I was lucky enough to go to a grammar school, and after being quite happily brought up in what would now be described as poverty, went to university and became a high flyer in my branch of the medical profession. However, someone dear to me who grew up in better circumstances, didn’t have the benefit of the strict, and academic, catholic school primary education that I had. First they knew about the 11+ was being taken by bus to another school, and having an exam paper dumped in front of them. Needless to say, they failed, and went off to the local secondary modern. So that system was good for some, but not for others.
With apprenticeships that boost the life chances of less academic youngsters. Skilling up is a good place to start. Some apprenticeships in building have recently been watered down - 8 mths instead of 12, for example - to save money. It's a false economy and it short-changes young people.
Okay, however companies like Rolls Royce, BAE Systems, Airbus, Sheffield Forge Masters among others take apprentices every year and have multiple applicants for each post and many of these apprentices could easily go to University, but choose not to. Companies are generally smaller than they were 30 - 40 years ago and just don't need as many apprentices. An apprentice is a cost for a company. So how do you increase the no of apprenticeships available, then how do you persuade young people especially in inner cities to become apprentices when they want to be footballers, singers, rappers, models, influencers. Then finally the elephant in the room as always who pays for it and how. In the middle ages it wasn't unusual for a craftsman to be paid to take an apprentice, the fee being related to the skill of the craftsman.
There hasn't been a company called British Aerospace for years. It's called BAE Systems. The change was made because it's a multinational company and it's not just limited to aerospace systems.
Re apprenticeships, Skills England now pays 100% of the costs for small companies. (That's probably why the qualification is being dumbed down, to recoup the money back. There is also talk of dropping practical assessments to save, though how you certify someone as a trained plasterer without testing them practically, I have no idea.) I think if young people see that training to be an electrician, say, is likely to give you a better return than becoming one of the 50% of your yr group with a degree if it is in a not-in-demand subject area, they would be see it as a purposeful route. You can't force a horse to drink, obviously, but you can make the watering hole more attractive. Erasmus is great for those able to benefit from it, but the country needs labour skilled in other ways too. Goodness knows, finding a plumber or boiler fitter can be tough, and when those currently in their 40s or 50s retire, the gap between supply and demand will be even greater.
Putin now has nuclear weapons positioned 8 mins from London apparently ... to which some wag online replied "Not coming up the M1 then"! Gotta love black humour.
Recently I was touring a museum that had USA President pictures in a row, minus the Auto Pen. I overheard a person walking by the Biden one and that person said out loud , "its missing the Auto Pen picture". And it's funny, how I can be just anywhere, out of the blue, without any encouragement I can hear folks make snide remarks about Biden. Did hear it was above a Hundred items signed by the Auto Pen, of which Biden knew nothing about. I always knew long ago, the Affordable Care Act was stupid to begin. Based on, Years ago--one of my jobs was to secure medical services through the Veterans health insurance for the Vets I had as clients, it was horrible working with that insurance, getting services started ect. The service just did not run smoothly. So when Obummer started the Obama Care, I would think if the government can't have the VET insurance run well, and that is less population, how do you think you're going to cover well a larger number of people.
I wouldn't be worrying about Rolls Royce doing apprenticeships - seems they are about to off their operations to the likes of Germany thanks to Rachel from Accounts.
@redstar you and other USA reds really need to ift your eyes and brains above yur navels. Universal social and health care is a given in all the major western economies so, just maybe, you could learn by seeing how we more intelligent, socially caring countries do it! Bismark started it in Germany in the 1860s and Germany is a very successful democracy and Bismark was certainly not a lefty socialist, just a very pragmatic leader wanting the best for the citizens because it improves social stability and economic output.
When I described him as a child, it was more to do with the labels that he has had stuck on the wall under each president’s name. It reminds me of my nine year old self, in primary school, scrawling “I hate Miss Smith. She’s a horrible teacher.” on the blackboard during the dinner break. I grew out of it. He is still locked in the nine year old’s mentality.
