Business opportunity for apprentice hopefuls
Friday 5th February 2010
It has been a tough week for the people trying to be Shaf Rasul's apprentice. More than 2,000 people applied for the one-year programme to be mentored by the Dragon's Den online host.
The top 50 applicants have just been put through a rigorous selection including team-building challenges, psychometric tests, and intensive one-to-one interviews with figures from the entrepreneur's management team in Edinburgh.
Next up, the top ten will be chosen and have to take on a business challenge next week to gain one of the three spots Rasul is offering.
He said: "In my role as an entrepreneur and business mentor, I have been truly inspired by some of the enterprising youngsters I have come across in the past 12 months.
"However, the effects of the recession can be seen across every sector and it's clear that there are limited prospects for young people. I am a firm believer that there are always opportunities in an economic downturn and the strategy within my business has been to consolidate, re-structure and focus our efforts on sectors which offer high-growth potential.
"With this in mind, our objective has been to launch an apprentice search that would attract bright and innovative people who could join our team and play a key role in the growth of our business portfolio. Those applying have clearly recognised we are offering a fantastic opportunity to expand your skills and shape an exciting and rewarding career for yourself.
"The level of entry has been incredible and today that has offered us a chance to bring the best candidates together to determine who has the essential entrepreneurial flair, self-motivation and hard-work ethic required to be a success within my business.
"We will now select our top ten who will then be split into two teams to compete in a business challenge which will determine our top three apprentices."