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Fitters and qualifications
The question to the Q and A Bureau (CM October 19) on fitters and qualifications was interesting and an accurate and commonsense answer was given. Further background information may be of interest.
First, your questioner is typical of large numbers of -younger" men who, with good reasons, have taken some time to decide what form of work they are best suited to. Secondly, they question, with some justification, the value of courses of study to obtain a qualification when they already have the qualification of practical experience of doing the job.
The similarity between both the qualified and the unqualified is quoted in the question "I would like to progress in my job." This is the fundamental wish of most of us and one of the main factors affecting the structuring of our various grades of membership. We have a place for the, so to speak, late starters and even the early stoppers!
There is a case for sympathetic consideration for the late starter. Did he get sufficient, or even any, good advice on career requirements and prospects? Now that he has made up his mind, will he stidk to it and be a useful employee in the industry? Equally, it can be argued that anyone finding a course of studies tedious may be lacking endurance and motivation which is the hallmark of the early stopper. He may dislike mental discipline but he may be excellent at solving practical problems.
There can be little doubt that when it comes to selecting people for jobs the qualified gets selected before the unqualified. This generalization is of little help until qualifications are defined.
We hope we are being helpful by structuring our grades of membership so that young or old starters are all given a chance to demonstrate their .qualities and to progress up the grades of membership.
The grade of Associate (AIRTE) is the real testing ground and is our most numerous grade. It consists of students and graduates on their way up, young men with high academic achievement, including some Chartered Engineers but with little experience, older men with plenty of practical experience but no certificates or diplomas to show their academic technical achievements. Some Associates (AI RTE) will progress to corporate grade (AMIRTE) quickly: some will never make it nor even try to. But all can claim to have some qualification of some sort. At corporate grade it is proved and defined.
How well qualified depends to an ever increasing extent on taking "tiresome" courses and passing "tedious" exams. It is easier to impress new employers with certificates and diplomas than with claims to being a first-class practical man. Present employers may progress their employee on his ability to solve practical problems but the certificate/ diploma is the best persuader!
Our liberal policy towards a non-corporate grade of membership makes sense to us and we hope this explanation will be helpful to all who, like your correspondent, "would like to become qualified and make progress in my job".
J. A. FLETCHER, Secretary, Institute of Road Transport Engineers, Kensington SW7 2JF.
Side windows in a van
The Q and A Bureau reply (CM September 141 to a reader's query about the effect of putting side winaows into a van did not go far enough to explain the VAT position.
If the person who is not registered for VAT converts a vehicle by inserting side windows, he will not have to pay VAT on the vehicle; though he will have to bear the tax charged to him for any goods or services provided by taxable persons in connection with the conversion.
If the owner is registered for VAT, he will have to pay VAT at the standard rate of 10 per cent on the open market value of the converted vehicle.
It is a good idea to consult the local Customs and Excise Office before starting a conversion.
M. NOCKLES, Chief Information Officer, /-IM Customs and Excise.
Part-time drivers
I am a student studying marine electronics and during the last summer vacation I passed the hgv Class 1 test. I did this with a view to working at weekends and during holidays to supplement my grant but to my dismay I can find no transport firm that will employ me at weekends.
Surely there are firms who require weekend drivers. Let me state first, however, that I do not wish to take work away from the full-time drivers who work at weekends for the extra pay, but if the shortage of hgv drivers is as acute as we are led to believe, then it is surprising that there is no work for part-time drivers.
It is my belief that the transport industry could benefit from the employment of parttime staff to ease the burden on the full-time staff (as is being done in shops and departmental stores).
In my case I would be willing to work all weekend including nights and have no objections to being away overnight.
PHILLIP PEEKE, Southampton.
British v foreign
I would like to know if Mr R. Forshaw (CM October 191 has ever driven a foreign vehicle? Anybody who has will agree with me that the comparison between foreign and British hgv is the same as comparing a Rolls-Royce to an old Ford 8 Y-type. The 300 miles he quotes is a piece of cake in a foreign vehicle as compared to a British boneshaker. I admit most British vehicles are built to last: it's the drivers who don't do so well.
Mr Forshaw blames "greedy drivers" for high food prices, when the simple fact is the vast majority of drivers have never been afraid of working 60-70 hours a week to get a decent living wage. I am sure we all know the people who actually do force prices up — dockers, car-workers, etc.
Until Mr Forshaw has had experience of luxury foreign vehicles. I suggest he keeps mum.
T. J. KILTY, Wing, Bucks.