They are given a list of things they can do. On last nights it was obvious they had certain categories to choose from when choosing a theme and had a list of events they could run.
Does anyone know all the unofficial rules?
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There was a clear shot of a folder last night that had about 6 options on it, and when Rebecca 'suggested' wine-tasting she was pointing to her folder and the others all followed. So I think on most design/create tasks the teams are given options to choice from, such as target markets, focus groups, suppliers, etc.
I'll try to find a clip from i-Player to demonstrate this
Themes: http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/b02r0cqf/?t=8m25s
'I like the back to school' <-- suggest an option not original idea
Activities: http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/b02r0cqf/?t=8m43s
'Why don't we chose wine tasting?' <-- and she's pointing to the folder as well
This suggests that the themes, locations, events and props were all in this folder, so candidates just had to pick one of the ideas for each type? Hence the producers can have a Stately Home and flamingo props ready as well as army uniforms and sumo suits. So I think that answers the question.
Last edited by DalekCann : 06-06-2013 at 12:05
I'll try to find a clip from i-Player to demonstrate this
Themes: http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/b02r0cqf/?t=8m25s
'I like the back to school' <-- suggest an option not original idea
Activities: http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/b02r0cqf/?t=8m43s
'Why don't we chose wine tasting?' <-- and she's pointing to the folder as well
This suggests that the themes, locations, events and props were all in this folder, so candidates just had to pick one of the ideas for each type? Hence the producers can have a Stately Home and flamingo props ready as well as army uniforms and sumo suits. So I think that answers the question.
Last edited by DalekCann : 06-06-2013 at 12:05
Yep saw that too! It would have to be or else the logistics of trying to find everything would be a nightmare, plus they both at one point had the same idea (School). It does ask a question are both teams given the same folder? it would be easy to put undue pressure on a team by giving them harder themes or conflicting tasks to go along with the theme.
What I imagine happens is that they are given a list of suggestions for things that the producers have set up that they can help out with, but that they can go away from those if they so desire - but if they do they have to go it alone. Like last night for example, chocolate making was obviously on the list, but Luisa and the team changed it to cupcake making, because that was something that Luisa knew how to do and they could do it without the producers' help.
Originally Posted by george.millman:
“What I imagine happens is that they are given a list of suggestions for things that the producers have set up that they can help out with, but that they can go away from those if they so desire - but if they do they have to go it alone. Like last night for example, chocolate making was obviously on the list, but Luisa and the team changed it to cupcake making, because that was something that Luisa knew how to do and they could do it without the producers' help.”
“What I imagine happens is that they are given a list of suggestions for things that the producers have set up that they can help out with, but that they can go away from those if they so desire - but if they do they have to go it alone. Like last night for example, chocolate making was obviously on the list, but Luisa and the team changed it to cupcake making, because that was something that Luisa knew how to do and they could do it without the producers' help.”
That's what I've always assumed too. Of course, it's a big thing to go off and do their own thing, as it just adds more things to do and complexity to tasks that are already severely time-pressured.
For me, last night's task was one of the hardest they've ever done. Getting some products and selling stuff is one thing, but putting on an awayday at basically 24 hours' notice? I've organised and run in-house training before, and it's hard work even when you don't have to worry about booking external suppliers, dressing a venue and provide training you're ill-equipped to provide. It's no wonder they floundered so much.
Originally Posted by slouchingthatch:
“For me, last night's task was one of the hardest they've ever done. Getting some products and selling stuff is one thing, but putting on an awayday at basically 24 hours' notice? I've organised and run in-house training before, and it's hard work even when you don't have to worry about booking external suppliers, dressing a venue and provide training you're ill-equipped to provide. It's no wonder they floundered so much.”
“For me, last night's task was one of the hardest they've ever done. Getting some products and selling stuff is one thing, but putting on an awayday at basically 24 hours' notice? I've organised and run in-house training before, and it's hard work even when you don't have to worry about booking external suppliers, dressing a venue and provide training you're ill-equipped to provide. It's no wonder they floundered so much.”
Like other Apprentice tasks, it was not correctly sequenced. It should have started with speaking to the client to clarify requirements, just as the design tasks often have market research too late to influence either product choice or design.
If the sequence was dictated by production needs, then the customers' wishes could and should have been supplied in writing at the start. It is absurd that Leah only learned of the customer's emphasis on communication skills after having chosen the theme and bought some activities. It is to her credit that she did make some changes but it left the theme rather incoherent (military croquet, anyone?).
Originally Posted by slouchingthatch:
“That's what I've always assumed too. Of course, it's a big thing to go off and do their own thing, as it just adds more things to do and complexity to tasks that are already severely time-pressured.
For me, last night's task was one of the hardest they've ever done. Getting some products and selling stuff is one thing, but putting on an awayday at basically 24 hours' notice? I've organised and run in-house training before, and it's hard work even when you don't have to worry about booking external suppliers, dressing a venue and provide training you're ill-equipped to provide. It's no wonder they floundered so much.”
“That's what I've always assumed too. Of course, it's a big thing to go off and do their own thing, as it just adds more things to do and complexity to tasks that are already severely time-pressured.
For me, last night's task was one of the hardest they've ever done. Getting some products and selling stuff is one thing, but putting on an awayday at basically 24 hours' notice? I've organised and run in-house training before, and it's hard work even when you don't have to worry about booking external suppliers, dressing a venue and provide training you're ill-equipped to provide. It's no wonder they floundered so much.”
Yes - although if someone did take a gamble on that and it paid off, it would be fantastic for them in the boardroom.
Originally Posted by lammtarra:
“Like other Apprentice tasks, it was not correctly sequenced. It should have started with speaking to the client to clarify requirements, just as the design tasks often have market research too late to influence either product choice or design.
If the sequence was dictated by production needs, then the customers' wishes could and should have been supplied in writing at the start. It is absurd that Leah only learned of the customer's emphasis on communication skills after having chosen the theme and bought some activities. It is to her credit that she did make some changes but it left the theme rather incoherent (military croquet, anyone?).”
“Like other Apprentice tasks, it was not correctly sequenced. It should have started with speaking to the client to clarify requirements, just as the design tasks often have market research too late to influence either product choice or design.
If the sequence was dictated by production needs, then the customers' wishes could and should have been supplied in writing at the start. It is absurd that Leah only learned of the customer's emphasis on communication skills after having chosen the theme and bought some activities. It is to her credit that she did make some changes but it left the theme rather incoherent (military croquet, anyone?).”
All part of the magic of TV, plus doing things out of sequence merely increases the chances of the teams doing something horrifically wrong, which is all we really want to see, right?
Originally Posted by george.millman:
“Yes - although if someone did take a gamble on that and it paid off, it would be fantastic for them in the boardroom.”
“Yes - although if someone did take a gamble on that and it paid off, it would be fantastic for them in the boardroom.”
Agreed. That wasn't the case for Luisa last night, though, as they didn't really make much of an attempt to tie the activity into either the theme or the business objectives.
But I don't think they could go off on their own too much, hence why Luisa had to buy her piping bags from the chocolate lady, and not from a supplier.
Originally Posted by Philip Wales:
“But I don't think they could go off on their own too much, hence why Luisa had to buy her piping bags from the chocolate lady, and not from a supplier.”
“But I don't think they could go off on their own too much, hence why Luisa had to buy her piping bags from the chocolate lady, and not from a supplier.”
We don't know that she had to. To me, as they were there with her at the time, it just made sense to buy them there and then instead of going off somewhere else when they were under time constraints.
Originally Posted by Philip Wales:
“ It does ask a question are both teams given the same folder?”
“ It does ask a question are both teams given the same folder?”
I'm sure they are.
Sometimes another hidden rule is that they aren't allowed to pick the same things. Apparently that didn't apply here because at one point they both were picking School. Sometimes we're told upfront, for example when they are competing for artists and it's part of the task that the artist can only go with one team. I'm fairly sure that it's sometimes a rule but not mentioned because the teams happen to pick different things so the rule doesn't come into play.
Originally Posted by lammtarra:
“You could say the same about the contestants. The teams must have exchanged notes sufficiently to have some idea but often the result seems to take them by surprise.
So far as Lord Sugar is concerned, it is not his writing down the numbers so much as his clearly working out the margin that is persuasive.”
“You could say the same about the contestants. The teams must have exchanged notes sufficiently to have some idea but often the result seems to take them by surprise.
So far as Lord Sugar is concerned, it is not his writing down the numbers so much as his clearly working out the margin that is persuasive.”
Yes, I've often wondered about that look of surprise, if the boardroom is the day after the task, wouldn't the candidates have counted their takings and deducted their costs before going in, and therefore have a decent idea of at least how profitable their team had been?
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