BBC’s The Apprentice has recognised Havering as a great location for entrepreneurs to practice their craft. In the fight for Lord Sugars Quarter of a million pound investment, the ten remaining candidates headed over to Romford, Essex. The candidates were split in to two teams, one team held their challenge at The Liberty Shopping Centre, Romford.
Alan Sugars message to the team was “this task is about smelling what is selling”. The team set up in the middle of The Liberty Shopping Centre and sold everything that they could find from men’s grooming shavers, make up sets, novelty toys and more. During the challenge The Liberty was also graced with the presence of Nick Hewer, Lord Sugars advisor, who came to The Liberty, Romford to check on the apprentice team.
Havering, Essex has its accolade of business achievements, which has been represented in many ways. Many home grown success stories have beginnings in Romford’s historical market like Linzi shoes which now has flagship stores in and around Essex and East London, celebrations of success held at the Havering Business awards, Havering’s schools who hold young apprentice style initiatives.
The Liberty Shopping Centre, Romford support the community by holding annual events like the Job Fair and young initiatives like the annual Fashion design competition which showcases young design talent across Essex and East London, with a prize of work experience at London’s head office, also supporting Havering schools by providing space in the centre so that they can have a real experience in a shopping centre environment to conduct business.
The Liberty Centre Manager, Jonathan Poole commented “The Liberty is very proud to have been selected as a location for the BBC’s apprentice. It puts Romford and Essex on the map again and is a positive message to local entrepreneurs and upcoming business people of all ages that Essex is a great place to work and that hard work and dedication can equal success”.