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16th August 2004
Mr Miles Williamson-Noble
Registrar
The Farriers Registration Council
Sefton House, Adam Court
Newark Road
Peterborough
PE1 5PP
Dear Miles,
NAFBAE had scheduled an informal Meeting of ATF’s on 1st August
to ascertain problems that our ATF members have experienced, with a view
to formally present these problems to yourself in the hope that they will
be addressed. You will be aware that some issues, particularly that of
funding, I have raised with you in the past to little or no avail. However,
with the mandate of our membership, should dissatisfaction still remain,
we may well have to make alternative representations to seek a redress.
However, I hope that this will not be necessary. I feel it must be considered
also, that the concerns raised are not only for the benefit of the ATF’s
but also the apprentices who, by the good grace of FTS, are all members
of our Association.
The most pressing points of the many issues raised were as follows:-
1. ATF Renewal Certificate
Our members’ first concern was regarding the ATF renewal certificate.
The certificate should be renewed 12 months prior to expiry, not having
to be valid until the expiry of the apprenticeship. The current is valid
for 10 years, however the FTS will not accept it’s validity beyond
6 years time. This is a ridiculous sign of distrust towards ATF’s
by the FTS.
It was the feeling of the meeting that the FTS should fully stand the
cost of this, the meeting did, however, note your preparedness of flexibility
as to time scales, which was welcomed.
Question, will this request be acquiesced to?
2. ATF Funding
As I have mentioned on numerous occasions, ATF’s are the only parties
that actually carry out training of apprentice farriers, yet the lack
of funding that they receive is an absolute outrage. An amount of £300
for he successful completion of the first College attendance, I am sorry
is totally inadequate and moreover is unacceptable. Further, the FTS have
over the years formulated various procedures which have resulted in considerable
burdens to the ATF’s and some of which have provided little or nothing
to the quality of training, and in some cases have indeed been an impediment
to it. If their time is monopolised in bureaucratic discharge, it will
detract from the time available to train. Question, will the FTS provide
adequate funding to ATF’s to assist them with the training apprentices
in the future?
3. CRB Checks
Contrary to previous advise from your Department, I am advised that the
Criminal Records Bureau check is not al legal requirement for ATF’s.
Again the meeting universally felt that the FTS should fully fund this
requirement and moreover that any existing criminal record for a proposed
apprentice should also be checked, particularly given that the FTS expect
the candidate in the least to be welcomed into the Master’s home,
workplace and the premises of their clients with substantial trust that
this situation requires. It should be noted however that the ATF’s
are not adverse to the CRB checks being made.
Question, will the first facet of this matter be funded and will the second
facet of this matter be acquiesced to?
4. Pre Farriery Courses
The general feeling of the meeting was that the pre-farriery courses are
failing to provide suitably inducted applicants. There does appear to
be an overemphasis on academic requirements in a candidate as opposed
to those having practical skills ability. A minimum practical achievement
level should be specified to the colleges and an applicant should not
be considered until the specified level is achieved in a pre-ordained
time scale for the task.
Question, will this problem be addressed?
5. Apprentice Relocation
It was noted that the existing system fails both the apprentice and the
ATF. It was also universally considered that it is far too easy for apprentices
to be relocated to new masters and it was felt that it should be mandatory
that any apprentice being relocated should be set back one year not only
to deter a breach in contract of the indentureship which has been so lightly
allowed in the past, but more importantly, not only to accommodate and
previous skill shortfall or failure in their training, but also to facilitate
a safe and proper induction into their new working environment. This is
seen as a health and safety issue. It would also discharge a duty of care
to the apprentice.
Question, will this request be acquiesced to?
These five points were absolutely by no means the only concerns of our
ATF members but have been limited such so as to afford them to be correctly
addressed and commented upon. The meeting also felt that it should be
expected that at the meeting on 25th the full Council should be present
as a matter at least of best practice and duty of care together with members
of the decision making process of the FTS and JFTC.
I further noted from our meeting that to expect ATF’s to demonstrate
simple forging skills when they already have a proven tack record of either
training apprentices or even competition accolades, is an affront to say
the least. Surely a CPD record proving the ability should suffice and
save the ATF the ignominy of having to forfeit at least half a day’s
work and turnover to demonstrate the simple skill for which the individual
may already be nationally renowned. The meeting did, however, acknowledge
that there are some failing ATF’s who need to be censured but in
a manner that does not cause a further burden to the many successful training
provides that exist.
What struck me as an over riding theme throughout our meeting, was the
lack of trust in the accuracy of information that comes from the FRC and
its sister bodies, and this is putting it politely. The Trade has a right
to expect accuracy of statement, particularly when they are advised that
an issue is a legal requirement. I do know mistakes are made but when
they are, they should be openly admitted and redressed. I am further aware
that yourself, as Registrar, have often been the target for unfair criticism
as by and large it is my belief that you fulfil a difficult task to the
greater good of our industry for which I have thanked you in the past,
and do so again. However, there are some serious injustices, particularly
regarding training funding, and I will stand firm with the backing of
the NAFBAE Executive Committee, to see that these injustices are resolved
and hopefully this will ease the road to recovery from what is now indisputably
seen to be a failing system, which in the least has not been helped by
the NVQ system and the modern apprenticeship scheme which was so objected
to by the then existing craftsmen in the workplace at the time of their
implementation.
Given this letter covers some of the serious concerns of our membership,
I feel it must be considered to be an open letter and not just privy to
the parties to whom it is addressed. NAFBAE has a policy of openness and
transparency, which is also an absolute requirement of Government department,
and in accordance with which I request that this letter is copied to all
members of the Registration Council, the FTS and JFTC.
If I can assist in any way, myself, the NAFBAE Executive Committee and
our members, will be willing to cooperate for the benefit of our industry
and our members in general.
May I extend my best wishes for a constructive, convivial and productive
meeting.
Yours sincerely
Les Armstrong A.W.C.F. A.W.C.B.
President
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