What did we learn from Junior Apprentice?

By LBV

28 Jun 2010

With the dust still settling on the winning task on Junior Apprentice, I’ve been delighted - but not surprised - by the candidates’ performances.

The show did much to showcase some fantastic young business people, all offering different levels of maturity and skill, but also bags and bags of enthusiasm.

And it was no coincidence that the teams managed to pull in some record-breaking Apprentice sales records. Stripped of mature egos (something I sure we’ll see lots of in the Apprentice show proper) the youngsters often identified the key points quickly and, without a sense of fear, threw themselves into the tasks.

So many times in the show proper mature egos, not mature people, have let their desire to be seen override the basic key points related to the task.

The show produced a worthy if slightly surprising winner in 17 year old Arjun Rajyagor, who scooped a prize purse worth £25,000 for his future business career. Surprising only due to the fact he didn’t leap out as a winner in the early tasks, but came flying to the front in the last couple, just pipping Tim Ankers to the final decision.

It was the correct decision for me, certainly out of the final four of Arjun, Tim, Zoe Plummer and Kirsty Cleaver.

Tim showed a level of maturity unsurpassed by many of the others, but a definite role on future episodes of Countryfile look assured for the sheep-shearer turned sharp-suited TV natural.

Kirsty lived up to her name, cutting straight through so much nonsense and was never a shrinking violet, despite her lack of inches.

Zoe was an intriguing character, her of the Human League bob and rolling eyes. Despite annoying almost every viewer I’ve spoken to and most of the other contestants, she displayed a ruthless sales instinct. She could quite probably be able to sell ice to the Eskimos.

The Twitter-sphere was alight with running commentary on the tasks, and it was clear that all the contestants have good futures ahead of them, whatever their chosen fields.

So what have we learned?

Well as many of us know already, there are a fantastic group of young people working their ways through the education system that aren’t out to jump on any bystander with a knife.

The bad rap that many youngsters get was dispelled in huge quantities by driven and hungry young people looking already at their futures. Yes, there was more than a touch of toe-curling regurgitation of classic Apprentice lines “I’ve been working for this all my life” said one 16 year old – an interesting concept!

There was, for me, one salient lesson for all of us whatever your chosen path.

Discover that childlike enthusiasm for business; go jump in a few puddles, bump down the stairs on your bottom and run as fast as you can down the road. And once you’ve found that inner child take a look again at your biggest challenges and tackle them with all that youthful energy.

Simon Brooke, founder, the Happy Sweet Shop.
 

Enjoyed this? Read more from LBV

Latest news

1

Kerakoll UK and Barnfield Construction sign contract to build new Preston plant Barnfield team on new Kerakoll site

Kerakoll UK and Barnfield Construction sign contract to build new Preston plant

27 Jun 2025

2

Scout Moor II meteorological mast gets the green light Cubico

Scout Moor II meteorological mast gets the green light

26 Jun 2025

3

Breck acquires 21-acre Ravenhead Brickworks site for 300 new homes Ravenhead

Breck acquires 21-acre Ravenhead Brickworks site for 300 new homes

26 Jun 2025

4

Conlon marks Employee Ownership Day with family fun celebration, ushering in a new era after 60 years in business Conlon celebrating its first EOT Day with family at Ribby Hall Village

Conlon marks Employee Ownership Day with family fun celebration, ushering in a new era after 60 years in business

26 Jun 2025

5

Lancashire Skills & Employment Hub announces Skills Bootcamps partnership with Northcoders Northcoders skills support

Lancashire Skills & Employment Hub announces Skills Bootcamps partnership with Northcoders

26 Jun 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV123 July/August Launch Event
Lancashire Business View magazine launch
Networking
16 Jul 2025

LBV123 July/August Launch Event

Burnley

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Business Bike Club – July
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
01 Jul 2025 - 01 Jul 2025

Business Bike Club – July

Various, Lancaster, LA

08:00 - 09:30

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
02 Jul 2025 - 02 Jul 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July

St John's Hospice, Slyne Road, Lancaster, LA2 6ST

08:00 - 10:00

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4
LBV Hub Seminars
04 Jul 2025 - 04 Jul 2025

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

08:30 - 11:00

Chamber Summer BBQ
LBV Hub Social
17 Jul 2025 - 17 Jul 2025

Chamber Summer BBQ

The Borough, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PP

17:30 - 20:00

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?
July Longer Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

North West Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880456273-4862066883-1-original.20241022-105445.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Oct 2025

North West Business Expo 2025

Bolton Stadium Hotel, Bolton, BL6 6SF

09:00 - 15:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin