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Sir Alan Sugar has met the same fate as The Apprentice runners up Saira Khan, Michelle Badger and Kristina Grimes after being metaphorically fired in the board room at the final task.
According to research from one of the UK's leading SIPP providers, James Hay, 42 per cent of British SME bosses said that they would hire Sir Richard Branson as their apprentice. Straight-talking business (and latterly media) mogul Sir Alan trailed behind in second place with a more modest 12 per cent of the vote, followed by inventor Sir James Dyson with five per cent.
Entrepreneurial talents
According to 95 per cent of SME bosses, self-motivation is the key attribute of an entrepreneur - something that both Sir Richard and Sir Alan demonstrated early on after leaving school to start businesses at the tender age of 16.
Completing the top five core qualities of an entrepreneur were; hard working (93 per cent); self discipline (88 per cent); professionalism (87 per cent) and confidence (87 per cent).
Innovation - a key factor behind Simon Ambrose pipping Kristina Grimes to the post in series three of The Apprentice - failed to make it into the top five key attributes (86 per cent). This is perhaps a reflection that a well-grounded leader is able to look to others for their ideas and inspiration.
Sir Alan, who famously 'hates liars' would certainly be pleased to hear that 86 per cent of bosses felt honesty was a key attribute.
Ruthlessness not so desirable
Refreshingly, only 38 per cent of bosses saw ruthlessness - a characteristic displayed in abundance by vilified series three contestant Katy Hopkins - as a key factor to success.
Shaun Sandiford, Regional Director, James Hay, commented:
"Who better to have as apprentices than two people who left school to build multi million pound business empires from the ground up? Entrepreneurs clearly recognise and respect the abundance of self motivation and drive that it took to get these two figureheads to where they are today."
Other desirable apprentices cited by Britain's entrepreneurs include Jacqueline Gold (Ann Summers), Simon Woodruffe (Yo Sushi), Michelle Mone (Ultima), Martha Lane Fox (founder of lastminute.com) and Karen Brady (Birmingham City). Each polled one per cent. Interestingly, 35 per cent of SME bosses would not hire any of them at all.
Top Three Business Role Models in 2007
1) Richard Branson
2) Alan Sugar
3) Sir James Dyson
Top Three Business Role Models in 2002
1) Sir James Dyson
2) Anita Roddick
3) Mike Baldwin
Interestingly, Richard Branson was the least popular business icon in the 2002 poll.
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