General   (General discussion, talk about anything.)

I often wonder if our work experience scheme for otherwise unemployed, undermined the principles of traditional apprenticeship, which required a much more comprehensive commitment by both parties undertaking the arrangement.

When they were perceived as a route to acquiring skills, there was competition for apprenticeship places.

Generally, the sort of job that you could just walk into without training or qualifications did NOT offer apprenticeships as a way of paying even less to incomers.