Lack of proper Apprentiships - probably caused by how much an apprentise has to be paid let alone doing enough to gain or maintain their interest.
I was apprentised in a woodworking workshop.
When I started my apprentiship the first tool I was shown was the kettle, accompanied by the Tea pot, tea bags, Milk, Sugar and Mugs. It was my job (initiative) to find out how & what the guys in the workshop wanted/liked.
The second day I was shown the sweeping brush and dust pan in the morning and in the afternoon the bins where the timber offcuts went.
For that I was paid just under a quarter of what the skilled men in the workshop were paid - it was to be a 5 year progression to a full rate. Today the legal requirement is what? Over 50% of a skilled mans rate? The last apprentise I had under my 'wing' started on 60% of a company technicians salary. At the end of 2 years they were on full money.
Once those jobbies was 'learnt' I was allowed to help the guys with simple jobs like cramping up, or breaking up previously worked timber to reuse. Occasionally I was given jobs such as drilling multiple holes with electric drills - which was the start of my down fall... I knew how to sharpen drills as I'd been taught that by my dad who was an old school C&J (indentured in 1938 for 5 years). 'Cause I knew how to sharpen drills when I was told off by the workshop coddy I gave him some 'lip' back* - that marked my card as a trouble maker compounded with previously asking about going to college to do the City & Guilds on C&J. (*What he didn't know was that most of the guys in the workshop knew of my dad and his skills...).
Today it's rare to see apprentices let alone apprentiships that last as little as 3 years; you see college exhibitions and the courses are either full time with little or no practical experience or NVQ's which are run by big companies with a very narrow focus. Either way I don't think it's a good way to learn practical subjects. Apprentices definitely need to know the theory as well as the practical side. My working life apprentiship - in a different but related trade - was a very clearly laid out journey, practical and theory, 2 years seeing every aspect of the job, 12 months of specialisation, up to 5 years coledge - 3 compulsory, the final 2 optional, with other college courses available. Alongside that I did very practical learning in the building trade from my Dad and his building trade mates when doing up houses for me - buy cheap, lots of work and sell on to move up.
