Chris Bates is undeniably a clever guy with possible potential. But on paper he is a 23 years old with only 9 months work experience. I can't see what he brings to the table on day 1 to justify a salary of £100K per year. Maybe he will be worth this sort of salary a few years down the line when he has worked his socks off and proved himself but as a starting salary - just plain wrong IMO.

I know thats the rules of the show but it will really annoy me if he wins. For that reason - go Stella!

It's not fair to discriminate on the basis of age. Stella may have experience but I don't think it's even relevant so that wouldn't make her any more qualified then Chris.

But, to be fair, he left the company after 9 months. So not only does he ONLY have 9 months work experience, but we also need to remember that this isn't 'and counting'.

At that age people chop and change their minds a lot and don't really know what their ultimate goal is, I feel if he does win (and I don't think he should) he wouldn't be with Sugar for long.

Think he's a major wannabe. Nothing will ever be good enough, he seems to expect perfection, but nothing is perfect.

I think he simply wants to be the best in whatever field he can do it in.

The point of the programme is, Alan Sugar is looking for an aprrentice, by definition, this is someone young, its a shame though, as its painfully obvious Stella will win, because its been hyped up too much, blah blah, she was poor, she is a woman, she was a PA, there have been feminist undertones riving throughout this series, which is a shame, as whilst she is good, Chris deserves it a lot more.

Its called the apprentice, too my knowleague that means to learn while being payed.

Chris has the abilty to be a great business man if he learns from sugar.

In any interview job/selection it may seem unfair but is the prerogative of the interviewer to select who they want.

If you look at LS' business interests at present, you'll notice that Stella could do the corporate side of them, but she'd have to interact with people in a pleasant way, or she won't get very far. If you put Stella in a office where she NEVER sees a client, she'd do very well.

But all businesses rely on seeing people at some time, so Stella wouldn't be good for them, as she's indifferent towards people. If LS chooses her, then he'll find out in a short time what she's really like, and only way for him to know too.

Chris, on the other hand is too laid back, but could be moulded into something good given time, but if he continues being his old self, then LS will find someone else.


Last edited by Dix : 19-12-2010 at 20:44

Stella impressed the interviewers when meeting them face-to-face, while they found Chris to be rather monotonous. Plus Stella seems to have connected better with viewers than Chris has.

The only people who have offered negative feedback on Stella's presence is those she is competing against in the house. Think they are rather threatened by her.
Stella can speak up for herself in the boardroom aswell. She has proven to be adaptable because she was apparently an unruly child who has managed to turn herself into an incredibly respectable person.

Hello again by the way. Remember our AI days?

I don't think she's ever been really challenged in the boardroom or get grilled over her mistakes like the others do. They just keep bringing up the stupid "too corporate" nonsense; a blatant red-herring criticism for Stella to bat away easily.

If the person is hard working, and the employer thinks their the right person for the job then why not?

Because someone of this age is ONLY 23, still knows diddly squat, and does not have the necessary life or work experience to be rewarded in that way.

He'll chuck the job after 3 months if he got it!

he wouldnt be far off that money depending on the type of work he was doing oin an investment bank

I don't agree with this post at all. In fact, it's put me off Stella even more.

As someone who's around the same age as Chris, I think it's insulting to discrimitate because of someone's age. If we went on that, do you think there would be many young people getting into universities and jobs?

It's the fact that Chris is young that is one of the positives about him. It means he has potential and has lots to learn. He's a very good candiditate now, think about in a few years when he's had more experience. Stella on the other hand, is also a very good canditiate but she doesn't take risks that much which is a very important thing for an entreprenuer to have.

Chris to win.

Or maybe Stella's directness immediately negated any criticisms they sent her way.

I would always 'discrimitate' against a 23 year old applying for a 100K job. For good reason, it would seem.

And as far as I know, young people get into university based on their grades, not their age.

Half the point of the show is that it allows people who wouldn't normally be considered for a £100k job to have a shot at it. Yes, it would be odd for someone so young to go straight into such a high-paid job but it is a TV show.

It's a weeks wages for many who's only talent is to play football

It's by the by now, but in any job, the one and only person to whom it is relevant whether somebody "justifies" their salary is the person who is prepared to pay it.

Do you think there should be an age limit of, say, 25? That people without plenty of work experience should be rejected out of hand?

He got a first! He's worth a shot.

Definitely disagree with you...

It's called The Apprentice; the clue is in the title.

Seeing as I'm 23 I wouldn't really be complaining if you gave me 100k a year. Though I'm confused the show is called The APPRENTICE surely you should be disqualified if you have too much experience not too little.

If he can do the job properly to earn the £100,000, does experience matter?