Apprentice Claire means business (From Craven Herald)

Apprentice Claire means business

8:33am Thursday 27th November 2008 in Search Module By Sally Clifford

Feisty, driven and determined. Why is it that females fitting this mould are generally runners-up in BBC1’s hit show The Apprentice? Like Ruth Badger and Christina Grimes before her, Claire Young was pipped to the post in the must-see series following the quest to find Sir Alan Sugar’s Apprentice.

But Claire – who was runner-up to Lee McQueen in this year’s series of the show which offers the winner a £100,000 job in Sir Alan Sugar’s business – isn’t bitter.

Being part of the team who gave their all during 12 weeks of intensive tasks testing their business acumen and ability gave Claire the opportunity to shine.

Not everyone warmed to her forthright Yorkshire manner – even Sir Alan grew tired of her talking and famously ordered her out of the boardroom on one occasion, but she remained the bookies’ favourite to win.

“I wish I had a pound for everyone who said I should have won!” laughs Claire. “But it was a fantastic experience. It was life-changing.

“The filming itself is hardcore. You feel you’ve been spat out of this business boot camp machine, but you get on with it, and it gives you a lack of fear. You don’t have any qualms about going up to people. It makes you even more confident.”

Claire’s background is in sales, marketing and retail buying. She has worked for major health and beauty corporations.

“Retailing is a hard industry. You work very hard for profit, especially at the moment,” says Claire, referring to the current economic climate.

Claire’s hard-work philosophy began developing at an early age. She was born in South Africa and also lived in Canada. She was four when her parents relocated to Wakefield for her father’s job. He’s now retired but was a successful businessman. She credits her parents, her Yorkshire up-bringing and her former headteacher at Wakefield Girls High School, Pat Langham, with moulding her into the grounded young woman she is today.

Claire was ten when her mum taught her to use the iron and she learned the value of money, earning 50p for every tea towel she ironed! From a young age it was impressed upon her that hard work gains rewards.

She spent three summers working as a Club 18-30 club rep which, she says, was good grounding for The Apprentice.

She says viewers often think contestants’ behaviour is put on for the cameras. “But you are so ‘in the zone’ you cannot act for that long,” she insists.

Claire has been living in London for two years but comes home to her family in West Yorkshire as often as she can. When we spoke she was due home to present certificates at her local church.

She was also due to attend an event in aid of the Make A Dream charity for terminally-ill children in Leeds with Sir Alan Sugar who she regards highly and respects. “He is very supportive. If he says he will do something for you, he will. You always know where you stand with him,” says Claire.

In January she will be a guest at the Mamma Mia charity ball at the Rendezvous Hotel in Skipton, organised by the Ribble Valley and White Rose Ladies.

The charity was set up by Rendezvous owner Karen Weaving nine years ago.

During that time she and fellow members have raised £520,000 for children’s cancer research through various events including lunches with celebrity speakers, fashion shows, clay pigeon shooting and shopping expeditions.

Karen contacted Claire after watching her on The Apprentice. “We watched her avidly,” she says. “She’s a Yorkshire lass and I read that she was doing public speaking so I got in touch with her. I asked if she would come – she said she would be delighted.

“We’re thrilled to bits. With her being Yorkshire and feisty, she represents what we stand for. We have to fight to raise money because so many people are fundraising,” adds Karen.

The evening before we spoke, Claire was hobnobbing with stars including celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and actress Liz Hurley at a charity event in London.

It’s two years since Claire left Yorkshire. At 25 she bought her own flat, getting on to the property ladder.

Claire is now working with the General Trading Co. “It has been around since 1920. They created the wedding list for Charles and Diana,” she says.

As well as her role in that business, she also has media commitments. She has a regular slot on Lorraine Kelly’s LK Today and is using her celebrity status to support charities.

Next year she’s planning to take part in a marathon for Women’s Aid, a national charity working to end domestic violence against women and children, and Kids Company, a charity founded by Camila Batmanghelidjh in 1996 to provide practical, emotional and educational support to vulnerable inner-city children and young people.

Claire is planning to spend Christmas Day with that charity. “It is nice having the glam stuff but people who have been through The Apprentice and don’t help should be ashamed of themselves,” she says.

What is certain is she’ll work hard at whatever she does. “I don’t think there is ever an easy option. You just have to work, work, work. Put the hours in and you will get the return,” she says.

For more information about the Mamma Mia ball at the Rendezvous Hotel, Skipton, on January 24, ring (01756) 700100 or visit the website rendezvous-skipton.com