Member Article

Apprentice runner-up urges entrepreneurs to stand up

I nternational accountancy firm Mazars played host to a celebration of entrepreneurism as entrepreneur and former BBC1 The Apprentice Finalist Claire Young addressed an audience at Leeds Chambers on how the show is inspiring millions of young people that being your own boss is a great career option.

Wakefield business woman Claire Young said: “Entrepreneurs have never played a more integral role in the UK economy. Last year UK entrepreneurs set up a record number of businesses with Sheffield and Leeds performing well with over 14,000 new firms registered with Companies House.* I am delighted to be championing the rise of new businesses and talk about how shows like The Apprentice are encouraging young people to follow their dreams. Global Entrepreneurial Week took place last week which inspires people everywhere through local, national and global activities designed to help them explore their potential as self-starters and innovators.”

The former Apprentice runner-up famously turned down a job offer from ex-Blues boss Karren Brady in favour of setting up her business ‘School Speakers’, the UK’s number one speaking agency for schools, colleges and universities. Claire’s career has gone from strength to strength winning a host of awards this year including: most recently the Business Person of the Year in the Wakefield Business Awards, Forward Ladies Women in Business award 2015 and a Mumpreneur 2015 award.

Claire spoke about her experience on The Apprentice: “My life since The Apprentice has been somewhat of a whirlwind, which has lasted six years! I’m often asked if I regret losing, as a competitive person of course I do. Lord Sugar nicknamed a Rottweiler for my tenacious approach in the boardroom and mind-set not to quit - I believe this approach has driven me to the success I am enjoying today. Sometimes life isn’t about winning, it’s about experiences and making the most of opportunities. Being the runner up gives you the greatest platform of an opportunity, combined with your own autonomy, to go out there and makes things happen for yourself.

“As a young woman with a three year old daughter, I work hard on my work/life balance. I am often asked how I do it all? The simple answer is that I work very hard, get up early and have great support. I’m a great believer of ‘where there is a will there is a way’ and if I want to do something I set a goal and work towards it. Women can have a career and a family and more success stories need to be shared to inspire the next generation of female entrepreneurs. A recent report conducted by Mckinsey & Company highlighted that closing the work gender gap could add as much as $28 trillion to annual GDP in 2025, raising global economic output by 26 percent over a business-as-usual scenario. This potential impact is roughly equivalent to the combined size of the economies of the United States and China today.

“After I finished The Apprentice I saw a gap in the market to open an agency where teachers could find a wide range of speakers who could motivate and inspire their students. I called it www.schoolspeakers.co.uk and today we have over 300 speakers visiting schools. We now send speakers internationally and are expanding every day”

“I have also worked as a government adviser on a number of education projects mainly helping young people start businesses, gain enterprise skills, careers advice and mentoring. I have had the opportunity to meet the Prime Minister and members of The Royal Family through this work.”

*Data according to a report released by Startup Britain.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Caroline Marsden .