Yeah, I didn’t think you would get much of a response to be honest. Small engineering shops around my area are closing every week. Not from the lack of work but lack of people wanting to do the job, especially younger people. I had a next door neighbour who came over from Poland about 10 years a go, who’s a skilled tool maker. He worked for a small machine shop making specialist parts for AUDI cars. After 18 months he landed a job in a call centre for BT. Same money expect far less work and nicer environment. The machine shop has folded, equipment sold and shipped to Turkey. You just can’t compete its sad to say, who wants to stand at a machine for 9 hours a day with ear / eye protectors on? My advice (and it might be shit) go full robotic and specialise. If you think its bad now its only going to get worse as more and more things are produced for less money outside our country.