Order from chaos
I doubt that there were many engineering apprentices joining the riots that defaced and disgraced our country this summer. And while I can be as immoderate as the next hanging judge when it comes to suggesting ways to deal with the miscreants I do feel that there is an enormous paradox at work here.
Leaving aside the atypical primary school helpers, law students, RAF hopefuls and children of millionaires that the papers have highlighted, what is it that is so absent in these young people’s lives that they seem to have turned into feral beasts?
Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am by no means a soft-centred, hug-a-hoodie liberal, but I still feel that we could be doing more to offer them careers in more productive trades than drug dealing and gang violence.
Two things spring to mind. As in any situation where law and order breaks down there is an immediate call for some kind of imposed discipline via a scheme such as national service. Wouldn’t it be better to find an approach whereby youngsters have the self-respect and motivation to impose this on themselves. So that’s the stick dealt with.
Secondly, the carrot. Because we aren’t really a nation of heartless monsters, I am certain that there will be a well-meaning desire to try and solve the underlying problems by investing large amounts of money in projects aimed at providing social cohesion. Rather than waste this on community centres. youth clubs, street art workshops and poetry collectives – which we did after the last lot of riots to no great effect – why not invest that money in something that will have a lasting and worthwhile return.
If you can remember the first sentence you will probably guess what is coming next. A heavily subsidised mass programme to provide a well-paid training in a valuable skill would surely be an attractive choice for many young people. I don’t know how much we spend on apprentice training at the moment, but if we multiplied this tenfold I am certain we would still get a good return on our investment.
Last week I visited a really successful subcontractor who wanted to become even more successful. They wanted to invest in a sophisticated multi-axis, multi-turret turning centre but wouldn’t because they couldn’t find suitably skilled staff. I also came across a machine tool company that is considering offering its machines with a trained operator as part of the deal.
Surely we should be able to make the two ends of this virtuous circle meet.
Andy Sandford
