You are right Geoff a piece of kit is a piece of kit - my point is why do companies and more usually the NHS ask you for qualifications and possibly a few years experience in the Medical Engineering enviroment when you can get a better package elsewhere where you just need some basic engineering experience.
I think the answer here is responsibility and the way jobs are handled in the NHS. The private sector seems more interested in responsibility and cost whereas in the NHS it seems to be more knowledge. The difference between two posts in the private sector and two bands in the NHS is that the private sector posts will require extra responsibility and the NHS bands will require to specialise. It's one of the major complaint's in the private sector that often if you want to progress you have drink from the cup of management. (usually joke is "and all your technical knowledge will vanish"!)
Another thing that happens in the NHS is trying to bring people in on lower bands. In the private sector that doesn't happen that much, basically the job being advertised is the job you either get or don't if they think your not suitable. One good thing about the NHS is that there's a clear career progression and increments. If you discount inflation increases, it's possible that the coffee equipment field service engineer will probably be on the same salary in a few years time as they are now. No yearly increments for them and if they do get a rise, every year is a KSF gateway!
Also if anything the coffee equipment field service engineer's salary is probably related to responsibility. It's possible that technically it could be done by a school leaver but since the position holder will be promoting the company they probably want someone more experienced in the ways of the world.
