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Why are there so few younger model engineers, is the attitude of some older model engineers putting them off and what can we do to encourage more.
I have had a fascination with engineering since I was in my early teens, a late comer my parents remember having to let me go look at the diggers at the age of 3 but it wasn't until I had got into my late 20's that I could afford to set myself up with engineering tooling, then I got married and money became tighter again. I know the feeling I have a friend who loves engineering and would love to have a workshop, but doesn't have the space nor the spare cash or time to spend.
It was not a problem BD but since I have become young free and single again the older apprentices have "dried up"]Jo
Ok enough winging. Why are there so few younger model engineers, is the attitude of some older model engineers putting them off and what can we do to encourage more.Jo
Then there is the group of people [ larger than most realise ] that have a workshop to support another hobby like vintage bike / car restoration......These are all younger people, 25 + and what I'm trying to say is workshops and home shop engineering IS alive and well in this country but it's probably moved on from the old written in stone Model Engineering.Many of my friends have workshops, some very, very well equipped but none build models. ....John S.
This is a perennial topic and the "younger" generation probably feel they have more commitments, a young family and all that goes with it. They also spend a lot of time "trying to make a living" than just living.
Quote from: DaveH on January 23, 2013, 10:41:08 AMThis is a perennial topic and the "younger" generation probably feel they have more commitments, a young family and all that goes with it. They also spend a lot of time "trying to make a living" than just living. I am not sure, the younger guys I work with have time and money for lots of things that don't choose to do or spend my money on. So many of them with families are off down the gym a few nights a week , dancing seems to be in fashion , out playing golf all day on a Sunday and this is all with in an engineering company. I would say they have more time than I had at their age.I hear that Babies can be a distraction but our own Dave here shows that that only need be for a few years, then they can add to the fun in the workshop .Funding: Here is an interesting one, a few years ago I priced up my entire workshop, the materials/castings for all my models and the time I have spent doing this hobby against colleagues hobby costs who were into sculling, golfing and classic cars. My model engineering was by far the cheapest hobby . Jo
[JoI have twin 10 year olds a boy and a girl....beautiful kids....love em more than life itself....but to say they are a distraction to my hobby...understates how much work kids are.