Okay, it's time to announce the first person who has a spot in the final two...
Digital Spy Apprentice: The Interviews Boardroom.
2 of 2
Originally Posted by Strictly_Irish:
“
“
Okay, it's time to announce the first person who has a spot in the final two...
”
Good luck everybody.
Niall, you've made it in to the top two. You did a fantastic job in your interviews. This was a unanimous decision amongst myself and all three interviewers so congratulations!
Wow, thanks so much Lady Sugar! I'm kinda shocked as I didn't think I would have a chance of making the final 2 after what was said to me last week, but I did try really hard to turn that around in my interviews though so I'm glad I succeeded! Best of luck Tyjet, Carlisle and Katie! You're all really strong so it would be an honour to be in the final with any of you 
Katie, there's no doubt you've been a very dedicated candidate but your fiery attitude worries me. I'm not sure I could work with you...
Tyjet, you're a very intelligent person and you've had some great tasks but it seems you promise more than you actually produce...
Carlisle, I thought you did well in your interviews but I still have concerns about your attitude and whether you're genuine or just saying what you think I want to hear...
Tyjet, you're a very intelligent person and you've had some great tasks but it seems you promise more than you actually produce...
Carlisle, I thought you did well in your interviews but I still have concerns about your attitude and whether you're genuine or just saying what you think I want to hear...
With sincere regret, Tyjet, you're fired. In the end, you didn't match up to the other candidates and I can't let you go any further. I'm sorry.
Katie and Carlisle... Only one of you will be joining Niall in the final, while the other will finish in third place.
Katie and Carlisle... Only one of you will be joining Niall in the final, while the other will finish in third place.
I want both of you to tell me why you deserve to be in the final with Niall, without resorting to petty insults.
It's a shame to see you go Tyjet. 
Why should I be in the final? Because I’ve performed strongly and consistently throughout every task. I’ve shown a MUCH larger diverse range of skills throughout the process. I’ve been praised for taking risks, writing great pitches, for my responses to viewer questions, for coming up with lots of ideas, for being creative, for being strong at design in the later stages, for being good at costings and pricings and praised by you, by advisors and by other candidates for being a strong project manager. To win DSA you need to possess a large amount of different skills and I’ve shown them throughout the tasks task after task.
I believe I’ve been one of the main contributors to every single task I’ve been part of. I’ve came up with the winning idea for three on three of the tasks I’ve won and I’ve never came up with an idea which has lost my team a task.
I also feel I’ve improved throughout the series and I’ve listened to your advisors feedback for example, I got criticised for my graphic design on Task 1 and was told I’d need to improve it and then I got praised for my design of the leaflet on the crèche task. This shows I can listen to people’s feedback and improve upon it and I think that’s a really important skill.
Task 1 – I was praised by the advisor for being one of “the main driving forces within the team” and for being the “most creative team member” out of six people. I also ended up having to do other tasks for people who didn’t do their delegated part of the task.
Task 2 – I took a big risk by putting myself forward as PM when it was clear no one wanted the job and Lady Sugar’s advisor who followed me called me the strongest member of the team so I’m glad I was PM. I was also told I managed my team really strongly
Task 3 – In my opinion this was my strongest task. The holiday’s task I chose the country we ended up going with and we were praised by the buyers for our location being stronger than the other team’s which was the key reason we won the task. I also came up with our pricings and costings and we got more orders from all the three retailers and some of them said they chose us over the other team because our pricing was stronger better. I also think I performed strongly because I was involved in writing the two pitches which sold the most units on this task and chose the cities, country and did the pricings for both of those pitches.
Task 4 – The ten items task I found three of the items for the cheapest which is more than the average team member. Additionally all three of those items where cheaper than the other team’s. If everyone performed like that on my team we’d have won this task. I also found a dishwasher £80 cheaper than anyone else on my team did. I think I was good at navigating the cheap items and I was rated highly by several of my team-mates on this task which shows I can work well in a team and can be managed well.
Task 5 – The cocktails task I was the one who suggested and pushed for the daiquiri range and mojito range once the PM decided on our theme. The drinks I created got praised both by viewers and by my team-mates as did my part of the pitch. I was also the only candidate on my team not brought back into the boardroom.
Task 6 - The music festival task I was praised for my pitch, my contributions to the task and for my ideas. Again, I was the only candidate in my team not to be brought back into the boardroom which says a lot about how my PMs have rated contributions and my overall performance on task. One candidate said my PM’s already criticise me but if it was such an issue I think I’d have been brought back into the boardroom a few times but I haven’t I disagree with that observation.
Task 7 – I won as PM on the pub theme task and both my team members where really happy with my performance as PM. “She was the best PM I’ve had” - a quote from Carlisle. “I was happy with Katie.” was said by the other team member. I think I shown my strong management skills on this task and also my creativity and ability to understand a market. The winning idea again was mine and I believe I was not only a strong team leader but also a strong team member through my development of our pricings and me writing the bulk of our pitch.
Task 8 – On the crèche task I was praised by all my team members and by Lady Sugar herself for being a great project manager again. This was also the second task in a row I was voted to be PM by my whole team and my second PM win in a row which shows I’m good at leading a team. I came up with the winning idea for the third time and was praised by you for the activities I came up with and I was also praised by my team-mates for the leaflet design, good delegating, good pitch and pricing.
Task 9 – I think I helped our idea become more original and we won the task. I think I was also very professional on the task. I came up with lots of strong ideas for example, the app, I was creative and I was extremely enthusiastic in the very lengthy written pitch that I wrote during the task which all my team noted.
I feel I’ve performed consistently strong for the reasons I’ve outlined I’ve been a strong team member due to my diverse skill set and I feel I’ve been a strong manager as I listen to other’s opinions, encourage creativity and lead well. This has resulted in me being praised by Lady Sugar, advisors and fellow team members during and after tasks for my management skills and team working skills.
The only criticism I’ve faced is my apparent inability to work with others which is in my opinion an unfair comment – I have never once been told my inability to work with others has affected our end result on any task. I’ve never been brought back into a boardroom by a project manager so this shows my PMs haven’t noticed any issues from it.
I’ve never been brought into the boardroom and I've more wins as a project manager and a strong win-loss ratio and I’ve appeared in the least boardrooms, the only time I appeared in the boardroom was eight tasks ago – a task the advisor said I was the strongest team member on. I don’t think these statistics are luck based because I’ve been praised for performing strongly since Task 1. I've never ever had a bad task where I've had an off day. I've noticed by faults and openly admitted them in boardrooms and task evaluations and made sure I've improved upon them and it's been recognised on more than one occasion by your advisors. I believe I’ve improved as candidate throughout the series by listening to the advisors constructive criticism and working on making sure I improve on their negative comments and turning it into a positive. I firmly believe I’m a well rounded candidate with a varied skillset which is an extremely important quality, and feel it would make me a fantastic business partner to you Lady Sugar.
Why should I be in the final? Because I’ve performed strongly and consistently throughout every task. I’ve shown a MUCH larger diverse range of skills throughout the process. I’ve been praised for taking risks, writing great pitches, for my responses to viewer questions, for coming up with lots of ideas, for being creative, for being strong at design in the later stages, for being good at costings and pricings and praised by you, by advisors and by other candidates for being a strong project manager. To win DSA you need to possess a large amount of different skills and I’ve shown them throughout the tasks task after task.
I believe I’ve been one of the main contributors to every single task I’ve been part of. I’ve came up with the winning idea for three on three of the tasks I’ve won and I’ve never came up with an idea which has lost my team a task.
I also feel I’ve improved throughout the series and I’ve listened to your advisors feedback for example, I got criticised for my graphic design on Task 1 and was told I’d need to improve it and then I got praised for my design of the leaflet on the crèche task. This shows I can listen to people’s feedback and improve upon it and I think that’s a really important skill.
Task 1 – I was praised by the advisor for being one of “the main driving forces within the team” and for being the “most creative team member” out of six people. I also ended up having to do other tasks for people who didn’t do their delegated part of the task.
Task 2 – I took a big risk by putting myself forward as PM when it was clear no one wanted the job and Lady Sugar’s advisor who followed me called me the strongest member of the team so I’m glad I was PM. I was also told I managed my team really strongly
Task 3 – In my opinion this was my strongest task. The holiday’s task I chose the country we ended up going with and we were praised by the buyers for our location being stronger than the other team’s which was the key reason we won the task. I also came up with our pricings and costings and we got more orders from all the three retailers and some of them said they chose us over the other team because our pricing was stronger better. I also think I performed strongly because I was involved in writing the two pitches which sold the most units on this task and chose the cities, country and did the pricings for both of those pitches.
Task 4 – The ten items task I found three of the items for the cheapest which is more than the average team member. Additionally all three of those items where cheaper than the other team’s. If everyone performed like that on my team we’d have won this task. I also found a dishwasher £80 cheaper than anyone else on my team did. I think I was good at navigating the cheap items and I was rated highly by several of my team-mates on this task which shows I can work well in a team and can be managed well.
Task 5 – The cocktails task I was the one who suggested and pushed for the daiquiri range and mojito range once the PM decided on our theme. The drinks I created got praised both by viewers and by my team-mates as did my part of the pitch. I was also the only candidate on my team not brought back into the boardroom.
Task 6 - The music festival task I was praised for my pitch, my contributions to the task and for my ideas. Again, I was the only candidate in my team not to be brought back into the boardroom which says a lot about how my PMs have rated contributions and my overall performance on task. One candidate said my PM’s already criticise me but if it was such an issue I think I’d have been brought back into the boardroom a few times but I haven’t I disagree with that observation.
Task 7 – I won as PM on the pub theme task and both my team members where really happy with my performance as PM. “She was the best PM I’ve had” - a quote from Carlisle. “I was happy with Katie.” was said by the other team member. I think I shown my strong management skills on this task and also my creativity and ability to understand a market. The winning idea again was mine and I believe I was not only a strong team leader but also a strong team member through my development of our pricings and me writing the bulk of our pitch.
Task 8 – On the crèche task I was praised by all my team members and by Lady Sugar herself for being a great project manager again. This was also the second task in a row I was voted to be PM by my whole team and my second PM win in a row which shows I’m good at leading a team. I came up with the winning idea for the third time and was praised by you for the activities I came up with and I was also praised by my team-mates for the leaflet design, good delegating, good pitch and pricing.
Task 9 – I think I helped our idea become more original and we won the task. I think I was also very professional on the task. I came up with lots of strong ideas for example, the app, I was creative and I was extremely enthusiastic in the very lengthy written pitch that I wrote during the task which all my team noted.
I feel I’ve performed consistently strong for the reasons I’ve outlined I’ve been a strong team member due to my diverse skill set and I feel I’ve been a strong manager as I listen to other’s opinions, encourage creativity and lead well. This has resulted in me being praised by Lady Sugar, advisors and fellow team members during and after tasks for my management skills and team working skills.
The only criticism I’ve faced is my apparent inability to work with others which is in my opinion an unfair comment – I have never once been told my inability to work with others has affected our end result on any task. I’ve never been brought back into a boardroom by a project manager so this shows my PMs haven’t noticed any issues from it.
I’ve never been brought into the boardroom and I've more wins as a project manager and a strong win-loss ratio and I’ve appeared in the least boardrooms, the only time I appeared in the boardroom was eight tasks ago – a task the advisor said I was the strongest team member on. I don’t think these statistics are luck based because I’ve been praised for performing strongly since Task 1. I've never ever had a bad task where I've had an off day. I've noticed by faults and openly admitted them in boardrooms and task evaluations and made sure I've improved upon them and it's been recognised on more than one occasion by your advisors. I believe I’ve improved as candidate throughout the series by listening to the advisors constructive criticism and working on making sure I improve on their negative comments and turning it into a positive. I firmly believe I’m a well rounded candidate with a varied skillset which is an extremely important quality, and feel it would make me a fantastic business partner to you Lady Sugar.
I just want to add I feel consistency and performing consistently strong throughout all the tasks is such an important skill and that's something I would bring to you Lady Sugar. Several ex-candidates have commented on it as did the interviewer's I feel I really deserve to be in the final because I've never had an off task and I've improved the points I've been criticised on in earlier tasks. I hate using the word journey but I feel I really have improved as the tasks have went on and that's due to me listening to feedback and working on it.
I think I've been excellent at answering viewer's questions, writing pitches, doing pricing, design, leading teams, coming up with ideas, noticing strong ideas and developing them and being creative. I really think I possess all the key skills needed to be the winner and be a finalist and I think if you do fire me you're losing the strongest candidate in the entire process. I've performed strongly throughout all the tasks, I've always admitted my faults and worked hard on them so that I improve upon them to be better and better each task which is something I feel I have done which is an extremely important thing. Learning as you go along is something important, I started this process strongly and I feel I've got better and better as each task has gone on and the evidence is in people's task evaluations, advisor's comments and the end pitches I've posted. I honestly believe I deserve to be in the final and I believe that if you fire me you'll be making a mistake.
I think I've been excellent at answering viewer's questions, writing pitches, doing pricing, design, leading teams, coming up with ideas, noticing strong ideas and developing them and being creative. I really think I possess all the key skills needed to be the winner and be a finalist and I think if you do fire me you're losing the strongest candidate in the entire process. I've performed strongly throughout all the tasks, I've always admitted my faults and worked hard on them so that I improve upon them to be better and better each task which is something I feel I have done which is an extremely important thing. Learning as you go along is something important, I started this process strongly and I feel I've got better and better as each task has gone on and the evidence is in people's task evaluations, advisor's comments and the end pitches I've posted. I honestly believe I deserve to be in the final and I believe that if you fire me you'll be making a mistake.
I deserve to be in the finals because throughout the entire process I have repeatedly been named as one of the strongest candidates. I've Project Managed three times, managing over a total of 10 people and have only ever had 1 complaint on my PM'ing. Both times I lost as Project Manager I was asked to leave the Boardroom before the firing and I have only been brought in to the boardroom once aside from that.
I have definitely slipped up in the contest and have done what I really regret doing but other than that I do think I have performed at a standard well deserving of the final two. I have repeatedly delivered some of the highest standard work, invested plenty into ideas or the work I've delivered, been a strong creative driving force throughout the process and I have managed to maintain expectations that I made at the very start. One thing the process is not is easy. It is VERY difficult, you have to watch everything you do and say and unfortunately I have made mistakes, some perhaps I think I'll be regretting a LOT! However, other than that, I have made LOTS of right decisions and I do honestly believe that whilst I don't think I deserve 3rd, if I was to get it I would be happy with what i've provided and achieved.
One thing I think has been exaggerated is my lack of teamplaying. From the start one thing you can't say that I have not been a gameplayer. That is why I have been involved in conflicts, whilst i'm not completely stubborn, I do stick up for what I beleive in, whether it's my idea, somebody elses idea, or something that I feel may be a flaw or a mistake that somebody, or myself, has made. When I am in the wrong I will happily admit it, I'll put my hand up and accept it, work on it and move on. I've used this theory so far in the competition and I do think it's worked.
Every single week I have, without a shadow of a doubt, contributed somethign towards the final idea, or something that if we have lost has been praised.
Week One - The idea, despite losing, was mine. Not once did I force it down anybodys throat. I received a glowing reference in the Boardroom and out by each individual member of my team and probably did the most amount of work, both creatively and written.
Week Two - I didn't put my all into this task, but I completed everything I was delegated to and was always around apart from the first night to offer to do anything.
Week Three - I pitched by myself, the only person on the team to do so, and managed to get more orders for the holiday that I pitched than the entire rest of my team, despite the fact that I did mess up with the costings! I think the fact that I was one of two people not brought back in to the Boardroom also shows that I was one of the strongest in the team for this task.
Week Four - In Week Four every item I found was cheaper than the other teams. On top of this, I was the only one on the team to have an item that was cheaper than the other teams not just one, but all my items including using initiative and showing that I am able to think outside of the box by finding a way of getting an item for free.
Week Five - The winning theme, that was highly praised, was my idea. I was a large driving force in the end product and made sure that the team stuck to the brief and managed to steer the team in the direction away from the flaws that the other team made, such as no specific target audience.
Week Six - It was my idea that we went with and although it lost, the only things on the final pitch that were praised by both yourself Lady Sugar, and an advisor, in the Boardroom.
Week Seven - I worked flawlessly as a team player, was forward thinking and provided a lot of what was needed for the final, very long, pitch. I don't think anybody can fault what I did on this task and I was a very strong member of the workforce.
Week Eight - Again my idea was chosen, and was one of the only proper ideas. I again contributed a large part of the end pitch and once again was named the strongest member of my team by my teammembers and given positive feedback to my PM'ing. My leaflet was also praised in the Boardroom, despite the fact I'm terrible at anything graphics-related, I got dug into it and did my best so I was happy that it got praised.
Week Nine - Once again, my idea was chosen and the majority of the team strongly backed it. We went on to deliver one of the strongest pitches I think that Digital Spy Apprentice has ever seen. I was a HUGE driving force in the creative department once again and proved through writing that I could deliver yet again.
I may swear outside of tasks and may not be the nicest, most calm individual ever to exist, but on task I remain nothing but professional. I've never acted volatile within a task setting and although I don't get along with everybody I have never put personal feelings before a task and have worked even harder in some of those tasks to ensure I had everybody on team, to ensure that you could see that I wasn't fussed about working with somebody I don't have the strongest relationship with. I am a teamplayer but strong enough to shine as an individual within that team, something that I think is very valuable when it comes to being an Apprentice candidate in the process. I have gone above and beyond in effort and workforce to provide as much as I can to the best of my standard and honestly I don't think that I could do any better if I were to re-do the entire process. I could perhaps flatten out some faultlines, however as a whole I don't think I've been anything less than an excellent, professional, hardworking candidate and I do feel as if I deserve just that one more chance just to show what I can do in a task setting. I know that I can deliver something fantastic and I deserve the opportunity.
Whatever your decision may be, thank you for having me in the process.
I have definitely slipped up in the contest and have done what I really regret doing but other than that I do think I have performed at a standard well deserving of the final two. I have repeatedly delivered some of the highest standard work, invested plenty into ideas or the work I've delivered, been a strong creative driving force throughout the process and I have managed to maintain expectations that I made at the very start. One thing the process is not is easy. It is VERY difficult, you have to watch everything you do and say and unfortunately I have made mistakes, some perhaps I think I'll be regretting a LOT! However, other than that, I have made LOTS of right decisions and I do honestly believe that whilst I don't think I deserve 3rd, if I was to get it I would be happy with what i've provided and achieved.
One thing I think has been exaggerated is my lack of teamplaying. From the start one thing you can't say that I have not been a gameplayer. That is why I have been involved in conflicts, whilst i'm not completely stubborn, I do stick up for what I beleive in, whether it's my idea, somebody elses idea, or something that I feel may be a flaw or a mistake that somebody, or myself, has made. When I am in the wrong I will happily admit it, I'll put my hand up and accept it, work on it and move on. I've used this theory so far in the competition and I do think it's worked.
Every single week I have, without a shadow of a doubt, contributed somethign towards the final idea, or something that if we have lost has been praised.
Week One - The idea, despite losing, was mine. Not once did I force it down anybodys throat. I received a glowing reference in the Boardroom and out by each individual member of my team and probably did the most amount of work, both creatively and written.
Week Two - I didn't put my all into this task, but I completed everything I was delegated to and was always around apart from the first night to offer to do anything.
Week Three - I pitched by myself, the only person on the team to do so, and managed to get more orders for the holiday that I pitched than the entire rest of my team, despite the fact that I did mess up with the costings! I think the fact that I was one of two people not brought back in to the Boardroom also shows that I was one of the strongest in the team for this task.
Week Four - In Week Four every item I found was cheaper than the other teams. On top of this, I was the only one on the team to have an item that was cheaper than the other teams not just one, but all my items including using initiative and showing that I am able to think outside of the box by finding a way of getting an item for free.
Week Five - The winning theme, that was highly praised, was my idea. I was a large driving force in the end product and made sure that the team stuck to the brief and managed to steer the team in the direction away from the flaws that the other team made, such as no specific target audience.
Week Six - It was my idea that we went with and although it lost, the only things on the final pitch that were praised by both yourself Lady Sugar, and an advisor, in the Boardroom.
Week Seven - I worked flawlessly as a team player, was forward thinking and provided a lot of what was needed for the final, very long, pitch. I don't think anybody can fault what I did on this task and I was a very strong member of the workforce.
Week Eight - Again my idea was chosen, and was one of the only proper ideas. I again contributed a large part of the end pitch and once again was named the strongest member of my team by my teammembers and given positive feedback to my PM'ing. My leaflet was also praised in the Boardroom, despite the fact I'm terrible at anything graphics-related, I got dug into it and did my best so I was happy that it got praised.
Week Nine - Once again, my idea was chosen and the majority of the team strongly backed it. We went on to deliver one of the strongest pitches I think that Digital Spy Apprentice has ever seen. I was a HUGE driving force in the creative department once again and proved through writing that I could deliver yet again.
I may swear outside of tasks and may not be the nicest, most calm individual ever to exist, but on task I remain nothing but professional. I've never acted volatile within a task setting and although I don't get along with everybody I have never put personal feelings before a task and have worked even harder in some of those tasks to ensure I had everybody on team, to ensure that you could see that I wasn't fussed about working with somebody I don't have the strongest relationship with. I am a teamplayer but strong enough to shine as an individual within that team, something that I think is very valuable when it comes to being an Apprentice candidate in the process. I have gone above and beyond in effort and workforce to provide as much as I can to the best of my standard and honestly I don't think that I could do any better if I were to re-do the entire process. I could perhaps flatten out some faultlines, however as a whole I don't think I've been anything less than an excellent, professional, hardworking candidate and I do feel as if I deserve just that one more chance just to show what I can do in a task setting. I know that I can deliver something fantastic and I deserve the opportunity.
Whatever your decision may be, thank you for having me in the process.
You have both really let yourselves down with all of this bickering in my eyes. You're extremely similar to each other and whichever one of you progresses will have to pull it back in the next round. I've read through each of your posts carefully and thought about it. I could see reasons for firing you both.
However, based on everything that has happened throughout the process up until now...
However, based on everything that has happened throughout the process up until now...
Carlisle, you are fired.
Although you have impressed me, Katie has reached a very high standard throughout the process and I can't deny her a place in the final.
Katie you have made it to the finals with Niall. Please don't let me down.
Although you have impressed me, Katie has reached a very high standard throughout the process and I can't deny her a place in the final.
Katie you have made it to the finals with Niall. Please don't let me down.
Congratulations to our final two, Katie and Niall!
The final task will be announced on Monday evening, as I'm away this weekend.
The final task will be announced on Monday evening, as I'm away this weekend.
Originally Posted by Strictly_Irish:
“
“
Carlisle, you are fired.
Although you have impressed me, Katie has reached a very high standard throughout the process and I can't deny her a place in the final.
Katie you have made it to the finals with Niall. Please don't let me down.
”
Although you have impressed me, Katie has reached a very high standard throughout the process and I can't deny her a place in the final.
Katie you have made it to the finals with Niall. Please don't let me down.
Thank you Lady Sugar. I appreciate it so much.
Carlisle - although we've had our differences well done on getting so far and I wish you well.
Well done to Niall too. I know I said there was a few worthy finalists but it's an honour to be joining you in the final.
2 of 2
