Just dug out an old invoice for my first boxes of rods I bought from my employer where I did my time,the week I left to go it alone,think I was on £4.80/hour,with the usual bonuses.
I was trained as a precision grinder,then latterly became the tool and cutter grinder for the whole shop,when they bought a machining centre I also used to set the tools for that.
They sponsored me to attend Brighton technical college for 4 years part time.
Ultimately became boring,repetitive,too much indoors and not creative.
Graces guide doesn’t say if they’re still operating,I must have a few pennies in their pension to claim ha ha.