You are never too young to start a bid to become the next Sir Alan Sugar. HELEN BACKWAY looks at how TV shows such as The Apprentice have inspired a Lewisham organisation to help pupils increase their employment prospects.

EVEN though many of us did not know what we wanted to do when we were at school, it is here where we are encouraged to think about the skills we would need in the workplace.

Lewisham Education Business Partnership (EBP), which has been going for 10 years, helps to get youngsters thinking about careers through a variety of workshops and activities.

The partnership, which is linked to Lewisham Council, organises activities such as career days and work experience for 13 schools in the borough.

Work-related learning project manager Rachel Braithwaite said: "We are providing activities in schools which will help the students to expand their employability skills."

The You're Hired scheme, which has been inspired by BBC programme The Apprentice, is run for Year 10 and Year 11 students at schools in the area as part of the Employability Day.

A group of around 15 employers give students, usually from Year 10, a 10-minute mock interview.

At the end, each employer picks one student from their group which they would hire.

The "apprentices" are given a certificate and some sweets.

Project support officer Ellen Brignell-Cash said: "It's very popular and it's not always the one which the school is expecting who is hired."

Another popular project run by the organisation is the Business Challenge, which usually involves Year 9 and Year 10 students.

Pupils set up a company to raise money for charity One Water, which builds water pumps in Africa.

They have to come up with a company name and an event, service or product to raise £500.

The students then give a presentation to their tutor group, teacher and business adviser.

Then each winning team from each tutor group presents to the whole year group and a board of judges, just like in TV show Dragon's Den.

The winning team is announced at the end of the day, and receives a framed certificate and small prize.

Lewisham EBP, based in Lewisham High Street, also organises mock interview days, which is often the first experience students have of the selection process.

Mrs Braithwaite said: "They realise the skills they already have and how they can relate it to the world of work."

Careers fairs involving a broad range of employers to give children an idea of the opportunities available are also run in schools, as well as work experience placements for students under 16.

As many as 3,000 students a year, usually in Year 10, leave the classroom for a week at a time to experience the world of work.

Mrs Brignell-Cash said: "A lot of Lewisham employers are very supportive of the work experience programme, but we do have to look outside Lewisham.

"We continue to look for new employers and hope they see it as their corporate responsibility."

To support the work of Lewisham EBP or for more information, call 020 8297 3310 or email ebp@lewisham.gov.uk