One thing this government cannot be charged with is joined-up thinking.

We as a nation have been so preoccupied with getting kids through university that we are about to reach the situation where we have plenty of sports scientists but no facilities for them to work in.

We as a nation look down our noses at those with a vocational training; only when a skill is deemed a craft does it earn a tradesperson any respect. Take plastering for example: when it is done well, we know that real craftsmanship was required to achieve it.

The situation is even worse with s. In the UK, 鈥溾�� are the people who come round and repair your washing machine. You cannot call yourself a doctor or solicitor without the appropriate qualification. In Germany, by contrast, you can鈥檛 call yourself an engineer (Ing) unless you are qualified. Until we take pride and give status to the professions in the industry, this sort of nonsense will continue.

As an aside I believe you will discover many building industry-related courses are being dropped by Norwich City College, among others. Therefore the closure of the National Construction College at Bircham Newton is not an isolated case.

Alex Honey, technical marketing officer, Civil & Marine Slag

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