staff. ., , , cost of freelancing and of staff. . , , ., ~ , ., staff. neil carbery, thank you for our staff. neil carbery, thank you for your time. _ today marks the start of the 15th annual apprentice week here in the uk. but there has been a problem attracting young people to apprenticing in a traditional craft, and this has lead to some crafts being on the brink of becoming extinct. apprenticeship starts has dropped from just under 500,000 a year in 2016/17, to under 325,00 in 2020/21. but for those young people interested in becoming an organ builder or a roof thatcher, or maybe looking for a career in puppet making, the good news is that many traditional heritage crafts also offer earn—while—you—learn training. joining me now is mary lewis, endangered crafts manager with the heritage crafts association. good morning to you. what is the scene like, currently for those who wish to pursue a