THERE was a time when career advisors were convinced that university was the only avenue worth pursuing. But as many graduates later discovered, there's good money to be made as a tradesman. Secure money too, because we have a national shortage of trained plumbers, joiners, brickies and plasterers.

If only someone had told them before going up to uni.

Of course for some people this is the natural career path, but what about students who are more practical than academic? For years they were sent to secondary school and made to feel just that. Now learning a trade is seen as a sound choice once again, and York College is leading the way with a brand new skills centre, which opens next month on the Sim Balk Lane campus.

In April Brian Berry of the Federation of Master Builders warned that lay offs during the recession had produced a shortage of bricklayers, which threatens government housing targets.

Mr Berry went on to say that compared with 2014, more than twice the number of firms are reporting difficulties in recruiting brickies.

This is worrying, especially in a city with a growing housing crisis. That said, the problem is a national one; with latest figures showing 1.37 million households are waiting for a home, up 26 per cent on 2000.

But without trained craftsmen to build us out of trouble things will only get worse. Which is all the more reason to congratulate York College for taking up the mantle. It already has excellent facilities and an enviable reputation. How good to see the college continuing to build on those solid foundations.