Industrial investment in 1979 wouldn't have worked.

[VectraMan]

The Thatcher government did so some things to try create jobs in depressed areas, they were just a bit half baked and as much to do with massaging the unemployment statistics. I'm thinking for example of Employment Training schemes, where you had training while still signing on (although no officially being unemployed). They were a good idea but unfortunately the qualifications were often useless in attaining paid work. Could have been good though.

My first proper post-university job I started on employment training. It was all a bit dodgy: I was supposed to be doing some kind of college course, and I had to pretend I lived at my Dad's house because my Mum's was in the wrong county. But after a month they offered me a proper position with a proper salary (£12K IIRC, but that was the going rate in 1992).

Easy to malign the likes of the YTS, and there's obviously companies that abuse it, but I'd bet it does help the majority.

[shaunbhoy]

Hence "Rover Way" in Cardiff.

Or Fookwit Close in Kent where Troll lives.

[DodgyAgent]

Or Fookwit Close in Kent where Troll lives.

Who do we know that lives at No. 1 Cretin crescent?

[shaunbhoy]

Who do we know that lives at No. 1 Cretin crescent?

sasguru?

[bobspud]

Yeah, then we're just going to have 100s of "cyclists are *****" threads.

That goes without saying but at least you could admire them for wanting the jobs.

[DodgyAgent]

sasguru?

SW18

It could be

[Sysman]

Lots of demand in Eyeran.

Does he know owt about UF6?

The <insert Western govt of choice> probably supplied 'em with all they need.

[vetran]

YTS made me the rich man I am now.

remember the 'spanish practices' in some organisations I worked with in the mid eighties.

Surprised so many survived.

[Sysman]

Hence "Rover Way" in Cardiff.

Rover weren't allowed to build a gearbox factory in Brum, it had to be in a regional development area.

I remember seeing the body shells for those large Daimlers that Lord Mayors used to have being shipped up to Scotland to meet the engines and drive train. That always struck me as being the wrong way around.

I also recall seeing truck chassis on the motorway being driven to wherever they got a body.

I didn't envy the drivers, for they had zero protection from the elements.