Media News
New Apprentice to 'work his socks off'
Thursday 14 June 2007
The 27-year-old stole victory from the hot favourite Kristina Grimes in last night's show to bag the £100,000 job working for Sir Alan.
He will now train as a chartered surveyor while working on a project to develop a hotel and golf complex near Stansted Airport.
Sir Alan surprised Apprentice fans and contestants in the 12-week show when he told Ambrose: "You're hired" and said afterwards that this year's decision was the toughest so far.
He admitted the job he had in mind needed "someone with a good education" and that the new winner was one of "that breed," working in property.
He said: "My business is moving into the direction of real estate. Simon, he's made for the real estate market. He looks like one. If you see these people - and I will be nice about them - that work for these very large agencies, he's one of that breed, a very good communicator, and you need that in that business.
"He's also very bright. I spotted that early on in this process."
The businessman added: "I know in the past that I've tended to support the under-privileged... that may have been a coincidence. I always said that I don't care if you are born with a silver spoon in your mouth or have climbed up the greasy pole."
Simon's father is a multimillionaire businessman, while his grandfather also made millions in the jewellery trade.
The winner said of his new boss: "I didn't see Sir Alan as some kind of Marvel comics character but he was someone I admired for my whole life. If he gives me a tea-making job to do, I'll do it."
It wasn't all smooth-sailing for the winner, who was planning to celebrate with "a bottle of champagne and maybe a sing-song" with his family.
He was ridiculed on the programme for being a bad landlord, and for using coat-hangers instead of a TV aerial when his tenants' TV broke.
Kristina, originally from Co Wicklow but living in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, was clearly gutted at Sir Alan's decision.
Holding back tears, she said: "I came on this intent on getting the job with Sir Alan. My heart and soul was in this, so it's very tough. I was so confident, I really was."
The 36-year-old added: "I wouldn't have done anything differently. I don't necessarily have to agree with the decision. At the end of the day, I'm quite emotional about it."
Sir Alan said he would have offered her "a job any day of the week" if the rules of the programme were different.
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