Week three and the teams are shuffled about. This is the first time you get a chance to see who might be worth looking out for either to fall or to succeed. Kimberly and Kate joined Empire and Noorul and Philip went to Ignite. Watch them all carefully, I would suggest!And this week the teams had to manufacture, produce a prototype and then sell a home fitness product to retailers. It was a resounding victory for Ignite as they not only created a product that was worthwhile, but sold a lot of units and to all three retailers. Certainly, some good business lessons this week. Do invent something based on a tried and tested formula, keep it simple, have a catchy name like Body Rocka, make it look cool and don’t manage like Debra. Gosh, she was terrible! Not only that, but her attempt to be all politically correct when Yasmina suggested having different people in the photo shoot – demonstrated her ability to take control and engage mouth before thinking.
But not as terrible as the box of bobbins that Empire came up with. Poor old James had to put up with Ben saying how brilliant the product was (and indirectly how fabulous he was) and a team who generally didn’t do much other than delude themselves that they had come up with a great product idea.
Not only was their product dreadful but their pitching was abysmal.
So James was in the Boardroom and he chose to take Maj and Ben back in with him. Many may wonder why James wasn’t fired for project managing badly or Ben for coming up with a dreadful product. Poor old Maj, they might say. What did he do wrong? Sir Alan thought he didn’t do much. And whilst that may be true, in fact Maj derailed the process. He complicated a product and idea which, in conception was good. The lack of focus led to a product that wasn’t anything to anyone. It had no design, no target market and in fact he made it do too much… except it didn’t do anything well at all. Simply awful.
So in my view, Maj was the one to go. Although it won’t be long before James gets his marching orders. I am delighted Ben is still there. Not because he’s a good businessman but because it’s a joy to watch someone as deluded and puffed up as he is, for the next few weeks!
So. FINALLY we saw some chink of light. An element of creativity. A flash that perhaps this lot are not the worst Apprentice Candidates ever!
Next week they have to make beauty products. So get ready for lots of talk about the teams getting themselves in a lather, making a mess they could not clean up and playing dirty!
I think it’s fair to say that although there are some criticisms of the show, the format and the fact that unless it’s freshened up we are going to get bored. I’m not sure that time is just yet!
Don’t forget to download this week’s podcast. I’m joined by showbiz reporter Kylie Norman, broadcaster Cristo, wordsmith Raef Bjayou and also we hear from you! The Apprentice hotline is open by the way – so do leave me a message on 020 7288 4678
Until next week… cheerio!