S'ralan choses an apprentice who represents a large part of
British men aged 16 - 30.
A person lacking a formal education, who can't spell, who lies on his application form, who cannot present and greets every success with a football fan type shouts and chants
"Know warra mean,know warra say, thats warri say".
As a number of business leaders are saying today if this is
the businessman of the future then God help the UK.

I have nothing against Lee personally,I just think he's not the right person for the job. Of the last 4 I think Claire should have won.

Me too!

Claire had some equally colourful colloquial expressions and mannerisms.

I thought "chavs" were a group identified by the clothing they wore, the music they liked etc. (Like Goths or Emos). How is Lee a "chav" ?

Is Claire a "chav"? Or Lindy a "chav"?

Very true.

Thank God it was Lee and not her that won.

Even though Lee's not exactly the sharpest tool in the box, I can't see him stabbing someone in the back.

Unlike Claire...

Yep it's great isn't it, proves the point that you can have a great education, pointless degree. and still find it was all usless. It proves that education and particuly degrees are worthless and usually taken up as an excuse to not enter the real world for as long as possible.

Glad he won it, for that reason alone.

Absolute Rubbish.


While it is true that qualifications aren't everything and that people do succeed without them, saying that education and degrees are 'pointless' and 'worthless' is going stupidly far in the other direction.

Lee can't spell or articulate himself well and he wouldn't know how to manage an actual project if it slapped him in the face.

I saw nothing special in the man. Certainly not enough to justify your championing of the uneducated.

I would bet that there are more educated people on 100k plus than there are drop-outs.

don't worry guys, he's only selling advertising!!

So winning every task that he was project manager on and never being in the final boardroom counts for nothing then does it?

Claire was useless, hence her being in 5 board rooms.

Also being working class as Lee was, and being possibly dyslexic, does not make you a chav. Your post sounds like a cross between bitterness and snobbery.

My cousin has a degree in law, hasn't got him anywhere, 3 years after completing university, he's still just an assistant to some lawyer.

It can help, but you must admit, a lot of the time people get them just to avoid getting a job.

Where does that come from? There was every inidcation on the program that he was a bad speller and non too bright, there was no evidence of him being dyslexic.

I think an education, particularly a degree can get you a job in the first place, but that's all. Anything else is down to the individual.

In my experience in the UK & the USA I think there is still a perception in large organisations that a degree is needed for jobs that people with life skills could do just as well, if not better.

Well, the fact that he's said he's going for a dyslexia test, and that one of the interviewers suggested he may have dyslexia, suggests he COULD be dyslexic. But the point is, just cause someone isn't that bright, and just cause someone is working class, doesn't make them a chav.

What has £100 grand a year got to do with it, That isn't a sign of success!

Given the choice of a student with a degree or a guy who has been working since a young age I would take the worker every day.

"Chav" is the catch all label used to dismiss people they are unable to have any connection with. To call Lee a chav for the simple reason he doesn't have a higher education is the sort of thing that is now prevelant in our new class system where anyone who has been to university or has a degree considers themselves to be part of the social elite and anyone without is subhuman.

Isolated examples don't prove anything at all.

But I see a lot of people on these boards who work in shops and supermarkets etc, whining about having to spend £20 on something, 'saving up' for a playstation etc.

I bet if these people had bothered with their education then they wouldn't be so short of money now.

Didn't say it was. But seeing as it is the salary offered to the Apprentice and you were hailing the fact that an uneducated person had won the job...


You may regret such a choice. Unless you are hiring them for the precise job they have been doing.

I have an MSc in Project Management and work as a project management consultant earning more money than I can spend. In consultancy, letters after your name bring in the money - clients aren't interested in your school drop-out and work history.

Ever thought that they may have tried at school, but just weren't clever enough?

The problem with the education system these days, is that everyone (up until their final years of school) is taught the same thing at the same pace, regardless of their abilities.

I blame new labour.

Maybe. But they can't expect big money. There are jobs for everyone. Someone of Lee's stature would be more suited to selling mobile phones.


Can't argue with that.

Nicely put

Lee proved himself throughout the series, worked well as a team leader and player. Deserved the chance imo

I can't believe they do degrees in project managment!!!

Here is a house I want built. Lets start with the services, then foundations, then the walls then the roof etc etc!

Do I get a 1st??

Surely suralan knows better than anyone who is the right person for that specific job?

Don't be silly a bunch of internet posters must know more about what he requires for his job than him!

Would that be snitterness or bobbery?
Actually I was quoting from a number of leading business representatives about Lee's lack of education,literacy, and honesty.
I employ a small number of people and I can assure you Lee wouldn't even get an interview after an application such as his.
Sugar obviously shares the views of the people who don't like academically qualified members of society, preferring "rough diamonds" similar to himself.

Well you probably wouldn't have had employed Alan Sugar either.

Why employ successful people when you can employ students!!??