The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
The Apprentice hires his own apprentice
Lord Sugar’s Peterborough ‘apprentice’ Joseph Valente has followed in his business hero’s footsteps – by hiring his own apprentice. Since winning the BBC’s The Apprentice in 2015, Joseph Valente hasbeenbusyputting his£250,000investmentfrom Lord Sugar to good use.
Joseph has expanded Impra Gas, his plumbing and heating company, to offer boiler installation to 3,500 customers across the UK.
Now Joseph, has hired his own 16-year-old apprentice, Billy Robinson, to allow the youngster to learn the trade.
Joseph said: “I have come a long way since I was an apprentice and it is a path I would recommend to anyone who is unsure of what to do when they leave school.
“I was expelled at 14 years old but was lucky enough to have been given the opportunity to learn a trade.
“This has helped make me who I am today and taught me the importance of hard work; a skill I have utilised throughout my career so far and no doubt contributed to me winning The Apprentice last year.”
Billy said he hoped the opportunity would be his first steps into following Joseph in business.
He said: “It means the world to be part of such a successful and fast-growing organisation and being in a position where I can learn, grow and hopefully become as successful as Joseph, as I know he started out just like me.
“I would strongly recommend apprenticeships to anyone that wants a successful career andalsowantstolearn a trade for life.”
Josephadded:“I wasreally impressed with Billy’s confidence and work ethic when he did work experience with us, he reminded me a little of myself at that age.
“I hope that Billy gets as much out of doing on-thejob-training as I have and has a long and successful career with Impra Gas.”