DS Forums

 
 

Ex-Apprentice winner Stella English sues Alan Sugar (& has now lost)


Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 06-03-2013, 23:57
Kolin Klingon
Inactive Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,198
For a £100,000, I'd even work at Poundland!

Kolin Klingon is offline   Reply With Quote
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
Old 07-03-2013, 00:04
Gilbertoo
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 19,046
Yeah but you didn't feel a need to take it to tribunal. Sounds like you just left and moved on to something more satisfying.
Well, if my boss said they didn't give a shit and said the below, I might've...

Ms English said Lord Sugar told her he gave her the new role because he did not want to damage the integrity of The Apprentice or the BBC, or harm his image.
Gilbertoo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2013, 01:05
DavetheScot
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 16,500
What a muppet, what is she hoping to achieve with this action? Is she suing because she didn't get the media career that everyone really goes on the show for?

Some jobs just don't work out, most people just accept it, put it behind them, and move on. Who will be keen to employ her now with this sort of nonsense from her on display in the press?

Doesn't she understand that a non-renewed fixed term contract simply ends or have I missed something?

Nobody owes you a living pet. Sometimes you have to work for it and often there are setbacks you have to overcome. Move on dear.
I think the trouble is that she wasn't looking for a media career, and thought the show really was what it represents itself as being; a real opportunity to advance a serious business career.

I don't know if she's likely to win; it'll depend what her contract says, no doubt. But I suspect she's telling the truth about what happened - as you point out, going to a tribunal can be damaging to future prospects, and she'll know that, so won't be likely to do so lightly - and, whatever the legal position, if things happened as she said, I think she's at least morally in the right.

Your last paragraph seems very condescending, especially as Stella had already worked very hard to get herself up from a tough background to a £80k + job in a bank. I suspect she knows all about overcoming setbacks and has never expected anyone to owe her a living, but does expect people to deliver on their promises.
DavetheScot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2013, 01:10
d'@ve
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Darn Sarf
Posts: 28,724
It was a TV show, she was naive if she expected a normal job out of it. She may (or may not) win but either way, I have little sympathy for her - she was basically part of a cut-throat entertainment industry, however the "job" was portrayed.

She needed to move on, not start suing everyone (or anyone).
d'@ve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2013, 02:37
dezire
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,831
It was a TV show, she was naive if she expected a normal job out of it. She may (or may not) win but either way, I have little sympathy for her - she was basically part of a cut-throat entertainment industry, however the "job" was portrayed.

She needed to move on, not start suing everyone (or anyone).
agreed. she was paid well and should move on. life is tooshort for dreadfully court cases
it is hardly going to enhance her career propsects
dezire is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2013, 06:49
LIZALYNN
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 7,222
I do feel that it is a big con by Alan Sugar. He always gives the impression of not being a very honourable person, despite his title. Money is all he cares about.
Stella can surely pick up another job like the one she had before The Apprentice. She is quite brave to face up to Sugar and not cower away. Good for her.
.
LIZALYNN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2013, 07:07
muddipaws
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,085
I always thought it was the biggest PR exercise for Sugar ever and as its the BBC it's free advertising too. He has used the show for his personal gain more than anything, most of the winners have left his organisation shortly after. I genuinely don't think there are positions available but he keeps just plugging away, after all he has a captive audience and free advertising at premium time

Hope she wins
muddipaws is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2013, 07:08
muddipaws
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,085
agreed. she was paid well and should move on. life is tooshort for dreadfully court cases
it is hardly going to enhance her career propsects
Maybe not but its the principle of it and what she was sold, if he didn't deliver based on probably there really never was a job "lets make something up". She is savvy enough to realise there never was a job and he is now being outed
muddipaws is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2013, 07:26
Ænima
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 34,106
I struggle to believe she would be so naive. She probably knows she has a strong case when what she was offered was not what was promised, and then, if she was unfairly dismissed. I know everyone is saying she shouldn't have expected a proper job, but that doesn't mean Sugar can just ignore employment laws. She still has rights.
Ænima is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2013, 10:08
haphash
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: London
Posts: 14,737
I think the trouble is that she wasn't looking for a media career, and thought the show really was what it represents itself as being; a real opportunity to advance a serious business career.

I don't know if she's likely to win; it'll depend what her contract says, no doubt. But I suspect she's telling the truth about what happened - as you point out, going to a tribunal can be damaging to future prospects, and she'll know that, so won't be likely to do so lightly - and, whatever the legal position, if things happened as she said, I think she's at least morally in the right.

Your last paragraph seems very condescending, especially as Stella had already worked very hard to get herself up from a tough background to a £80k + job in a bank. I suspect she knows all about overcoming setbacks and has never expected anyone to owe her a living, but does expect people to deliver on their promises.
I agree with you. I'm surprised so many people on here are defending Sugar. At last someone has not let him bully them and has stepped forward to point out what a sham it all was. Stella was never a media type, he's definitely lying about that. I believe that she left a good job hoping to advance her career and has been fobbed off. Yes she got good money for a year but that really isn't the point. She was conned. Too many people on this thread are jealous of the money she earned for doing very little without seeing the bigger picture - that Sugar is basically a con-merchant who likes to promote himself on TV. He is the media type not her.
haphash is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2013, 10:21
Trsvis_Bickle
Inactive Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 8,940
I think the trouble is that she wasn't looking for a media career, and thought the show really was what it represents itself as being; a real opportunity to advance a serious business career.
Y'see, that's why The Apprentice has lost all resemblance to the real business world; anyone with any genuine talent for business must be able to see that it is just entertainment. I struggle to see how anyone who is already in a good career, performing well, would risk it all by appearing on a ridiculous, manipulated gameshow.

Even if you do get the job at the end of it, Viglen is a downmarket operation flogging cheap IT kit to schools - just how high-profile is a job there going to be?
Trsvis_Bickle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2013, 10:28
Chizzleface
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 7,659
Y'see, that's why The Apprentice has lost all resemblance to the real business world; anyone with any genuine talent for business must be able to see that it is just entertainment. I struggle to see how anyone who is already in a good career, performing well, would risk it all by appearing on a ridiculous, manipulated gameshow.

Even if you do get the job at the end of it, Viglen is a downmarket operation flogging cheap IT kit to schools - just how high-profile is a job there going to be?
It never had any resemblance to the business world. Business decision aren't made by screaming harridans in the street, they're made by suits in an office. The Apprentice teaches people how to shout loudest, seeing as that is apparently what wins on that show.

If The Apprentice was truly about business, it would be a very dull show set in boardrooms with no shouting and slanging, but with lots of accounting and legalese. To be honest, that'd be the show I'd prefer to watch these days!
Chizzleface is offline Follow this poster on Twitter   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2013, 10:38
Trsvis_Bickle
Inactive Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 8,940
It never had any resemblance to the business world. Business decision aren't made by screaming harridans in the street, they're made by suits in an office. The Apprentice teaches people how to shout loudest, seeing as that is apparently what wins on that show.

If The Apprentice was truly about business, it would be a very dull show set in boardrooms with no shouting and slanging, but with lots of accounting and legalese. To be honest, that'd be the show I'd prefer to watch these days!
BIB: Oh, I think the first series was at least a gameshow with a business theme. Subsequent series jumped the shark by deliberately selecting deluded, attention-seeking pillocks because it made for more entertaining telly.

I agree with your second paragraph, although I'm not sure there's a show in it.
Trsvis_Bickle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2013, 10:43
Chizzleface
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 7,659
I have a plan to make for awesome telly (or at least get the Apprentice shitcanned ) - I plan on entering, being the damn best candidate ever, then when Lord Sugar announces me as the winner I'll tell him to go **** himself live on You're Hired...

That is a dream I will hold dear to me
Chizzleface is offline Follow this poster on Twitter   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2013, 10:43
Takae
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 11,932
BIB: Oh, I think the first series was at least a gameshow with a business theme. Subsequent series jumped the shark by deliberately selecting deluded, attention-seeking pillocks because it made for more entertaining telly.
I agree with that. I didn't bother watching the most recent series. I doubt I'd watch if there is one this year.
Takae is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2013, 10:49
whatever54
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,098
I have a plan to make for awesome telly (or at least get the Apprentice shitcanned ) - I plan on entering, being the damn best candidate ever, then when Lord Sugar announces me as the winner I'll tell him to go **** himself live on You're Hired...

That is a dream I will hold dear to me
I love the idea and would be great but a huge lot of effort to go to just to tell Sir Sugar to go f*** himself. On the plus side I bet the job offers would come flooding in so may pay off
whatever54 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2013, 11:55
bart4858
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 8,135
I always thought it was the biggest PR exercise for Sugar ever and as its the BBC it's free advertising too. He has used the show for his personal gain more than anything, most of the winners have left his organisation shortly after. I genuinely don't think there are positions available
Sugar is always associated with Amstrad but he doesn't even own that anymore. What's left is a rather dull string of companies, such as property and display signs. Even Viglen just does boring corporate computer systems.

I don't know why anyone would think working for him would be glamorous or exciting.

It's also unlikely that he would be running this companies with an important £100K-a-year roll unfilled, waiting for each year's series winner! I think winning the TV show is the big deal, not the actual job. (In the same way that just appearing on Dragon's Den is more important than getting any investment.)
bart4858 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2013, 12:16
whatever54
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,098
Sugar is always associated with Amstrad but he doesn't even own that anymore. What's left is a rather dull string of companies, such as property and display signs. Even Viglen just does boring corporate computer systems.

I don't know why anyone would think working for him would be glamorous or exciting.

It's also unlikely that he would be running this companies with an important £100K-a-year roll unfilled, waiting for each year's series winner! I think winning the TV show is the big deal, not the actual job. (In the same way that just appearing on Dragon's Den is more important than getting any investment.)
I do enjoy watching The Apprentice but as you say Amstrad, that ship has sailed but years later he's still dining out on it. Viglen-rubbish name, no idea how successful it is and that TV box thing pfft. I still like him & find him entertaining but his new ventures lack glamour & excitement
whatever54 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2013, 12:49
bart4858
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 8,135
Viglen-rubbish name, no idea how successful it is
The two original partners were called Vigen and Len (first names). They were bought out by Amstrad for £20m each, who kept the name because of the extra status (Viglen produced quality computers compared with Amstrad's consumer products).

In could have been worse though: Lenvig.
bart4858 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2013, 13:21
d'@ve
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Darn Sarf
Posts: 28,724
I agree with you. I'm surprised so many people on here are defending Sugar. At last someone has not let him bully them and has stepped forward to point out what a sham it all was. Stella was never a media type, he's definitely lying about that. I believe that she left a good job hoping to advance her career and has been fobbed off. Yes she got good money for a year but that really isn't the point. She was conned. Too many people on this thread are jealous of the money she earned for doing very little without seeing the bigger picture - that Sugar is basically a con-merchant who likes to promote himself on TV. He is the media type not her.
Anyone with any business acumen would have realised that it was just a TV show and what (if anything) that happened afterwards was peripheral. If any mistake was made by the BBC and/or Sugar, it was perhaps that they didn't spell this out in words of one syllable in the contract, for the benefit of people who didn't 'get it'. Or who might later plan to take advantage of the situation...

You can bet your bottom dollar that if Sugar loses, the contract loophole (for that is what it would be) will be firmly slammed shut for any future series!

If she wins and gets substantial damages, she could have quite a good career in front of her as a kind of Lady Legal Loophole.
d'@ve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2013, 13:44
haphash
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: London
Posts: 14,737
Anyone with any business acumen would have realised that it was just a TV show and what (if anything) that happened afterwards was peripheral. If any mistake was made by the BBC and/or Sugar, it was perhaps that they didn't spell this out in words of one syllable in the contract, for the benefit of people who didn't 'get it'. Or who might later plan to take advantage of the situation...

You can bet your bottom dollar that if Sugar loses, the contract loophole (for that is what it would be) will be firmly slammed shut for any future series!

If she wins and gets substantial damages, she could have quite a good career in front of her as a kind of Lady Legal Loophole.
I sincerely hope she does win, but win or lose the damage has been done to bully boy Sugar. His image is tarnished.
haphash is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2013, 13:49
d'@ve
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Darn Sarf
Posts: 28,724
I sincerely hope she does win, but win or lose the damage has been done to bully boy Sugar. His image is tarnished.
I don't see why, it's the image I have always had of him! "If you dance with the devil..." and all that.
d'@ve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2013, 13:56
dezire
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,831
Maybe not but its the principle of it and what she was sold, if he didn't deliver based on probably there really never was a job "lets make something up". She is savvy enough to realise there never was a job and he is now being outed
So what.
She is very fortunate to be in employment on 100k. She should move on and put it behind her. This court case is hardly going to have employers flocking at her door. sillly woman.
dezire is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2013, 01:29
DavetheScot
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 16,500

You can bet your bottom dollar that if Sugar loses, the contract loophole (for that is what it would be) will be firmly slammed shut for any future series!
I think this case is perhaps the reason why he now offers business partnership rather than a job, so the issue shouldn't arise again.
DavetheScot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2013, 01:42
googleking
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: West London
Posts: 14,776
I'm surprised a busy business man such as Sir Sugar has time to spend two days or more at the tribunal.
googleking is offline Follow this poster on Twitter   Reply With Quote
 
Reply




 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 12:06.