STUDENTS hoping to make their mark in business have been given a unique chance to work alongside a former winner of The Apprentice.
In a similar process to the hit BBC series fronted by Sir Alan Sugar, Lee McQueen, the winner of series four, has been putting Harrow College students through their paces.
Since winning the show, Mr McQueen, from Ruislip, has started his own recruitment business, Raw Talent, and is working with the college to share his business know-how.
He said: “Academically I can do nothing. I can’t come in here and change the curriculum or teach them things they don’t know, but in business – without sounding egotistical – I have been pretty successful.
“We know youth unemployment is particularly high, we know that tuition fees have increased massively so there needs to be other ways for these youngsters to get ahead, and I think I can help them with that.”
Nearly 250 people applied for the six-month apprenticeship, some of whom were invited to attend a workshop day last week.
In groups, students had to try to grab the attention of Mr McQueen in a series of tasks that included promoting and marketing their own product, creating an advertisement for an energy drink, selling a broken or unwanted item, and interviewing him.
The scores were totted up and of the 42 invited to the day, just 18 remain. They will spend 12 days training and building their skills under the guidance of Raw Talent, before one is picked for the apprenticeship.
