be the son of a quarryman. The practical effect was that daughter of quarrymen had to marry their cousins if they were to be reasonably sure their sons would get a job. As a result Purbeck was found to be the most inbred place in the country by the mid nineteenth century. Plus de la meme chose anybody?
OK.so now we've looked at the failures of the past, what about the future of the trades?
Yours 6.14
Thank you 6.14 for bringing it back to the positive. I brought up this 'new post', because my son has just qualified as a carpenter with Queensbury. It was an apprenticeship partnership between Queensbury, CITB and Weymouth College. He gained his NVQ 3, which enables him to have the option to go to university if chooses. This has been a win win opportunity. He gained good GCSE results but did not wish to stay on at school to do A levels, he is now still only 19, has a very useful practical skill, and also has a qualification that could enable him enter a degree course if necessary. Although I am very proud of my son, this is not the reason for this post. If other businesses were able to open up to taking on apprentices, eg bakers, plumbers, electricians, builders, tourism, pub management etc, then this would pass on skills to the next generation. This is a positive way to share skills and does not cost the employer a fortune. What it mainly costs is patience and time. I hope that more local young people will be able to experience the positive outcomes that my son has been given.
So, what about the future of the trades??
Perhaps this is what is wrong with things today, 3 NVQ's and can now go to university? Is this the same NVQ ssytem that allows someone to be qualified in a trade after say 8 weeks and only the odd visit by an assesor? to me thats poor.
I did a 4 year app. reduced from 5 years. the bussines owner visited my parents so they could sign all the forms. Im glad your son is now qualified well done. But im sure some of the oldies would be turning in their graves at this type of appreticship.
To be blunt some of the pupils coming out of schools nowadays are poorly educated, no basic maths is a major problem, I have a friend who taught carpentry at college, he asked the students to cut a peice of wood in half, it was 600mm long most wanted a caculator to do this. He was devastated, but them again he's old school.
Anyway thats the ramblings of a 60,s child, I suppose the Echo will be filled with pics of kids jumping for joy at their exam results soon better passes etc etc.
B.S I'm sure.
Oh dearie, dearie me.
"Perhaps this is what is wrong with things today, 3 NVQ's and can now go to university"?
No, not 3 NVQ's, 1 NVQ at Level 3.
Education has changed a lot since we were at Skool, and before you say for the worse, did the skools of yesteryear turn out well educated and socialised people enmass? No, they didn't. Education is not and never has been perfect.
NVQ's are in many ways better than a 'standard' (50's to '70's mindset) education.
The levels are basically associated with the amount of responsibility the student has to take.
At level 1 they are told what to do and they do it. At Level 2 they are given options - which is basically saying, well it could be done this way, or this way, do you know another way? At level 3 it becomes, 'there's house, put a roof on it'.
That isn't as rash as it seems cuz there are all sorts of standards that have to be adhered to, a foreman who checks what's going on, and the rest of the team who are going to laugh a lot if you do something stoopid!
So, the roof goes on the house, the foreman signs it off, the Inspector visits and signs it off. The NVQ assessor - who's been working with this firm for years - probably won't bother to check her/his students physical work - but will scrutinise the 'write-up', cuz s/he will be keeping a close eye on the student who's employed by Cowboy and Sons.
Also bear in mind that the Level 3 student, unless they've passed Maths and English GCSE at C or above, within the last 3 years, has to pass Level 2 tests in Maths and English.
Trust me - they aint easy.
Delighted to hear that Queensbury are still 'doing' apprenticeships, and congrats to your son.
Yours 6.14
8:50 AM
Oh dear, the negative one has returned. The minute someone is positive, you pop your negativity in again. You seem to have a massive chip on your shoulder, I really do hope the kids do not read your post, most are hard working, and I really hope they do well with their results.
I wish you well in your little pod of negativity.
Errors in your post 8.50am:
3 NVQ's -wrong- NVQ 3
ssytem -wrong- system
assesor? -wrong- assessor
thats -wrong- that's
bussines -wrong- business
appreticship -wrong- apprenticeship
but 'them' again he's old school.-wrong- then
'Perhaps this is what is wrong with things today, 3 NVQ's and can now go to university? Is this the same NVQ ssytem that allows someone to be qualified in a trade after say 8 weeks and only the odd visit by an assesor? to me thats poor.' Wrong!
Im glad your son is now qualified well done. But im sure some of the oldies would be turning in their graves at this type of appreticship. - Wrong!
You have been very judgemental, your spelling and facts are inaccurate. I wonder who is uneducated? Please take a look at yourself.
Next time before you post,find out your facts. NVQ's/apprenticeships are a good qualification for school leavers. It takes 3 years to gain an NVQ 3. First year, on-site for 3 days and 2 day release at college. Second and 3rd year, 4 days a week, one day release at college. The young people work alongside an experienced employee and learn from practical example. Their independence is encouraged. The young people work hard to provide work based evidence and knowledge for their file. They also have to take exams.
So 8.50 you are an example of an
'oldie' that is out of touch with what is going on. I'm surprised at you, being a 'child' of the 60's, you have let our generation down! What has happened to make you so bitter.
An NVQ 3 does not take 8 weeks. Please do your homework before you post again.
Please let's not go around marking each others work.
"...post,find..."
Space after a comma, please.
"First year....Second and 3rd year ....."
First, Second, Third, purlease!
Or, 1st, 2nd, 3rd.
My mistakes: in an earlier post I used a dash when I should really have used a semi-colon, starting a sentence with Or, and probably others.
This about communication and not everyone is a gud spellar; hopefully our less positive friend has learnt something from this.
If you look at our media, ask yourself this, how often does it portray anything in a positive light? It's a helluva lot easier to be negative than positive
Is 'learnt' correct? Please discuss.
Yours 6.14
"This about communication"
This IS about ....
Look, I'm marking my own damn work now!
Yours 6.14
So it takes 3 years to get an NVQ 3 fair comment, does that mean that all of us oldies that have 4/5 year apprenticships are not as qualified as an NVQ3? I went to poole college for blocks of 6 weeks at a time took 6 written and 4 practical exams can I go to university I have the city and guild papers? Perhaps I did not quite understand the NVQ3 level but I an asure you NVQ 2 dont take 3 years, its about 8/10 weeks and just a few assesor visits and a basic exam ie spell your name and thats a FACT!
My other complaint is the ludicrous subjects they give qual. in now including tea making and catching a bus. so when us oldies see some of the exam results we tend to raise an eyebrow.
Sounds like you can go as a mature student on the basis of convincing them at interview rather than exam passes. What were you thinking of reading?
So it takes 3 years to get an NVQ 3 fair comment, does that mean that all of us oldies that have 4/5 year apprenticships are not as qualified as an NVQ3?
Nobody ever said you were not as qualified as others. It is you that has been undermining the NVQ and criticising others. This started as a positive post to encourage apprenticeships, its a shame some people find it necessary to turn it into something negative.
I went to poole college for blocks of 6 weeks at a time took 6 written and 4 practical exams can I go to university I have the city and guild papers? Perhaps I did not quite understand the NVQ3 level but I an asure you NVQ 2 dont take 3 years, its about 8/10 weeks and just a few assesor visits and a basic exam ie spell your name and thats a FACT!
I think you may find that it depends on how much practical experience you have, whether NVQ takes 8/10 weeks. If a mature person has been eg. bricklaying for 10 years, they would be able to do the theory part of this more quickly. Please don't knock something that you do not fully understand. Maybe you should find out whether you could do a degree. The Open University is open to all, no qualifications needed at all.
My other complaint is the ludicrous subjects they give qual. in now including tea making and catching a bus. so when us oldies see some of the exam results we tend to raise an eyebrow.
This is not what the discussion has been about, it has been about, young people and apprenticeships, why are you always so negative?
You are always complaining.
You can also get a qualification in hand-washing!
"Defending the AQA's life skills scheme, a spokeswoman said: "The Unit Award Scheme provides the opportunity to give students formal recognition of their success outside the normal qualifications framework. However we expect centres to ensure that candidates are entered for units that are appropriate to their needs and abilities. For students with very specific needs, something as simple as catching the bus would be a genuine achievement, while for other students, it would not be an appropriate unit to take."
That's from the Irishsun.
In English that means that these qualifications are for people who aren't able to pass a 'normal' Level 1 qualification.
Now, you seem to set great store in your qualification, what is wrong with someone else being given the chance to feel something similar?
A kid in a wheelchair, possibly with cerebral palsy, can get a qualification proving that s/he can catch a bus, or wash their hands, sounds good to me.
No-one has said that an NVQ2 will take 3 years, but it will take most people 2. If you've already got 4 GCSE's at C or above, inc English and Maths then you can do it 1.
If you can give the evidence for the 8/10 week NVQ I'd be very interested, because it is possible - in theory. If you can cover the whole curriculum in that time, then you can produce your portfolio, but that would mean that the tests are available 'on demand', and that's rare; and then there's the Tech Cert part - I should point out that not all trades call it the Technical Certificate - and that is taught to the skool year - unless of course you are talking about the Cowboys who will get you the NVQ2 but without the Tech Cert and the keyskills, charge you thru' the nose and probably have a very low Offsted rating, a few have also had appointments in the Law Courts.
It would also strongly suggest that the student is not studying at the appropriate level - you can enter me for an NVQ level 1 in maths, I'll pass in a day, but I'd still be signed up for the whole year.
The trade tests at Level 2 are far more than you suggest, and have an 85% pass mark.
I'd love to give you an example of a Level 2 keyskills question but I can't, the firm who set and mark the exams won't let us due to Copyright. That means that we can't show our students passed - or is that past - papers as an example of the questions they might get. When they go into their test they have B-all idea of the questions and remember things have moved on a bit, the tests are on-line now, the only non-student who gets to see the tests is the Invigilator, and they're not allowed to watch over the students shoulder.
Steuth, I need a drink!
Yours 6.14
I know of someone who obtained a NVQ 2 in in one year then the level 3 in another year one day a week at college so a total of 70 days to obtain 2/3 (a tad over 8 weeks sorry)
Are local business people concerned that they are unable to share theirexperience and knowledge with younger people? Is it the paper workand/or Health and Safety that puts people off supporting young people to sign up for apprenticeship schemes. There is a concern that practical trades are dying out in the Purbeck area. It would be a greatshame if we lost these practical skills. Would anyone like to comment (positively) about this?
Are local business people concerned that they are unable to share theirexperience and knowledge with younger people? Is it the paper workand/or Health and Safety that puts people off supporting young people to sign up for apprenticeship schemes.
Yes and Yes!
Bang bang bang.
Head, brick wall interface.
The person who got their NVQ 2/3 by going to college for 70 days - “a tad over 8 weeks”! - actually had 70 x 8 which is 560hrs of teaching, and then on the other days of the week demonstrated their skills at work.
The electrical apprentices timetable for last year was Theory 9 to 13, Theory 14 to 16, Keyskills 16.30 to 18.30 and then seeing their Assessor 18.30 to 19.30. Then they came in for half a day for Practical.
Cuz many of them had 'difficulties' with maths they were also offered an 8 to 9 slot for additional maths, at first very few of them used that, but as the 'pass or fail' deadline approached attendance shot up!
If it's the paperwork and H&S that puts people off then that's a head/sand scenario. Very few of us enjoy the paperwork, but in this day and age it's a fact of life. Swanage has a Chamber of Trade http://www.swanagechamber.co.uk/ if all these businesses were members then they could share their skills and experiences with each other, there's also Business Link
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/home?site=106&furlname=southwestrda&furlparam=southwestrda&ref=&domain=www.businesslink.gov.uk
Just in case: http://tinyurl.com/lxzpz7
And then of course the NVQ assessor will be able to help as well. I'm not saying that it'll be easy, but it does get easier if you talk to people who've done it before, do it yourself and ask for advice.
If something's worth doing then you do it and put up with the negative bits, if it's something that you know you should do but can't really be bothered with then you create excuses for not doing it. If you're frightened about something new, then you create excuses for not doing it.
If you want to do it, then you do it.
There's lots in the press at the moment about the NEETS – young people who are not in employment, education or training, that's a nice way of talking about potential – and I stress potential – troublemakers. In a perfect world they'll go to college and get a few qualifications and then get a job and/or an app – E2E is the acronym, which is either entry to employment or education to employment – ah, acronyms!
But of course for that to work you need employers who want an app and are prepared to learn how to do a bit of paperwork and then abide by H&S legislation.
Damn, I'm getting negative now!
Yours 6.14
If you look at the minimum number of hours teaching time for an A level it is remarkably low, something like 60 hours, so in theory you could do it in two weeks not two years. You can make a reductio ad absurdum to any qualification. Can we move on from this pointless bickering please.
The biggest problem nowadays is that the skills needed for a job change rapidly. For example. I took my car to the garage and told them there was a suspected dry solder joint in the ABS control module. Blank looks all round. Remember those highly paid newspaper compositors? Gone the way of the dodo but eaten by Mr Murdoch and his shareholders rather than by hungry sailors. As Heraditus put it "nothing is constant but change"
Now those Greek philosophers must have had a pretty good apprenticeship system although I suspect some of the demands on the lads would raise eyebrows now.
I would have more respect for the education we received in the 60s if there was some evidence that more of those who befitted from it had learned to treat statements in the media and elsewhere to a bit more critical analysis.
Lets look at it from a different angle.
What skills does a town the size of Swanage need to be able to be self sustaining and more or less independent?
If the skills are already being met, and the people doing them are not all about to retire, then we can stop worrying.
But if there is a need for younger people to learn practical skills, then maybe we could contact the Purbeck School, to find out what they are doing to encourage local businesses to 'take on' young people and to share their skills. Perhaps the school could make the links between the CITB (apprenticeship scheme), the College, Employer and the young person.
Maybe we could do a bit of a brainstorm here to work out first what skills are needed.
But of course for that to work you need employers who want an app and are prepared to learn how to do a bit of paperwork and then abide by H&S legislation.
Thats the problem its just not a " bit of paperwork" its a lot of paperwork and the H&S is a nkghtmare, then we move on to the quality of the aprentice. Mmmmmm now thats a different kettle of fish.
And 614 dont you think basic maths should be taught at school?
With the advent of the Diploma Skools and Colleges are working much more closely together. Poole piloted the 14yr old plumbers in 07-08 and I think B'mouth did another pilot 08-09. Next yr - dunno.
In many ways it seems to be a better use of facilities, the potential plumber will probably have 3 days at skool doing maths english PE maybe science or a humanity, then have 2 days at college 1 for theory and 1 for practical. To me it's got to be good for the kiddies to have experience in a more adult environment.
As for the particular trades to be taught I'm led to believe that this is still being discussed/negotiated. Each skool wants certain trades each college wants certain trades and these all have to be matched up and sorted out.
So far as I'm aware we, the people, don't have any input into this (probably cuz it's skooling issues); and so far as I'm aware we, the people don't have any input into the post16 area either (probably cuz it's employment issues).
As for what skills are needed locally, streuth, that's a difficult one.
Surely the firms e.g. Queensbury, will sort out what they need, and I know of 2 hairdressers who employ apps. Our other major emps are Purbeck View Skool who as I understand it have a pretty good training package set up for staff, the NHS whose training seems fine. Wire Fittings - I've no knowledge. The Hotels - probably too seasonal. Care homes - no idea, B&B's - no idea.
Is it a case of tempting an employer into the area, that's my guess.
Yours
6.14
I do not understand that last remark. Maths is taught in all schools by law. Whether any of us think it should be is irrelevant. Fortunately there is a lot less emphasis on the mechanical arithmetic we had to put up with half a century ago.
Some people have a very funny idea of what kids should be taught. some people think that a knowledge of history consists of being able recite a list of kings and queens with the years of their deaths believe it or not.
Wasn't Law the brother of Data?
Star Trek TNG.
not putting my blooming name on an admission of such geeky treky knowledge.
yours a nun.
6.14
I think you will find it was Lore
live long and prosper :)
List of 200 artisan skills required to make a Victorian town functional
(skills that might be needed in a post-carbon world)
-taken from the last 2 pages of appendices from “Victorian Oamaru : A vision For The Future” by Michael O’Brien. Sent in by Ted Howard of Nelson, New Zealand.
Woodland Crafts. Coppicers, hurdle makers, rake makers, fork makers, besom makers, handle makers, hoop makers, ladder makers, crib makers, broaches and peg makers, clog sole cutters, bodgers, charcoal burners, oak basket makers, trug makers, stick and staff makers, field gate makers, willow basket makers, net makers.
Building crafts. Stone masons, joiners, roofers, floor layers, wallers, thatchers, slaters, lime burners, paint makers, glass blowers, glaziers, stained glass artists, mud brick makers, tile makers, chimney sweeps, plumbers, decorators, bridge builders, French polishers, sign writers.
Field crafts. Hedge layers, dry stone wallers, stile makers, well diggers, peat cutters, gardeners, horticulturists, vintners, arborists, tree surgeons, foresters, farmers, shepherds, shearers, bee keepers, millers, fishermen, orchardists, veterinarians.
Workshop crafts. Chair makers, iron founders, blacksmiths, wheelwrights, coopers, coppersmiths, tinsmiths, wood turners, coach builders, boat builders, sail makers, rope makers, wainwrights, block makers, leather tanners, harness makers, saddlers, horse collar makers, boot and shoe makers, cobblers, clog makers, knife makers, cutters, millstone dressers, potters, printers, typographers, calligraphers, bookbinders, paper makers, furniture makers, jewellers, mechanics, boiler makers, boiler men, soap makers, gunsmith, sword smith, brush maker, candle maker, artist, sculptor, firework maker, cycle builder, bone carver, musical instrument maker, clay pipe maker, tool maker.
Textile crafts. Spinner, weaver, dyer, silk grower, tailor, seamstress, milliner, hatter, lace maker, button maker, mat and rug maker, crochet worker, tatting and macramé worker, knitter, quilter, smock worker, embroiderer, leather worker, felt maker.
Domestic crafts. Fish smoker, bacon curer, butter maker, cheese maker, brewer, cider maker, wine maker, distiller, herbalist, ice cream maker, butcher, fishmonger, pie maker, pickle maker, baker, barrister and coffee roaster, homeopath, reflexologist, osteopath, naturopath, storyteller, teacher naturalist, historian, jester, actor, administrator, philosopher, labourer, poet, writer, midwife, publican, bookseller, librarian and idiot – there is no unemployment in this traditional model!
Put me down for being the jester, or should I nominate anyone who seriously thinks the last two hundred years technology is going to be uninvented.
The great "what will happen when oil runs out" nonsense is actually a re-run of the "what will happen when the south american guano runs out and there is no more fertiliser" scare of the nineteenth century. The answer was Haber developed a chemical process for making fertiliser.
We need to be looking at the skills and opportunities new technology offers not the ones needed a century or two ago. There are a range of activities that can be carried on in Swanage that previously needed you to be somewhere with access to a lot of expensive equipment - now largely replaced by computers and broadband connections.
If you can put me down for coffee roaster that'd be great!
Surely in this day and age it shouldn't be a case of either or?
Traditional crafts and Internet based businesses, sounds good to me.
Yours
6.14
In the brave new world of local self sufficiency no doubt we will grow our own coffee, so long as there is a fair bit more global warming. By the way, has anyone worked out the acreage of land needed for feeding 10,000 people to say nothing of the amount of coppice to run the Swanage blast furnaces and cement works.
Thought not.
That list is from a place called Oamaru in New Zealand and reflects the occupations in a town in an agricultural economy. It is however worth reading about Oamaru which is a town with a number of large Victorian buildings, more like the sort of thing you find in our northern cities, however, it is interesting because of the way it has tried to establish itself on the tourist circuit on the strength of this, much as Swanage has reinvented itself as a time warp place. The strategic plan is worth a read at http://www.historicoamaru.co.nz/owct/Strat%20Plan/Stategic%20Plan.htm
It contains this:
Visions
Preserving and developing New Zealand's most unique collection of historic buildings into a living 'Victorian Town at Work'.
Mission
To develop Oamaru and North Otago as an iconic town and district where citizens and visitors can learn about and experience what life was like in Victorian New Zealand by:
Supporting development of the heritage estate for the social, cultural and economic well being of the community;
upholding the highest standards of heritage planning, preservation and restoration; and
effecting change in the community’s appreciation of and support for heritage.
Looking at the debate here over things like the pretend thatch at the bottom of the High Street you can see why they have identified the need to change the communities appreciation of and support for heritage.
'The great "what will happen when oil runs out" nonsense is actually a re-run of the "what will happen when the south american guano runs out and there is no more fertiliser" scare of the nineteenth century. The answer was Haber developed a chemical process for making fertiliser.'
Look where that got us? Perhaps we should combine the best of the old and the new. It would be wise to learn from our mistakes. We can learn from the past but not the future.
It got us fed for the last 100 years.
A don't want to embrace the whig view of history and suggest that all is progress towards peace and light but I don't think that the inhabitants of the developed world about to give up on science and technology and go back to a pre-industrial standard of living either. Our economy revolves round selling us large amounts of useless junk and for one reason or another most people are perfectly happy with that. You and I are at liberty to turn our backs on this and live in barrels but its a minority taste.
Why does everybody seem to live in such a black and white world?
Live in a barrel by all means, but have broadband as well.
Mix and match.
Have your huge flat screen TV, but compost all you can.
Let's have apps in coppicing - we do have a maosiac of mixed broad leaf ancient forest - that's rare. Being rural we're perfect for internet knowledge based businesses.
Vive la difference!
Yours
6.14
OH, BLINKING HELL!
"maosiac"
That's got to be Freudian!
MOSAIC.
Embarrassedly yours
6.14
I see Nico has something in the Gazette re Apprenticeships
What Nico actually has is a press release.
The idea of increasing the min wage from £95 to £135 did surprise me, but the idea of the Group Apprenticeship Programme is appalling.
A large part of the app program is; 'OK, your 16 now, you want to be an app, good, go find an employer'.
Then of course there's the weasel words; "....and would take on the administrative burden for small firms including financial and health and safety risks".
Which translates as, we'll pay 'em £135 a week and then the tax payer will fund and do everything else.
I wonder what the financial risks include ...
http://www.purbeck-gazette.co.uk/latest_issue.htm
Page 21
Post a Comment