17 June 2008 - Sheffield students cut out to be Sir Alan’s apprentice?
So “rough diamond” Lee McQueen is Sir Alan’s new apprentice, narrowly edging past hot favourite, feisty Claire Young with his now infamous catchphrase “dat’s what I’m talking abaat!”
Here in Sheffield, some of the ‘apprentices’ of the future who are soon to leave school, are facing their own tough test in the coming weeks, in the shape of a “Selling Yourself” workshop run by local training and marketing specialist, Faye Smith.
Faye, a big fan of The Apprentice, who is just launching her new consultancy “Keep Your Fork”, is no stranger to what Sheffield’s “Sr’alans” are looking for. As Meadowhall opened, Faye headed up Europe’s first retail academy on the site, and developed a lifelong passion to see young people given the kind of training that would see them succeed in the tough employment market.
“Some young people I saw wowed me”, Faye explains, but sadly they were in the minority. I have interviewed hundreds of young people in my time, and many struggled to shake hands well, meet my eye, look the part and saddest of all, be positive about themselves. Why is it The Apprentice features young people who think they need egos the size of zeppelins to succeed? Sheffield employers I talk to are looking for young people who are self-confident, rather than arrogant- based on a clear understanding of achievements they have already demonstrated and what they still have to learn, not a load of hot air!”
Her “Selling Yourself” workshops start this week with Silverdale’s entire sixth form at Sheffield University, closely followed by Notre Dame and Birkdale, then after the summer break it will be on to other schools around Sheffield as usual. Whether Faye’s students are prospective Oxbridge material, lawyers or doctors fighting off stiff competition from around the country at some of our leading institutions, or young people who want a crack at a great job or starting their own business- Faye loves giving them all the insider track on how to get ahead.
When Lord Bilimoria, the charismatic founder of Cobra beer said on the semi finals of the Apprentice that one of the most important abilities in life and work is to be able to sell yourself, I stood up and cheered” smiled Faye. “Schools do tremendous work preparing young people for the world of work and building their confidence, but they tell me it really helps to have a fresh face from business showing their students exactly how they need to sell themselves in order to succeed.”
Head of Sixth Form at Birkdale School, Helen Parsons agrees, “Faye is both an inspiration and a breath of fresh air. Her dynamic approach makes the pupils sit up and take notice. She challenges them to overcome their inhibitions and examine 'self' in a way that they would not necessarily do for teachers with whom they are familiar.”
There will be no reverse pterodactyls in evidence on Faye’s session, but ten top tips to success:
1. impress with your introduction
2. prepare your presentation
3. make instant impact
4. create captivating communication
5. stress your strengths
6. be confidently clothed
7. give up giving up
8. maintain manners
9. perfect through practise
10. do it for you!
And as Lee McQueen would say, it really is “as simple as dat!”
Further information from Faye Smith, principal consultant, Keep Your Fork training and marketing.
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