There’s networking and then there’s Apprentice Networking. It’s simple but ingenious – take a few dozen business folk, divide them into teams, give them apprentice-style tasks – so devious they’d make Sir Alan’s toes curl – sit back and watch the fun.
Episode 3’s task meant satisfying every whim and fancy of a demanding celebrity boss. How they managed to organise such an impressive array of superstars, we’ll never know.
Left to right: David Brent, Victoria Beckham, Madonna, Gordon Ramsay, Sharon Osbourne and Simon Cowell (Sir Alan Sugar had to leave for a meeting at Downing Street before the photoshoot).
First off, the teams had a game of 20 questions to guess who their boss was for the evening. Then they had to negotiate the best possible price for their celeb’s A-List shopping list.
Simon Cowell was launching a new girl band and his needs included: somewhere to land his private jet, Botox treatment and nostril hair trimmers. Madonna was stopping over on her sponsored walk from Hampstead to Malawi. Amongst other things, Her Madgesty had requested: macrobiotic snacks, an Ashtanga Yoga teacher and enough pairs of trainers for the rest of the trip. David Brent’s needs were a little more modest for the launch of his 80’s-themed night club: a Ford Capri, cheese and pineapple hedgehogs and 50 Space Hoppers.
Separated at birth? David Brent and Mark Anderson
Everyone got into the spirit of the evening, running around Tunbridge Wells negotiating deals. If there was ever proof that name-dropping opens doors; one team (somehow managing to keep straight faces) wangled accommodation, executive transport, Botox and a personal shopping trip, all completely free for Mr Cowell.
Points were awarded for successfully tracking down the items, coming in under budget and for the teams’ general ability to butter up their bosses (note, Sir Alan Sugar’s team probably shouldn’t have bought him pork scratchings).
Apprentice networking really breaks the mold. Not only is it a lot of fun, it was obvious that some valuable connections were being made. The next event will be in November, and with a first prize of a week for 9 in a French chalet at stake, there’s everything to play for.
Thanks once again to organisers, Sarah (Posh Spice) Cundle of Horwath Clark Whitehill and Lucy (Mrs Ozzy) Hodgson of Page Personnel for all their hard work. Also to the other judges, Mark (Brent) Anderson of Horwath Clark Whitehill, Ron (don’t call me Alan) Roser of Langton Business Services and Remedy’s very own Lisa (material girl) Casson and Jason (Gordon) Hunt, for their celebrity luvviness, and Sankeys for the venue and stunning food.
If you want to attend the next Apprentice Networking event, email Sarah.Cundle@horwath.co.uk or call her on 01892 700200.