One of the biggest benefits in my eyes of serving a traditional apprenticeship versus say a 6 week course is your taught discipline and to have respect for TRADESMEN in general and there respective trades.
I hear what you are saying Brian. All the trades are suffering the same from the instant tradesman thing. Pick up the paper or listen to the radio and you get the be a "tradesman" in 6 weeks. It does my nut in too but there is little we can do. Trades are changing for the worst and we are all trying to keep afloat in the rising tide. If that means crossing trades then i'm afraid if i have the skills i will do it. I will do anything i am capable and confident in to make a wage.
Back to the topic tho.
I am a decent enough tiler. I have had enough practice at it and can do as good a job or better than your average site tiler but i had a lot of learning and practice doing hotel bathrooms for 3 years with a wee cornish scouser! who showed me the ropes (we were paid on completion so it became a joint effort). After a wee while we were doing 2 completed bathrooms a day. Suite floor and walls done, 2 of us and a labourer. Hard work but good money, better than i'm doing now.
This was in the late 90's. Wedi board and cement board was a new thing in this country but the wee man had spent 10 years doing up east germany before i met him and was switched on to it all as he had been using it over there.
I learned a lot from him even though i led him off the straight and narrow when we went out at night and i wanted to shg for scotland:lol:
Now if i can't tile a council house bathroom there would be no hope for me but depending on the tiles and the workload i will get a guy in to do it. I have to get him the gear, constantly remind him of the pipe centres and stuff because he is thick, I look at the finished job and think i could have done that better but i keep him on because i hate tiling.
You are a pretty switched on guy with your trade and i can tell you take pride in your work. I've bookmarked your internet page so i may give you a shout in the future.
BTW Ardbeg 10 year old. I think it is evaporating as it is half empty