Off Topic The Politics Thread

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Should the UK remain a part of the EU or leave?

  • Stay in

    Votes: 56 47.9%
  • Get out

    Votes: 61 52.1%

  • Total voters
    117
  • Poll closed .
Bob are there any opportunities for kids nowadays to take apprenticeship s in plastering ? Just asking for the future as my two youngest are in absolutely no way academic and I’m thinking a trade might be the best way forward for them in the future.
I’m also seeing about these new T-Level course that are coming in next year....might be worth looking at I guess.
Yes dont get me wrong about courses, they still run them but the demand fizzling big time. I taught at Middlesbrough college (plastering) for 18 months many moons ago. A class of 28. A couple of years ago my mate told me there were 6 applicants and it wasnt feasible to run. Electricians apprenticeship would be my advice. The money is ****e in an apprenticeship but the long term outlook is very rosey. Plastering is physically demanding but if they do go into something like this then sometimes a smaller firm is the best option as they take more pride in their work. Big firms bang lads on crap money who dont really care as they get paid regardless.
It's always handy to have a trade to fall back on regardless of what they eventually do. When I cut my coaching hours down, i realised i was making more in a day than working every evening coaching.
 
Yes dont get me wrong about courses, they still run them but the demand fizzling big time. I taught at Middlesbrough college (plastering) for 18 months many moons ago. A class of 28. A couple of years ago my mate told me there were 6 applicants and it wasnt feasible to run. Electricians apprenticeship would be my advice. The money is ****e in an apprenticeship but the long term outlook is very rosey. Plastering is physically demanding but if they do go into something like this then sometimes a smaller firm is the best option as they take more pride in their work. Big firms bang lads on crap money who dont really care as they get paid regardless.
It's always handy to have a trade to fall back on regardless of what they eventually do. When I cut my coaching hours down, i realised i was making more in a day than working every evening coaching.

All depends on location, in London and the South East bricklayers and plumbers are like gold dust at present, the building trade has peaks and troughs but they are essential skills and anyone who masters their trade will always be in demand...
 
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There are no young plasterers doing courses any more. Local colleges dont even run them due to lack of demand. Kids can make more selling drugs for a day!
I have 4 employees. 1 is Polish and by far the best worker out of the lot and I pay him the most. Never had a day off in the 2 years hes worked for me! 2 of the other lads generally blob every Monday due to weekend binges. Typical young british attitude up and down the country I'm afraid.
As for cash jobs, they started disappearing a few years ago. Everything is done by 'bacs' now.
Only the big billion pound companies get away with not paying the correct tax under this regime. The normal business has to pay full whack! Corruption yet again

Know anything about Mortex Bob?
 
There are no young plasterers doing courses any more. Local colleges dont even run them due to lack of demand. Kids can make more selling drugs for a day!
I have 4 employees. 1 is Polish and by far the best worker out of the lot and I pay him the most. Never had a day off in the 2 years hes worked for me! 2 of the other lads generally blob every Monday due to weekend binges. Typical young british attitude up and down the country I'm afraid.
As for cash jobs, they started disappearing a few years ago. Everything is done by 'bacs' now.
Only the big billion pound companies get away with not paying the correct tax under this regime. The normal business has to pay full whack! Corruption yet again

You need a better accountant......
 
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Yes dont get me wrong about courses, they still run them but the demand fizzling big time. I taught at Middlesbrough college (plastering) for 18 months many moons ago. A class of 28. A couple of years ago my mate told me there were 6 applicants and it wasnt feasible to run. Electricians apprenticeship would be my advice. The money is ****e in an apprenticeship but the long term outlook is very rosey. Plastering is physically demanding but if they do go into something like this then sometimes a smaller firm is the best option as they take more pride in their work. Big firms bang lads on crap money who dont really care as they get paid regardless.

Great advice, thanks Bob. I’m a bit old school and reckon the boys would be best off with a trade for sure. Luckily they’ve got a few years to decide.
 
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Great advice, thanks Bob. I’m a bit old school and reckon the boys would be best off with a trade for sure. Luckily they’ve got a few years to decide.

One of my sons pal has just started as an apprentice electrician, and is loving it, whilst another is just waiting to start an apprenticeship with BT as a fibre-splicer. Getting a technical qualification is definately the way ahead if you don't have an overly academic head. I did an engineering apprenticeship (over 30 years ago though) and that has kept me gainfully employed since. My son is a bit more academic and hopes to go to Uni to study Business Managment and Law, but you're still not guaranteed anything with a degree these days.....
 
Suppose it's all down to personal experiences. I was as a family much better off under labour as my wife had her DLA (now pip) removed by some ex dentist or or whatever she was as part of the Tory crackdown on the disabled. Despite having a diagnosis of MS and Lupus she was declared fit for work. What ****ing work? The Tories in my eyes are selfish and nasty. Oh and generally a set of ****ers. I suppose if I was well off and money wasnt an issue then I may vote for them but in reality, the poor get poorer, more food banks pop up on a daily basis, the cuts to social services etc etc etc the list is endless. Horrible party.
My wife had issues with Atos as well took us two years and a court case to win her disability benefit, pip etc back, but in their last term of office it was Tony.B.Liars Government that began to phase out incapacity benefit and replace it with ESA this is easily checkable as Atos was given contract in 2008, So sorry in was in fact labour and NOT the Tories who are at fault.
 
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Great advice, thanks Bob. I’m a bit old school and reckon the boys would be best off with a trade for sure. Luckily they’ve got a few years to decide.
As sooper said, master it, be fair and conscientious about your work and you will always be in demand. I do about 9 months of the year doing student refurbs here in leeds. Every landlord I work for (7 different) are all based in london. Theres some money to be made in them.
 
One of my sons pal has just started as an apprentice electrician, and is loving it, whilst another is just waiting to start an apprenticeship with BT as a fibre-splicer. Getting a technical qualification is definately the way ahead if you don't have an overly academic head. I did an engineering apprenticeship (over 30 years ago though) and that has kept me gainfully employed since. My son is a bit more academic and hopes to go to Uni to study Business Managment and Law, but you're still not guaranteed anything with a degree these days.....
Electricians are earning 200 per day minimum up here. Dont know what it's like down there. Best of luck to him.