In the latest series of The Apprentice, Lord Sugar chose to go into business with an engineer – a career first for the famous entrepreneur.
Tom Pellereau, who graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2002, emerged as the winner of this series – beating off three competitors in the final round. Expressing his delight, Tom said: “It’s a win for the engineers!”
Lord Sugar had previously made it clear that he had not had a successful track record with individuals holding vocational skills: “I’ve never yet come across an engineer who can turn his hand to business,” he said in the boardroom at one point. Lord Sugar made it clear early on that despite Tom’s poor performance on team tasks; he liked ‘ideas people’. Sugar went on to highlight his background in technology and gadgets – as an inventor this is an area Tom argues he is comfortable in.
The effects on the manufacturing industry could be profound, argues Martin James from CRDM: “It’s a refreshing change to see engineers getting some mainstream recognition. The future of the industry depends on bright young people taking an interest in engineering and related subjects if the industry is to continue to compete in the global marketplace and remain on the cutting edge of technology. We hope that Tom’s win will inspire other young people to consider engineering as a career option.”
CRDM is the UK’s oldest provider of rapid prototyping and tooling services for industry, across sectors including automotive, aerospace, medical and defence.
George Archer
