Briefly, I don't think tailoring is all that remunerative for most of its practitioners, and relatively few young people today want to put up with the long and tedious apprenticeship.

It really grates with me when people say "young people today don't want to come into the industry/are too lazy/don't wan't apprenticeships/haven't the stamina, etc" as I am of the belief that if they are offered, candidates will come. Most companies don't offer any effective training for young people these days and the excuse that its the kids fault has worn a bit thin with me.

I finished my O-Levels in 1987 and it was clear then, you either stayed on in the sixth-from, or went on a government scheme. I don't know of any of my school chums who got a real job or an apprenticeship and I went to a very large secondary school. The opportunities simply were not there and any career advice seemed limited to the horizon of being ideally an accountant, doctor, dentist, lawyer and teacher. Engineering had a seriously low status at this time. Other creative careers did not register, perhaps its different in London.

Carpu is dead right and not only in tailoring, we need to get youth trained and working. The UK hasn't had a trade surplus since 1981, effectively all the wealth and illusion of being Germany-lite, is all borrowed money and on borrowed time.

Time to break the stranglehold of the baby-boomers and unleash the potential of the natives, instead of importing people from overseas who are supposedly already trained.

THat's my point young people could probably make a decent wage from being able to alter clothes, but I suppose that wouldn't leave anytime to learn making.

^Indeed, universities should be engaged in the cutting edge of research, now with some notable exceptions, its a place you go for 3 to 4 years to gain debt before you take an entry level job that individuals in the 60s would get at age 15 or 16.

Vote Formby

I am in my middle age Eckharti, with a career spanning two decades beyound higher education, that statement tells you nothing about me, only my nephews generation. But I thank you for the interest.

I am convinced that Eckharti is not Goodfella, as it does not appear to be in his style or that of an American.

But, I have seen the effects of beta-blockers and other drugs that change the writing and report style completely of other individuals. So it may well be Goodfella on presciption drugs. We can only hope that the doctor has got the medication dose right.

Creeping credentialistion doesn't necessarily equate to ability to get things done.

In any event, I am off to bed now Eckharti, we can regroup tomorrow on this and other topics. Do try and post some decent 80s videos whilst I am away.

Thanks.