The Consulting Consortium Criticises Sir Alan Sugar's Choice Of Apprentice June 2008
London, 12 June 2008 - The Consulting Consortium Recruit, a recruitment firm specialising in staffing solutions in the regulatory compliance, risk and corporate governance sector, has today criticised the recruitment by Sir Alan Sugar of Lee McQueen on last night's final episode of The Apprentice.
Highlighting the lies on Mr. McQueen's CV and the subsequent attempt to cover up his dishonesty at interview, Tracy Harvey-Bussell of The Consulting Consortium, said: "I am appalled and aghast at last night's decision to award The Apprentice 2008 to Mr. Lee McQueen. Has Sir Alan completely missed the debate that has been raging about business ethics in the City? Or is he so far removed from reality up in his ivory tower that he just doesn't care?"
"The Institute of Directors make integrity central to membership criteria. The Financial Services Authority heightened the subject of ethics in their 2002 Discussion Paper "An ethical framework for financial services". The Securities and Investment Institute has the word "integrity" in their mission statement and have developed an e-learning course to challenge thinking and change behaviour."
"Yet last night, in front of millions of prime time TV viewers, a 30 year old recruitment manager was awarded a plum role and instant celebrity despite a clear breach of personal integrity. Am I alone in seeing this as the ultimate irony? Could one seriously ever trust such a person in the workplace? I know I couldn't."
"It is not enough to say "everyone lies on their CVs". I know some of them do - I am a recruiter in the City specialising in corporate governance and regulatory roles - but when perpetrators are caught out by us, they are firmly dealt with. Leaders of all types, particularly high profile captains of industry like Sir Alan, have a moral responsibility to set an example. It is a tragedy that last night "The Apprentice" failed to do so."
Tracy Harvey-Bussell suggests the following ways which companies can protect themselves:
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Use an experienced professional recruitment firm to undertake your selection
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Ensure candidates are thoroughly interviewed and technically tested
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Insist on proof of qualifications at interview
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Insist on evidence of the right to work in the United Kingdom at interview
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Take up written references and check these with the writer on receipt
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Use credit checks to identify financial issues
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Use the Criminal Records Bureau facility
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Make sure your recruitment firm checks out candidates through their own network
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If something doesn't seem right, keep digging
About The Consulting Consortium
Founded in 2000, The Consulting Consortium is a regulatory consultancy which provides advice and guidance on activities regulated by the Financial Services Authority and, in particular, the application of the FSA's regime on financial services products.
With offices in London and Bradford, The Consulting Consortium's consultants offer innovative, fully FSA compliant and long term solutions to client's individual regulatory scenarios. The Consulting Consortium's sister company, TCC Recruit, specialises in recruiting staff for regulatory compliance, risk and corporate governance positions.
About Tracy Harvey-Bussell
Tracy Harvey-Bussell has over 30 years experience in the financial services industry, having been Compliance Officer at Sun Alliance Group, Director of Compliance at Hogg Robinson plc and Head of Corporate Governance at Equity Insurance Group. Since 2001, she has been involved in recruitment of fellow compliance, risk, regulatory and corporate governance professionals. Tracy is a Director and Fellow of the Compliance Institute, Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators and Member of the Securities and Investment Institute, and a Partner in TCC Recruitment LLP.
For further information on The Consulting Consortium Recruit please go to:
http://www.tccrecruit.com / info@tccrecruit.com
For further information:
Stuart McClelland
Weber Shandwick Financial
Tel 020 7067 0729
smcclelland@webershandwick.com