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DOUBLE, DOUBLE, TOIL & TROUBLE…
Shakespeare, Stratford and Sweet Avalanche all formed the backdrop of the task for episode three of the latest series of the UK BBC series the Apprentice where 18 entrepreneurs battle for a £250K investment from Lord Alan Sugar.
The 16 remaining candidates were surprised in their luxury, shared student accommodation by Lord Sugar who set them a task which is one of my favourites. They were sent to Straford Upon Avon and Warwickshire to find nine items for the cheapest price within a very set time period. The items included a coal hod, Ophelia (six bottles), a sheep fleece (freshly shorn), rhubarb (picked that day), Sweet Avalanche (roses), a pocket watch and a boat hook.
Having done several collection and delivery jobs myself, I know beyond anything that planning is key to the time-keeping in a task like this. Know what your items are, use the maps and the phone to find out where they can be found and then plan the shortest round robin route for each team. Doing this means there is little risk of fines for being late, or for not getting all of the items.
This is the first key to success. The next is good negotiation for buying the items — although to be fair, on this task both teams did okay, one clearly better than the other.
Lord Sugar mixed the teams up a little and on one team, Dean, the air conditioner…
