The search has begun for the Sure Apprentice to succeed this year’s Apprentice, Aaron Kelly.
Aaron, 17, was appointed as the Sure Apprentice 2009 following a series of difficult tasks against fellow pupils from Ballakermeen High School, the
final task ending with one person being ‘fired’ and the other ‘hired’.
An even tougher selection process awaits this year's participants, who represent three of the Island's schools: Ballakermeen High School, QE11 and Castle Rushen.
At the start of the selection process, there will be one team of four pupils from each school. After each task, one team will be ‘fired’, and the members of the last team standing will then compete against one another to be named Sure Apprentice 2010.
Mike Stanton, Sure Country Manager and Chairman of the Sure Apprentice Panel, said, "Over the next eight months, we are going to be setting tasks which will challenge the pupils, and make them think not only about business, but the community and themselves.
"Along the way, they will be given help and guidance by some of the island’s best experts in each field, and I believe that it will be a rewarding and enjoyable experience for everyone, even if they do not make it to the end. I wish them all the very best of luck."
Yesterday (Thursday 3rd December), the three teams were given instructions for their first task: to conduct market research into the needs of young mobile phone users in the Isle of Man.
The participants will receive guidance from Sure’s Marketing Team, Julie Heselton and Kate Hegarty.
The teams will have until Thursday 17th December 2009 to prepare their presentation and will then present their findings to the Sure Apprentice Panel.
Between January and March, the teams will be whittled down through two tasks, one focusing on promotion and marketing, the other on design.
The focus will then be on personal development and interview skills, as the members of the final team take on one another. The Sure Apprentice will be selected in April 2010.
The judging panel consists of Mike Stanton, Geoff Corkish MBE MHK and Joanne Clague.
Last year's winner Aaron says, "The selection process was tough, but great fun, and the problem solving that it involved was useful when I became the Sure Apprentice.
"During my eight-week paid internship at Sure, I was involved in projects that helped the community and I am convinced that whoever joins the 2010 challenge will have just as rewarding an experience."
