UK manufacturing - why is it disappearing?

[Doggy Styles]

I'd agree also that there is a real chance the skills that belonged to the last generation are at risk of being lost forever as students take on ever more elaborate courses that contribute little to society and apprenticeships are lost forever.

This is a bit of a generalisation, but it seems to me that my dad's generation (post-war kids) were mostly good at DIY, and that is being lost.

My generation can just get by. The next generation (teens to mid-twenties) seem to be pretty poor by comparison and aren't particularly interested.

[Moscow Mule]

This is a bit of a generalisation, but it seems to me that my dad's generation (post-war kids) were mostly good at DIY, and that is being lost.

My generation can just get by. The next generation (teens to mid-twenties) seem to be pretty poor by comparison and aren't particularly interested.

Maybe you haven't met any younger folks who like building / DIY?

My brother (20) is studying to be an architect, but he also does building work to get by (painting/decorating/labouring).

If you asked him to fit a kitchen (or similar large DIY task) I reckon he'd make a pretty good fist of it.

[Addanc]

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

link

So your point is that Liebour always leave the economy fooked, hence they should never be voted in again. Got to agree with that. The Tories may well slow the rate of decline but they will not stop it, that's what normally happens.

I'll be voting for these people if they put up a candidate in my area. Don't care if they only get three votes; big Government parties have had their day.

[singhr]

Under Tony Blair we were quite good at manufacturing wars (ding!)

[DimPrawn]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EBfxjSFAxQ

[Doggy Styles]

Maybe you haven't met any younger folks who like building / DIY?

My brother (20) is studying to be an architect, but he also does building work to get by (painting/decorating/labouring).

If you asked him to fit a kitchen (or similar large DIY task) I reckon he'd make a pretty good fist of it.

Yes, but in my defense I said it was a generalisation. I know a lot of younger people through my kids, cricket, the pub, etc. There are bound to be lots of younger people in the country who can do stuff, but I suspect just not as many as there were years ago.

I dimly recall some kind of survey about fitting an electric plug and similar tasks, and it was surprising how many young people couldn't.

[BrilloPad]

Groups should not always be blamed, individuals have to take some responsibility.

You are an individual. Are you taking responsibility?

Or maybe you are sasguru : not an individual : there are 3 of him.....

[Sysman]

So your point is that Liebour always leave the economy fooked, hence they should never be voted in again. Got to agree with that. The Tories may well slow the rate of decline but they will not stop it, that's what normally happens.

My point is that we cannot simply blame Liebour (much as I'd like to).

I'll be voting for these people if they put up a candidate in my area. Don't care if they only get three votes; big Government parties have had their day.

Would you favour coalitions such as in Europe?

[cailin maith]

Maybe you haven't met any younger folks who like building / DIY?

My brother (20) is studying to be an architect, but he also does building work to get by (painting/decorating/labouring).

If you asked him to fit a kitchen (or similar large DIY task) I reckon he'd make a pretty good fist of it.

I think it's beacuse people tend to have a bit of snobbery about learning a trade... the money is crap while you are an apprentice/getting your papers and it tends to be 16-19 year olds who do it... the Uni crowd think it's beneath them (clearly not your brother!!) to do any form of labouring.

My brother is a Cabinet Maker by trade and quite a few of his mates took up trades as they just didn't know what else to do. In fact, all of my male cousins have trades whereas the girls have gone to uni.

Wierd huh?

[ThomasSoerensen]

The Germans still make stuff and they aren't cheap so it can't all be about far east sweatshops.

Assuming we'd like to make things again, what are the other reasons for the loss of manufacturing and what can we do about it?

creativity and imagination and the ability to analyse a problem and find a solution.

I believe you have shown development potential in all these areas in the writing of the above post