Hi Geoff/Tony,

Ref landslide; cuts more cuts and even more cuts to come....

Job vacancies: both posts filled now guys and thankfully didn't have to use one of those dreaded recruitment agencies

We have great staff at Avensys with the right attitude, we have also started our own apprenticship scheme which is now 18 months down the line and just beginning to bare fruit...the lads will have attained a full degree by the age of 23/24 in 'medical engineering technology' on by then be earning a very good salary in a fantastic job. Ive been putting them through level2/3 training, the FD course followed by a final year at Kingston Uni. long term solution for the lack of skilled workers in this sector...

No landslide, but another one caught cheating the tax-payer. Loses one post but still keeps his seat, something very wrong there.

Yes, I believe that the Avensys model is a good one.

Getting non-biomed (but otherwise good) techs trained up is a perennial problem, especially for small companies where (ideally) new hires need to hit the ground running.

Are you in a position to offer training to your competitors? Or rather, those whom a person of shallow perception might regard as such?

But ... regarding cuts - what else did you expect following thirteen years of fiscal imprudence bordering on the insane?

Yes, the shortest Cabinet career in (recent) history. Old habits die hard, I guess.

Nothing's going to change at the fundamental level until the Revolution, Neil. But, fear not ... me and a couple of mates are working on it.

Good on yer Rob Glad you got sorted

Take care T.