The Apprentice

[baggieal]

I just don't go along with this bashing of the younger generation. I am full of admiration of what I see around me.

My eldest has just been promoted from Sales Director to MD. He was the only one of my 3 to not go to Uni. He is now the only one with a 6 figure salary, company car, a host of other benefits and no student debt. He does love his job but I am concerned about the number of hours he does.

My next door neighbour's lad got a Covid related redundancy. He got some funding and started up his own company and now employs 8. Some of which he employed without actually meeting them in the flesh.

My mate's lad has his own business recycling plastic somewhere in the West Mids. Judging from the car he drives he's doing OK.

I saw the other day there were over 600,000 start ups in the UK (by far and away the biggest number in Europe) last year the vast majority I assume by the 'younger generation.'

As regards the 'challenging bit' are you sure it's not a case of the older generation don't like to have there old ways being challenged?

Part of my lad's proposal to become MD was a salary reduction for the directors in return for more performance related pay.

Agree wholeheartedly about more apprenticeships.

I did not have the opportunities but I applaud the younger generation if opportunities are taken!

My two older kids worked b loody hard to obtain excellent A Level Results then good achievements at uni. The older daughter went on a graduate scheme with a large blue chip company after work experience at Man Utd and Disney. She’s been promoted lots of times and now on a fantastic wage - but deserved! My son is doing well too and no need to worry about them now - I might be asking them for a loan! Younger one still at school loves her studies and she’s aspiring to a good career too after uni. Good on them for the hours and dedication as I wasn’t like that.

Academics is something that you can always fall back on if needed and can’t be taken away. If you don’t have qualifications then like me it’s hard work - luck - financial risk but that’s for the lucky ones.

So for those kids who work their balls off with school and uni results - you deserve any success that may come your way! I wish I had those opportunities but why would I be bitter?

[Leicesterbaggie]

An absolutely ridiculous programme. They obviously try to find the most inept and stupid individuals so as to make the programme more entertaining. I wonder why all the women on there are attractive. They are on there for their looks and not their brain power. As for Sugar, he needs to go on a course on how to speak the English language correctly. I watched an early episode and haven't watched it since. I have seen the odd snippets as my wife watches it. Why, I don't understand as she is an intelligent and highly qualified person.

[baggieal]

An absolutely ridiculous programme. They obviously try to find the most inept and stupid individuals so as to make the programme more entertaining. I wonder why all the women on there are attractive. They are on there for their looks and not their brain power. As for Sugar, he needs to go on a course on how to speak the English language correctly. I watched an early episode and haven't watched it since. I have seen the odd snippets as my wife watches it. Why, I don't understand as she is an intelligent and highly qualified person.

You are right as all staged with good looking girls etc. to be fair though some have gone on to create very strong leading companies - know of a guy on there who owns a leading recruitment company and he will be worth mega bucks!

Karen Brady certainly is a very bright sharp cookie and done well so she deserves credit!

Won’t be many entrepreneurs in 2022 though like Sugar hence the importance of kids getting good grades at school if they want a decent career!

[Dubbag]

Alan Sugar......Came so close to buying shares in his Amstrad company at around 3p a share......
But IBM were the only team in town and I didn't think it would be worth the risk. I bought in another exploration company and did well out of the investment.......but back then....nobody could see a market in home computers......
Consensus was that they wouldn't catch on.....
FFS!!!