Robber Reeves mantra: "Boosting Growth"

Iam64

Many asylum seekers have skills and I’m sure would work if onky we allowed them to.

Don’t disagree, but to be an electrician, plumber, or any skilled tradesman they would have to undergo exams (both practical and theoretical) to ensure that their skill sets were transferable to U.K. standards. They would need to be able to read, write and speak English at a level that enables them to read and under instruction manuals, building plans etc.

This of course also applies to any who may be doctors, teachers, lawyers etc.

The one huge hurdle is those who destroy all of their papers, often come from countries who are in chaos, it becomes impossible to verify any of their claims or qualifications.

Not under instruction but understand

I really wish my iPad didn’t think it knows better than me 🤬

Exactly, GG. Without the further training you describe they are fit only for unskilled work.

The fact that people with professional skills arrive in the UK without paperwork does not mean that none exists though. These people have families, and families retain paperwork and send it to them when their asylum request is accepted. Their lack of English in many cases initially may be the barrier to them doing refresher courses and exams to prove the veracity of their qualifications.

There are lots of things Asylum Seekers could do in construction, general labouring does not require much skill and can be really useful, the govt would have to allow them “right to work” check their understanding of English, issue them with a unskilled labourer CSCS card (a multiple choice H&S “test”) and off they trot!

Casdon

The fact that people with professional skills arrive in the UK without paperwork does not mean that none exists though. These people have families, and families retain paperwork and send it to them when their asylum request is accepted. Their lack of English in many cases initially may be the barrier to them doing refresher courses and exams to prove the veracity of their qualifications.

So what do you suggest?

I for one would not have a tradesman in my home or business premises without verification of his skills.

Nor would I have one who couldn’t understand any instructions in full, whether written or verbal.

Or more importantly a healthcare professional who hasn’t passed U.K. equivalent exams, further testing here in U.K. which had been validated with 100% accuracy.

Cossy

There are lots of things Asylum Seekers could do in construction, general labouring does not require much skill and can be really useful, the govt would have to allow them “right to work” check their understanding of English, issue them with a unskilled labourer CSCS card (a multiple choice H&S “test”) and off they trot!

One stumbling block would be getting a company to employ them and take responsibility for them and their work.

The majority of workers in the building industry both skilled and unskilled are self-employed contractors.

Casdon

I’m not sure whether the lack of tradesmen in the UK is down to a lack of training placements, or a lack of uptake. It’s chicken and egg, because FE establishments will meet demand if enough would be students are applying for courses. It doesn’t seem to be an attractive career choice, I think that is the main concern.

I'm not sure how FE Colleges could meet an immediate demand as there would probably not be enough qualified lecturers and instructors to meet that demand.

The reason it is not considered an attractive career choice is perhaps because so many students are encouraged to head to university and they are not encouraged to aim for vocational courses. In this country it does still seem to be a second-best choice, but why I do not know. Other countries value such skills but there seems to be a lingearing intellectual snobbery around education in this country.

GrannyGravy13

Casdon

The fact that people with professional skills arrive in the UK without paperwork does not mean that none exists though. These people have families, and families retain paperwork and send it to them when their asylum request is accepted. Their lack of English in many cases initially may be the barrier to them doing refresher courses and exams to prove the veracity of their qualifications.

So what do you suggest?

I for one would not have a tradesman in my home or business premises without verification of his skills.

Nor would I have one who couldn’t understand any instructions in full, whether written or verbal.

Or more importantly a healthcare professional who hasn’t passed U.K. equivalent exams, further testing here in U.K. which had been validated with 100% accuracy.

Me neither!

fancythat

A bad look maybe, to drop her so soon?

Maybe he doesnt have a "suitable" replacement?

I am always surprised, in things I have volunteered for, how few people there are who will tackle any sort of accounts.
Maybe the same can be said of MPs?

I'm sure he has his eye on someone to replace her but that would, indeed, be a meteoric rise and might be questioned.

I’d suggest intensive English language courses and exams? If people already have the qualifications and skills, surely the sensible thing to do is to enable them to practise them. Otherwise the country will have people who have been granted asylum unable to work in their skilled profession, which would be exactly what we are trying to move away from.

Casdon

I’d suggest intensive English language courses and exams? If people already have the qualifications and skills, surely the sensible thing to do is to enable them to practise them. Otherwise the country will have people who have been granted asylum unable to work in their skilled profession, which would be exactly what we are trying to move away from.

If is the big question, it’s the if that needs to undergo in-depth verification alongside language skill development.

Casdon

I’d suggest intensive English language courses and exams? If people already have the qualifications and skills, surely the sensible thing to do is to enable them to practise them. Otherwise the country will have people who have been granted asylum unable to work in their skilled profession, which would be exactly what we are trying to move away from.

So now we need to find more English Language teachers. As well as ascertaining their qualifications.

All this takes time.

Isn’t that what the (significant) additional funding is for though, getting people into work? There is already part of the infrastructure needed, and people with the qualifications to do the jobs to support others to get into work. Of course it will take time, but I’m sure that these issues have already been considered and will form part of the plans.

There are already a number of English language teachers in adult colleges and some in community centres. People who have been given both “leave to remain” and “right to work” are directed to these centres by local Job Centres.

We do need more English tutors, but you don’t have to be a fully qualified teacher with a degree to teach English, there are fast track courses for people with a good standard of education, who have English as a first language.

Instead of always putting barriers in the way, we all need to be more positive and think outside the box, including our govt.

For example, do use qualified teachers in the Summer Holidays , pay them to run intensive English courses.

Despite beliefs to the contrary many Asylum Seekers are keen to work and pay their way.

Despite beliefs to the contrary many Asylum Seekers are keen to work and pay their way.

I'm sure most are and, if they are all qualified plumbers, electricians, surgeons etc then it is a waste of their skills not to retrain them and employ them.

I'm just remembering the number of hoops and length of time it took for my relative to be able to work here as a nurse, despite being a native English speaker, having the paperwork proving she had a degree and years of experience in a hospital in a Commonwealth country.

Cossy

There are already a number of English language teachers in adult colleges and some in community centres. People who have been given both “leave to remain” and “right to work” are directed to these centres by local Job Centres.

We do need more English tutors, but you don’t have to be a fully qualified teacher with a degree to teach English, there are fast track courses for people with a good standard of education, who have English as a first language.

Instead of always putting barriers in the way, we all need to be more positive and think outside the box, including our govt.

For example, do use qualified teachers in the Summer Holidays , pay them to run intensive English courses.

Despite beliefs to the contrary many Asylum Seekers are keen to work and pay their way.

I have an EFL qualification, as do many others. It's estimated that about half of qualified teachers in the UK aren't teaching, so it wouldn't be that difficult/expensive to retrain them. Teaching adults is in many ways more appealing than teaching teenagers.

growstuff

Cossy

There are already a number of English language teachers in adult colleges and some in community centres. People who have been given both “leave to remain” and “right to work” are directed to these centres by local Job Centres.

We do need more English tutors, but you don’t have to be a fully qualified teacher with a degree to teach English, there are fast track courses for people with a good standard of education, who have English as a first language.

Instead of always putting barriers in the way, we all need to be more positive and think outside the box, including our govt.

For example, do use qualified teachers in the Summer Holidays , pay them to run intensive English courses.

Despite beliefs to the contrary many Asylum Seekers are keen to work and pay their way.

I have an EFL qualification, as do many others. It's estimated that about half of qualified teachers in the UK aren't teaching, so it wouldn't be that difficult/expensive to retrain them. Teaching adults is in many ways more appealing than teaching teenagers.

That's what DD says 😁
However, it flummoxed the young woman when we tried to add DD to our car insurance on a temporary basis. "Does she teach primary or secondary?" She had no box to tick for adults. Not even tertiary.