Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on a visit to an apprentice training centre in Coventry. AFP
Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on a visit to an apprentice training centre in Coventry. AFP
Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on a visit to an apprentice training centre in Coventry. AFP
Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on a visit to an apprentice training centre in Coventry. AFP


Robo Rishi Sunak has little to offer struggling SMEs seeking skilled staff


  • English
  • Arabic

March 19, 2024

It is Action Man time again. Faced with terrible polls, no discernible ‘Budget bounce’ and Tory MPs, fearful of losing their jobs in a matter of months, now openly plotting against him, Rishi Sunak seeks to impress that he is very much in charge and he’s above the trivia of British politics.

On Monday this week, he sees Barack Obama in Downing Street and the Prime Minister addresses a small business conference in Warwickshire, in the heart of the country.

He finds time for a photo shoot, of the sort we’ve seen before, ad nauseam, of Sunak (Winchester College, Oxford, Goldman Sachs) looking earnest and interested on a factory floor as he is shown how a piece of machinery functions.

It’s sad and it’s desperate. It smacks, too, of crude propaganda. In his speech Sunak announces the creation of 20,000 apprenticeships and that £60 million ($76 million) is being set aside to cover the cost.

He spoke of how these and other measures “will unlock a tidal wave of opportunity and make a real difference to businesses and entrepreneurs across the country”.

The BBC and others report it in unquestioningly. Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch is quoted, describing SMEs as the “engines of economic growth”. The government, she said, was committed to doing “all it can to turbocharge small businesses”.

According to the latest figures, there are 5.51 million SMEs in the UK.

Simple maths say that 20,000 and £60 million will not amount to even the shallowest of ripples across the sector. Where Sunak gets his tidal wave from is not clear. Presumably, he would have said ‘tsunami’ but thought better of it on taste grounds.

What is happening here is that late in the day, when there is little public money to go around, ministers have woken up to the importance of apprenticeships.

Historically, they were a feature of the working environment – the master teaching his apprentice, passing on his craft. Then they declined with the onset of the Industrial Revolution as bosses objected to the restrictions training contracts imposed.

In the early 1960s there was a concerted effort to revitalise apprentice schemes as the UK suffered skill shortages across industry and engineering. Over the next two decades, when they were at their postwar height, pupils would leave school, not go to university and learn a trade. Society thought nothing less of them for it.

Many would go on to form their own small businesses with the qualifications they had gained as trainee electricians, plumbers, builders, carpenters and so on. They were the backbone of the local community, core to the economy.

Some would grow their firms to substantial sizes, still others would come up with an idea for a new way of doing something, a device that would save time and effort, and make their fortunes.

The Sunday Times Rich List was testament to how many of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs began in this fashion. Apprenticeships formed a vital part of the wealth creation process.

Then, views changed. Attending university and gaining a degree became paramount. The universities sector expanded rapidly. All manner of educational institutes were rebranded universities – many of them arguably not suitable for providing that level of education.

Degrees were offered in a panoply of subjects – again, many did not lend themselves to concentrated academic study, of the sort demanded by a degree.

A decline in apprenticeships that started under Margaret Thatcher was accelerated. Running in parallel was the reduction in manufacturing.

Gradually, the realisation set in that not everyone was equipped or willing to go to university; at the same time, employers were complaining of shortages, that recruits lacked the necessary qualifications and experience.

What had been a conveyor belt of talent for small to medium enterprises was no more – they were struggling to find the UK staff they required and were looking abroad.

In 2017, the Chancellor George Osborne, introduced the ‘apprenticeship levy’, a funding scheme in which employers and government would share the cost of training.

It was projected to raise £2.5 billion for the development of apprenticeships. Unfortunately, for reasons best known to them, those charged with devising the framework made it incredibly complex – leading to a deluge of complaints from SMEs that they were having to deal with yet more red tape.

Since then, it’s been simplified but only partially – employers still moan it is unnecessarily cumbersome and burdensome.

There are now four different types of national apprenticeship, depending on the age, school qualifications and the difficulty of the training. Now that the spotlight has turned to universities and their quality and funding, the popularity of apprenticeships has increased, with more businesses supplying on-the-job training and study.

In 2021, the latest year for which figures are available, there were 253,000 people serving as apprentices in the UK. Against this, and the cost, Sunak’s announcement of 20,000 new posts and £60 million appear tiny.

Wholesale reform, which is what businesses have been calling for, would be more impactful – but then that would require money and imagination, both of which are in short supply where Sunak’s administration is concerned.

His choice of subject for special treatment is correct; the extent of his government’s commitment is nowhere near enough.

JOKE'S%20ON%20YOU
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Apple's%20Lockdown%20Mode%20at%20a%20glance
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The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
The biog

Name: Marie Byrne

Nationality: Irish

Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption

Book: Seagull by Jonathan Livingston

Life lesson: A person is not old until regret takes the place of their dreams

Green ambitions
  • Trees: 1,500 to be planted, replacing 300 felled ones, with veteran oaks protected
  • Lake: Brown's centrepiece to be cleaned of silt that makes it as shallow as 2.5cm
  • Biodiversity: Bat cave to be added and habitats designed for kingfishers and little grebes
  • Flood risk: Longer grass, deeper lake, restored ponds and absorbent paths all meant to siphon off water 
RESULT

Esperance de Tunis 1 Guadalajara 1 
(Esperance won 6-5 on penalties)
Esperance: Belaili 38’
Guadalajara: Sandoval 5’

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Frida%20
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Disclaimer

Director: Alfonso Cuaron 

Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville 

Rating: 4/5

THE DETAILS

Deadpool 2

Dir: David Leitch

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Justin Dennison, Zazie Beetz

Four stars

Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
​​​​​​​Penguin Press

Squad

Ali Kasheif, Salim Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Ali Mabkhout, Omar Abdulrahman, Mohammed Al Attas, Abdullah Ramadan, Zayed Al Ameri (Al Jazira), Mohammed Al Shamsi, Hamdan Al Kamali, Mohammed Barghash, Khalil Al Hammadi (Al Wahda), Khalid Essa, Mohammed Shaker, Ahmed Barman, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Al Hassan Saleh, Majid Suroor (Sharjah) Walid Abbas, Ahmed Khalil (Shabab Al Ahli), Tariq Ahmed, Jasim Yaqoub (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmeen (Al Wasl), Hassan Al Muharami (Baniyas) 

Five expert hiking tips
    Always check the weather forecast before setting off Make sure you have plenty of water Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon Wear appropriate clothing and footwear Take your litter home with you
Calls

Directed by: Fede Alvarez

Starring: Pedro Pascal, Karen Gillian, Aaron Taylor-Johnson

4/5

MEDIEVIL%20(1998)
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20SCE%20Studio%20Cambridge%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sony%20Computer%20Entertainment%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsole%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlayStation%2C%20PlayStation%204%20and%205%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg

Rating: 4/5

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Ethree%20three%20212.7kWh%20motors%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201%2C000bhp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E15%2C600Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERange%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20530km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dh500%2C000%2B%20est%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eearly%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
SPECS
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

The biog

Favourite food: Tabbouleh, greek salad and sushi

Favourite TV show: That 70s Show

Favourite animal: Ferrets, they are smart, sensitive, playful and loving

Favourite holiday destination: Seychelles, my resolution for 2020 is to visit as many spiritual retreats and animal shelters across the world as I can

Name of first pet: Eddy, a Persian cat that showed up at our home

Favourite dog breed: I love them all - if I had to pick Yorkshire terrier for small dogs and St Bernard's for big

The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

Company%20Profile
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Profile of VoucherSkout

Date of launch: November 2016

Founder: David Tobias

Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers

Sector: Technology

Size: 18 employees

Stage: Embarking on a Series A round to raise $5 million in the first quarter of 2019 with a 20 per cent stake

Investors: Seed round was self-funded with “millions of dollars” 

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Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species

Camelpox

Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.

Falconpox

Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.

Houbarapox

Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.

The 100 Best Novels in Translation
Boyd Tonkin, Galileo Press

While you're here
The specs

Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors

Power: 480kW

Torque: 850Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)

On sale: Now

How does ToTok work?

The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store

To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.

The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.

Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.

 

F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
EA Sports FC 25
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

Top%2010%20most%20competitive%20economies
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Updated: March 20, 2024, 10:27 AM`