A SOUTH Shropshire businessman believes that the time has come for a change of emphasis when it comes to educating young people.

He is also convinced that the educational establishment in this country has a lot to learn from places like Romania and the countries of the former communist block in eastern and central Europe.

But Graeme Perks insists that he is not deliberately trying to be provocative or put the cat among the pigeons in staff rooms up and down south Shropshire.

“I think we have gone far enough when it comes to trying to push young people down an academic route,” said Graeme, aged 48, who runs his own furnituremaking business and is a leader of Skill Builders, an initiative that takes traditional artisan skills into the classroom.

“There is a limit to the number of doctors, lawyers and accountants that we need. I think we are too keen on pushing young people down an academic route that is not necessarily good for them or good for the country.”

He has just returned from a fact-finding European mission to Romania and is impressed with a move towards creating specialist schools that train young people for skills such as cookery, woodworking and other craft skills.

“I am not against academic study, indeed my own brother followed that course and is a doctor, but it was not for me and not for everyone. In my case, I was more practical and learned to be a furniture maker at the London School of Furniture.

“We need people with the attributes that fit with the economy in which we operate. By this, I mean that we need more artisans – people who will work for themselves and create things.

“I find the attitude so different on the Continent where, for example, a chef is a highly regarded profession that people look up to and respect.”

He and his wife Alex have just finished working with schools in Ludlow and Tenbury to teach young people cooking skills.

“We take professionals into school to give the youngsters the benefit of practical experience. There is a wonderful group of people who give up their own time to pass on their knowledge and experience,” said Graeme.

Among the people who work with Skill Builders are the award-winning chef Ian Smith, from the Peacock at Newnham Bridge, and John and Tracey Bordeaux, who run the iconic De Grays in Ludlow town centre.

Graeme has recently joined the board of Social Enterprise West Midlands and has plans to turn his furniture-making business into a training centre.

“People ask why I do it? It is because I enjoy doing this work and it gives me huge satisfaction,” he said.

“I am not a material person, and fortunately neither is my wife Alex, without whom none of this would be possible.

“There is nothing wrong with wanting a big house and a fancy car but they don’t float my boat – I’m lucky like that and in so many other ways.”