14 SCOTSMAN.COM @thescotsman THE SCOTSMAN Wednesday 16 October 2019 THE SCOTSMAN Wednesday 16 October 2019 SCOTSMAN.COM @thescotsman 15 THEFeat SCOTSMANures 200 ‘I started with a mini van and I’ve Every child seen everything, done everything’ Lord Sugar’s passion for The Apprentice is still undimmed should have a after 15 years, he tells Laura Harding

t seems hard to believe that The Apprentice has Ibeen on our screens for bit of adventure 15 years. Indeed nobody is more surprised than Lord Alan Sugar, who was merely Sir Alan back when it launched in 2005. “Time has flown very, very in their lives quickly,” he muses. “It doesn’t feel like it at all.” But the series, which pits a bunch of wildly over-confident would-be entrepreneurs against each other in the hopes of dodging the immortal line, “You’re 00Lord Sugar with Baroness Karren Brady and Claude Littner fired,” still rumbles on. Hostelling Scotland is opening its doors to children and In 2010, the prize changed interesting for Lord Sugar and “I’ve loaded lorries, sat from a £100,000-a-year job his trusty advisers Baroness on the production line, families who might not normally be able to experience a in Lord Sugar’s company to a Karren Brady and Claude produced more goods on the trip away, writes Fiona Russell £250,000 investment in the Littner, who keep an eagle production line than any of winning candidate’s business eye on the candidates while these people have ever done, idea and, according to Lord they are embarking on their done my own marketing, rriving at a trampoline stay, whether a rural or urban relationships and engagement a boat trip on the loch, a and helped to improve A focus on young people Sugar, that is why it has lasted various challenges. my own advertising, buying park in Inverness, hostel, and are encouraged to with learning.” hike, singsongs around the relationships and boost self- so long. But one fact that is components, getting the a group of 10 and plan their own trip away, such Natalie White, an Outdoor campfire, seeing bats in the confidence. It also showed Hostelling Scotland, which for both young carers and The new series will see the inescapable for the 72-year- prices right, designing A was founded almost 90 adult carers. 11-year-old children buzz with as organising and arranging Learning and Development dark, toasting marshmallows, them what they might be able hopeful entrepreneurs create old tycoon is he is 15 years products. years ago, is a not-for-profit In addition, Hostelling excitement. activities, meals, excursions, Leader with East Ayrshire paddling in the loch’s waters to do in the future on their own a new electric bicycle to pitch older now than when the “I’ve done it all, so I think charity with more than 60 Scotland set up the Braw Yet this is no ordinary outing, games and more. Council has observed many of and a forest walk. It was all as a family. youth and affiliate hostels. Buildings initiative in to the market, harness new show started. they would find it very hard. If for the pupils from a primary “We will also provide the benefits first-hand while rounded off with tasty meals, “In many cases, a lack of Part of the organisation’s partnership with The tech to design a rollercoaster “I’ve often had thoughts of you look at some of the other school in East Ayrshire have information about local playing a supporting role in the board games and a sleepover confidence and perceived charitable aims is a range Scottish Civil Trust. for a theme park and venture when am I going to give it up,” business programmes that planned it all themselves. activities, as well as Muirkirk school residential. for two nights in the youth knowledge, as well as financial of youth initiatives to give Hostelling Scotland run into the world of music he admits. are on TV, I’m not sure there is No one has told them where information on things to She says: “These children hostel.” concerns, stop families from young people and families, the project and provide free management by marketing He stresses that the decision such an all rounder there.” to go or how to get there. In fact, consider.” come from one of the most There are benefits for the enjoying a short break away who otherwise wouldn’t have accommodation in a range an unsigned artist. to carry on with the show Littner is even more explicit. the youngsters have never been The youth hostel experience deprived areas in our region young children, as well as other from home.” the opportunity, the chance of locations over the Doors Last year’s winner was Sian always lies with the BBC, but “The fact of the matter is to experience Scotland and Open Days weekends for to Scotland’s most northerly is frequently a young person’s and without the Explorer Fund members of the family. While many young people Gabbidon, who triumphed adds: “I think I would max Karren and I work very, very develop their skills for life, both families and young city before. first time spending a night they would not have been able Lois says: “Woodburn in Scotland take it for granted learning and work. people aged 16 to 25 with her idea for a swimwear out at 20 years, a 20-year hard on the ground but, in One child sums it up for all away from home. to make the trip to Inverness Nursery staff had found that that they will enjoy a range of Programmes include the enabling them to visit new brand, and is one of a string ceremony. all honesty, Alan holds the the others when he remarks Lois says: “Many of the young Youth Hostel. the majority of the children travel experiences with their Explorer Fund and the Mini locations, explore Scotland’s of female candidates who “I think enough is enough whole thing together and if with unbridled surprise: “We people will have rarely had the “The children were very attending did not usually family and the primary school Explorer Fund. unique buildings and have done well on the show at then, I would be 77 and I you listen hard to the business have actually made it.” opportunity to travel, even out involved in the planning, access the outdoors with their “right of passage” residential The Scotspirit programme, experience hostelling. a time of increased scrutiny might not be compos mentis messages, that is what it’s all This is one of many heart- of their local area, and most ordering food, booking families, due to a range of trip, there are still a significant which is run by VisitScotland Other projects have on the number of women by then, you never know.” about. warming episodes in a two- have never stayed a night away transport and arranging the barriers. number that do not. in partnership with the included partnership with in positions of leadership in He says the show could “So it’s very great Family Holiday Association, New College Lanarkshire night trip taken by 22 children from their parents, let alone excursions. “Through the trip they aimed Lois says: “Hostelling business. entertainment but I can’t see a sees Hostelling Scotland for a “hostel take over” by from Muirkirk Primary School two or three. “They learned so much, to create a programme of Scotland believes it’s important provide short holidays with students studying travel and “I have no preference for “I have no preference situation where if Alan is not to Inverness Youth Hostel, “These residential breaks are including basic life skills, activities to help the children that Scotland is accessible to accommodation and catering tourism. This was followed women or men,” Lord Sugar for women or men. involved, that this has got any supported by Hostelling an amazing experience for the communication and team and families experience the everyone – and everyone has for families. up with students undertaking says. “I just want the best I just want the best promise at all.” Scotland’s Explorer Fund. young people.” work. It was great to see their outdoors together – and to the chance to see some of the Hostelling Scotland also placements in three youth person, sometimes the best is person” Baroness Brady nods in The innovative programme Research by campaign group confidence grow and to believe show them the fantastic fun many amazing places and works with partners, such hostels in Glasgow, Stirling the best bloke and sometimes agreement. aims to encourage school and Learning Away shows the in themselves to make things and benefits that this can offer. locations we are lucky enough as Shared Care Scotland and Edinburgh. the best is the best woman, “If you look at great shows youth groups from deprived benefits of residential learning happen, such as the trip to the “The trip also built on the to have here. to support the Scottish Young people were also end of story.” carry on without him, but that have changed the lead, Government backed invited to design and plan areas of Scotland to organise experiences. The group is a trampoline activity.” relationships between the “As a charity we want to While the bluster and hints it might never be the they failed and I think this one Respitality programme, GlenFest as part of the residential breaks. driving force of a UK-wide To date, the Explorer Fund nursery staff and parents and enable more of these first which provides respite Year of Young People 2018 braggadocio of this year’s same. would go the same way.” Lois Marshall is Hostelling consortium of 18 organisations, has supported more than 50 guardians, so that they would experiences and help young breaks for unpaid carers celebrating the opening of contestants is as reliably “One, I’ve got an With high praise like Scotland’s Youth and Volunteer including Hostelling Scotland, youth and school groups to be keen to take part in future people to make life-long working directly with the the newly refurbished Glen consistent as ever (one claims exceptionally good memory, that was there ever any Engagement Manager, a post that aims to make “high quality have residential breaks (and Lois said: “The Mini Hostelling Scotland’s Explorer outdoor learning sessions memories. Scottish hospitality industry. Nevis Youth Hostel. “I love business more than and two, I’ve done all this. comparison between him and that was created two years residentials a reality for every continues on from the Give Us Explorers Fund supports Fund and Mini Explorers planned by the nursery.” “My work is very rewarding Hostelling Scotland donates Find out more at www. sharks love blood”), there is “I started with a little mini Donald Trump, who hosted ago to boost the numbers and child”. a Break fund which Hostelling Early Years outdoor learning Fund enables children from For the young children, and one of the best bits is the short breaks in their hostels hostellingscotland.org.uk diversity in their background. van and I’ve seen everything, the US version of the show range of people accessing the Kim Somerville, the chief Scotland ran for over 10 years). residentials and is aimed at disadvantaged backgrounds the residential offered first follow-up sessions when I One is a para athlete, done everything, had before moving into the White charity’s youth initiatives. executive officer of the This year, funding has disadvantaged nursery aged to stay in youth hostels experiences and created great hear from the children and another a beauty brand disappointments. House? Explaining the aim of the Council for Learning Outside been widened by Hostelling children and their families or memories. families about all they have owner. “I know what selling is all “He was useless, completely Hostelling Scotland Explorer the Classroom, says: “Our Scotland to include younger carers. “After the trip, they Lois says: “After the trip, they seen, learned and enjoyed on a There is also an artisan about, know what not to do. useless,” Lord Sugar says Fund, Lois, 35, of Glasgow, says: research shows clearly children. “Five families from talked excitedly about the boat residential break. baker, a librarian and a luxury I’ve sat in boardrooms in dismissively. “Totally useless, “The fund, launched in 2018, that residentials provide A Mini Explorers Fund was Woodburn Nursery in Falkirk talked excitedly about trip, the walks, the campfire “People often do not realise womenswear consultant, as banks and negotiated big you cannot even talk in the provides funded residential opportunities and advantages piloted last year, and in 2019 along with the Nursery the boat trip, the walks, and where they stayed. One the value of time away from well as a sports management deals with banks at hundreds same breath. There is no trips for disadvantaged young that cannot be achieved in any it is supporting three further leaders took part in the pilot the campfire and child saw sheep for the first the ordinary routine to visit agent, the owner of an ice and hundreds of millions of comparison.” people aged eight to 25, to stay other educational context or groups to get away working enjoying a two-night stay at our where they stayed. One time. new places until they actually cream company and the pounds but (when) I started at one of our youth hostels for setting for children and young with both Early Years Centres Rowardennan Youth Hostel on child saw sheep for the “For the parents, the impact do it. The benefit to these owner of a pillow company. off, my first sale was most ●●The Apprentice continues up to three nights at a time. people of all ages, improving and charities, which support the shores of Loch Lomond. first time” was amazing. It gave them fun young people and families is That kind of mix should probably five pounds with five on BBC1 on Wednesdays at “They can choose where to their resilience, achievement, parents. “They managed to fit in times away with their children extraordinary.” be enough to keep things car aerials. 9pm.