Chartered Manager degree apprentice students and staff at the Clause Littner Business School posing for a photograph with Claude Littner
Chartered Manager degree apprentice students and staff at the Clause Littner Business School posing for a photograph with Claude Littner

UWL Chartered Manager degree apprentices get the inside scoop from Claude Littner

Intro

UWL alumnus and renowned international businessperson Claude Littner shared some golden insights with Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship (CMDA) students at the University’s eponymously named Claude Littner Business School (CLBS).

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When asked by the students at a recent event what his greatest success was and what he was most proud of in his career, Claude – best known as the straight-talking advisor to Lord Alan Sugar on popular BBC series The Apprentice – said it was his family. He advised that a good family life is important and can be the foundation that helps spur on all other endeavours.

The apprentices were also curious to know what it was like to be an entrepreneur, to which Claude said,

You’re not born an entrepreneur, but you can become one...”

He went on to explain how hard it was to become an entrepreneur and, while some people have been incredibly successful, many businesses fail. His advice was that it should really be something that you want from your very core.

Claude also gave some useful career tips from the point of view of an employer. For instance, when preparing a curriculum vitae (CV), he advised making effective use of the plethora of online resources available: find out what a good CV looks like and then adapt it to really showcase your skills and achievements. He also emphasised being realistic and honest about what is written.

Commenting on what prospective employers are looking for in a candidate, he said any prospective employer should be able to immediately picture what a candidate would be like as part of the team – someone who looks lively, who looks like they want the job and who looks like they are going to get up in the morning and not be a source of annoyance. They look for someone who’s a bit of a self-starter, someone who can work independently but can also work well as part of the team.

Chandra Bhasham, Head of Subject for Business Apprenticeships at CLBS, described the event:

An absolute master session with Claude which was very well received! Claude’s experience both personally and professionally provided meaningful insights of how apprentices can pave their way to a successful career.”

Ben Dillon, Degree Apprentice at the Kraft Heinz Company, added:

Really grateful to have had the privilege of listening to Claude Littner talk about his experiences in business. An incredibly insightful experience and I look forward to taking his advice into the workplace.”

Chloe Brand, who is undertaking a Human Resources degree apprenticeship at the Kraft Heinz Company, commented:

I thought it was an extremely insightful experience and it was lovely to hear some real advice from someone who has been extremely successful in business.”

Finance Degree Apprentice at L’Oréal Emma Norman said:

It was a great pleasure to have Claude visit us and deliver such an inspiring and engaging session. It was an incredibly insightful experience and a great opportunity to hear his valuable business advice. We were able to ask as many questions as we wanted, and he was very interested in our journey as Degree Apprentices at his business school!”

UWL supports apprentices so they are set up with skills for life and businesses so they can attract and retain talent. Find further information on our apprenticeship degrees.

Graphic showing UWL's partnership with National Apprenticeships Week, 5-11 February 2024

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