The Apprentice – You’re Hired!… But For How Long?

It's now Series 7 of The Apprentice, one of the BBC’s most successful TV shows. Like millions of others, I’ve found myself strangely intrigued by this celebration of narcissism and one-up-man-ship. As each series progresses, I find myself drawn into the suspense of who will land themselves a job with the ever cuddly Lord Sugar, Nick Hewer and Karren Brady.

But after this week’s show I found myself wondering what happens to them once they’ve proved themselves and been “hired”. Do they become successful mini Sugars in their own right, or drift into obscurity. And what happens to the business ventures they get assigned to?

The first series was won by Tim Campbell, a Psychology graduate come Senior Planner for London Underground. Campbell joined Amstrad in 2005 as Project Director of Integra Face Care System. Then, in 2007, despite being described as an “asset” by the then Sir Alan, Campbell left Amstrad to set up Bright Ideas Trust, an angel investment group helping young entrepreneurs. Integra was already struggling when Campbell joined, and it doesn’t seem to have made much headway in the Health and Beauty market since.

Series 2 was won by  Michelle Dewberry, who rose from a difficult upbringing to become a successful telecoms executive in her own right. After winning the show in 2006, Dewberry took a role in Amstrad to aid the launch of Xenon Green, an environmentally friendly electronic waste disposal service. Unfortunately for Sugar, neither succeeded, with Xenon Green fading into obscurity, and Dewberry quitting after just 8 months in the job. Dewberry now works as a consultant, columnist, entrepreneur and philanthropist.

The next winner was Simon Ambrose, a Cambridge graduate, investment banker and internet entrepreneur. After victory in 2007, Ambrose joined Sugar’s property company, Amsprop, where he helped to develop the online side of the business. Campbell left in 2010 to become an independent property developer and was wished “best of luck” by Lord Sugar.

The fourth series was won by Lee McQueen, a catering manager come recruiter. McQueen took a job in 2008 with Amshold, a division of Amstrad which developed digital display advertising. McQueen soon moved to work for Lord Sugar’s son, Simon Sugar, at Amscreen. McQueen left in 2010 to found his own company, Raw Talent Academy, a scheme to encourage human resource managers to consider non-graduates in their recruitment practices. Amshold seems to be doing well.

Series 5 winner, Yasmina Siadatan, also went on to work for Amscreen in 2009, supplying digital screens to GP surgeries. She also seems to be running her high-end restaurant, Mya Lacarte, in Reading. Siadatan became pregnant in 2010 to Andrew Hepburn, who she met at work. She is currently on maternity leave.

Series 6 was won by investment banker, Stella English in 2010. Both English and her runner-up contestant, Chris Bates, are reported to be working for Viglen, an IT business which is part-owned by Sugar. The infamous Stuart Baggs was not offered a position.

With series 7 underway, Melody Hossaini is favourite with the bookies. But the more interesting question is what will happen to previous winners, Yasmina (2009) and Stella (2010).

So far, no Apprentice has stayed in Lord Sugar’s employ for more than 3 years, so chances are both will leave before 2012. I wonder if serious prospective contestants/candidates are aware of this when they apply?