Across this country hundreds of small business operators are not allowed to take on an apprentice. All these small businesses are deemed so essential they are on the immigration needs lists. 

These trades are essential for our economy traders like coopers, farriers, saddlers, stone masons, memorial makers, analog sound engineers, Scientific glass blowers, horologists and even sewing machine repairers, trackers, weavers.

Without these traders we can't repair reuse and remake. Which is also bad for the environment.

We wont have people to repair our heritage assets which are all part of our 1.6billion dollar tourism industry. 

Currently only trades recognised by apprenticeship board can take on apprentices. And that leaves a lot of businesses out. it leaves a lot of young people without work and mentors and it ensures we are never self reliant again. 

We need to allow these trades to train. It is time the Minister of employment and Minister for Education met to discuss how to actually save these trades. 

The window is closing because these traders are not young and soon it will be too late to capture their knowledge and skills.