DEAR
Page 24
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
SIR
SKILLCENTRLER ROLE IN TRAINING
• From time to time articles appear in your journal on the subject of a lack of skilled workers in the trade.
I should like to take the opportunity to redress the situation and bring to your readers' notice the existence of Government Training Centres.
They have been in existence since the 1914-18 war, when, under the Department of Employment, they trained workers for the skilled trades required in munition factories, continuing after the hostilities to train ex-service personnel for civilian trades.
During the Second World War the centres were utilised once more to train munition workers, again continuing after the war to train returning service personnel.
In 1972-73 Skillcentres, as the GTCs were by then known, came under the umbrella of the Manpower Services Commission.
The Skills Training Agency, as we are for the present known, has worked alongside the RTITB and the City and Guilds in keeping standards of training up to employer and industry requirements — and now to the requirements of the National Council of Vocational Qualification (NCVQ).
Modular training has been carried out in Skincentres during at least the past 15 years over which I have been employed with them. This involves producing selective personal syllabuses of training in specific skills required by the employer for this staff.
For many years 90% of trainees who have completed a full course in automotive trades have been placed with an employer.
At present I am personally involved in concentrating on the plight of the long-neglected PSV mechanical and electrical fitter, training and setting up, with Bus and Coach Training, a skills test station at Portsmouth Skilkentre.
For some time now we have worked with the RTITB in providing facilities at Portsmouth to carry out skills and testing in the automotive trade and in offering modules of training to comply with qualifications and certification of competence by the RTITB, City and Guilds and NCVQ.
I have heard and read so much clap-trap about the lack of training facilities and the cost to industry, that I felt compelled to put pen to paper.
Industry is already paying for training in the levies that it pays to Industrial Training Boards — all training paid for by industry that is recognised by the ITBs and City and Guilds being reclaimable from the ITBs.
So when we hear our captains of industry complain about the lack of skilled mechanics and auto-electricians my response is that the training is there. Now it is up to industry to take advantage of it. The NCVQ is what industry has been crying out for over the years and I applaud the RTITB, City and Guilds and all who have responded to the challenge.
Bill Morn, Hilsea, Portsmouth.
ItTITIVS ROLE
• Commercial Motor is to be congratulated for the articles drawing to public attention the current HGV driver situation in the industry (CM 9-15 June).
However, it may be that in summarising the comments of the RTITB, some confusion has been left in the minds of your readers on the board's stance. Perhaps I can briefly set the record straight.
From 1981/82 to 1985/86 the level of HGV drivers' training fell by 46%. It is the board's view that this was due to the combination of a fall in demand for drivers, resulting from the recession, and an increase in supply, in the form of a pool of unemployed drivers, many of whom had drifted away from road haulage in earlier years.
Encouragingly though, HGV driver training has increased again by 31% over the last two years as the economy has recovered from recession. Clearly, the pool of unemployed drivers has dried up in many parts of the country and the boand's latest projections show a need for more than double the current number of drivers trained each year to be trained by 1993.
The key to the industry's ability to meet this target is the availability of first class, professional driver training facilities. Fortunately, the board, in close collaboration with GTAs, company centres and commercial driving schools, and through the Young Driver Scheme, has ensured sufficient training places to more than meet the demands of the 1990s.
David Barnett, Director General, RTITB, Capitol House, Empire Way.
Wembley, Middlesex.
TURKEY SNIFFING
• With reference to your piece (Bird's Eye View, CM 7-13 July) on the wonderful Dolrnus taxis of Istanbul, having recently spent a fantastic two weeks in the company of some very friendly Turks in the Anatolian region I prefer their interpretation of the word Dolmus which is "stuffed", and I think far more descriptive, having experienced such a condition in an old Chevrolet — all for the princely sum of 30p.
Have the Hawk's minions lost their bottle?
Roy Caddy, Truck marketing manager, Seddon Atkinson Vehicles, Oldham, Lancashire