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Sure Apprentice brings The Badger to the Isle of Man

By IsleOfManAdmin on Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Filed Under: Community, Isle of Man

Isle News, 10 March 2009 - Students from Ballakermeen High School who are taking part in a Manx version of The Apprentice, which is being run by Sure, are in for a grilling next week from Ruth Badger, one of the finalists of the popular BBC television show.

It’s the latest penultimate round in the competition, which will see the ultimate winner benefit from an apprenticeship with Sure this Summer. Teams of three students that have been undertaking a series of tasks have been whittled down by a panel of judges to find the winning team, Excelsior.

Each of the three members of Excelsior, Aaron Kelly, Robyn Sayers and Tom Brooks, will be interviewed by Ruth Badger, who impressed Sir Alan Sugar and went on to make her own TV series ‘Badger or Bust’. The expert for this task is Sharon Kissack of Ambitions recruitment agency, who has given interview tips. One student will be fired as a result; the remaining two will go head to head in a final challenge, which is to organise a charity event for Wish Upon A Dream.

Simon Last-Sutton, Chief Executive of Cable and Wireless and one of the judges, said: ‘Over several months, this has been a fascinating process for everyone involved. All of the teams really rose to the challenges we set for them. The most recent task, to design a mobile phone device for the future, was taken on enthusiastically by the two teams still in the running, Excelsior and SAP.’

There was an opportunity for the public to vote for their favourite phone on Sure’s website, with SAP gaining the most votes. However, the three judges – Simon Last-Sutton, Geoff Corkish MHK and journalist Joanne Clague – decided that Excelsior had the winning formula with a design based on the Olympic five rings that would become a collector’s item and features including a projector and an Xbox controller.

Experts for the task were Sure’s retail sales manager James Hewitt and professional services manager Gary Harrison.

Geoff Corkish said: ‘We felt that Excelsior had that little bit extra, but both teams came up with highly imaginative and forward thinking designs. Their enthusiasm and commitment was a credit to them and to their school.’

Joanne Clague added: ‘Excelsior has worked well together as a strong team throughout the Sure Apprentice and it will be interesting to see how the students cope as individuals in front of the famously blunt Ruth Badger.’

The interviews with Ruth Badger take place on Thursday, March 12 at Ballakermeen High School.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Sure began its own version of the BBC TV show ‘The Apprentice’ in October 2008. By June 2009, one talented teenager from Ballakermeen High School in Douglas will have won themselves the opportunity to work for Sure this summer.

To win that opportunity they must first successfully complete a series of tasks which include marketing, product design and organising a charity event:

Task one – (December 2008) – Customer Satisfaction & market research
Expert – Pauline McGee, People Matters

Task two – (February 2009) – Marketing
Expert – Terry van Rhyn – Ashgrove Marketing

Task three – (March 2009) – Product Design
Expert – James Hewitt and Gary Harrison – Sure

Task four – (April 2009) – Organising and hosting a charity event
Expert – Lesley Turnbull – Wish Upon A Dream

All competitors are either 16 or 17 years old, and in their first year of A-Levels at Ballakermeen.

The competition is being judged by Simon Last-Sutton, Commercial Director of Cable and Wireless (Sir Alan Sugar), Douglas West MHK and political member for the Department of Tourism and Leisure, Geoff Corkish (Nick Hewer), and freelance journalist and writer, Joanne Clague (Margaret Mountford).

Coverage of the first task in ‘The Sure Apprentice’ will be available to watch on YouTube soon. You can find out more about the competition by logging onto www.surecw.com.

About Cable & Wireless and Sure

Cable & Wireless International is one of the world’s leading communication companies operating in 33 countries including the Caribbean, Panama, Macau, Monaco, the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Bermuda.

In the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, Cable & Wireless is investing over £40m to revolutionise communications and deliver a new generation of services through Sure, an innovative and exciting new brand.

Sure is leading the introduction of choice for customers supported by an ongoing commitment to quality, value and customer care in all areas of service. Our offering includes mobile, broadband and fixed line services for consumers as well as advanced internet, hosting, security and international services for business customers. Customers get more when they choose Sure.

For further information about Sure, go to: www.surecw.com.

For further information:

Jess Bisson
Communications Co-ordinator – CI & IoM
(01481) 757552

Merita Taylor
Ashgrove Marketing
(01624) 645395

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