Training schemes and internships could be better co-ordinated to benefit both businesses and potential employees, Lord Sugar has told Jewish students.
He said interns were a distraction for workers and that independent training programmes funded by the government should be scrapped in favour of directly paying companies to train apprentices.
The veteran businessman was speaking during a Union of Jewish Students event in central London last week, ahead of the relaunch of his BBC hit show The Apprentice.
In conversation with Times journalist and JC columnist Daniel Finkelstein, Lord Sugar said exams had been “dumbed down” and criticised what he said was a lack of drive in young people.
The Amstrad founder said he had explored the possibility of working on technology projects in Israel in the past, but revealed he had never been able to conclude a deal with Israeli businesses because Israelis “won’t listen”.
During a question and answer session with the students he said his first role model had been his uncle, and that media mogul Rupert Murdoch was someone he admired.
When dealing with setbacks, said Lord Sugar, it was best to “pick yourself up and move on”.
The event raised more than £5,000 for UJS, whose president, Alex Green, said the organisation’s efforts were “fundamental” for supporting young Jews as they enter the working world.
