The Apprentice

UNISON wrote to complain following the announcement by Lord Hanningfield (Leader of Essex County Council) that he would offer a job to the runner-up in the BBC Apprentice series. It now appears that it was not a serious offer - or at least is not now going to be made!

The UNISON letter said:

I am writing, on behalf of Unison’s Essex County Branch representing ECC staff across all grades and locations, to express concern at the reports in the media that it is intended to offer the candidate who finishes runner up in the current BBC Television show ‘ The Apprentice’ a job with Essex County Council.

We are concerned because the policy on recruitment and selection on the Intranet is clear that ‘the Council’s policy is that managers are responsible for recruitment, supported by the Human Resource Service. At all times the Council will aim to recruit the person who is most suited to the particular job, subject to fair assessment…’ ‘It is Council policy that all managers will select solely on the basis of the applicant’s abilities and individual merit, as measured against the criteria for the job and in line with the Council’s approach to equal opportunity. Qualifications, experience and skills/competence will be assessed at the level relevant to the job; undertake a fair recruitment and selection process: advertising, shortlisting, interviewing and selection will always be carried out without discrimination in respect of disability, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, age or trade union membership;’

Current policy involves the production of person specification and job description before advertising vacancies.

At no point does any policy state that recruitment can be outsourced to a television programme, whatever the quality of that programme, in the way that appears to have been suggested.

We share your view that there are many exciting challenges involved in working in the public sector in ECC and we know of high powered candidates from the private sector have taken up jobs here. However there can be no reason for completely disregarding the policies on recruitment and equal opportunities which have been built up successfully over many years to help ensure, among other things, that ECC meets its moral and legislative obligations towards equal opportunities for its existing staff and other people seeking to join its staff.

I hope you will agree with us by deciding that it would be best not to pursue the idea of offering employment to the runner up in The Apprentice at this time at least in the way publicised. She or he would, of course, be able to apply when a suitable vacancy was advertised.

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