Perth stylist and hairdressing entrepreneur has made the final cut of CBBC’s very own business show "Beat The Boss", presented by Saira Khan (BBC's "The Apprentice") which will air on 16th April at 5pm on BBC1.
Each week "Beat the Boss" pitches 3 kids, "The Bright Sparks" against 3 top business brains, "The Big Shots" to create a brand new product for the children's market. Will the adult's experience give them the edge or will the kids raw talent, and understanding of the market, send the bosses packing? Presenter Saira Khan puts the teams through their paces, pulling no punches, as they create their products - but who will win the Beat the Boss trophy?
The first of the new series, featuring Perth businesswoman Charlie, will air on BBC1 on 16th April at 5pm when the three kids (The Bright Sparks) - take on three business bosses (The Big Shots) - to create a swimming product - something that must really make a splash!
Charlie commented, “When the BBC first approached me to take part in the series I was a little bit nervous about pitting my business skills against The Bright Sparks – as the mother of three children, I know just how determined to win kids can be! But then I thought, what the heck – I’m sure us Big Shots can show them a thing or two!”
To complete their challenge The Bright Sparks and The Big Shots must research the market, brainstorm their ideas and pitch their new product to the bosses of a top UK swimming product company (who will then turn the teams' products into reality).
Charlie and fellow Big Shots, Paul Gleadow a sales executive and Jak Buela, fellow entrepreneur and founder of the Nubian Jak Community Trust, spent a day at Alton Towers in early January to progress their market research, amongst other things shivering in their swimming togs!
“It was freezing! But it was worth it –market research is vitally important to the development of any new product and it was essential that we were able to ask the right questions and get to the right people in order to proceed.” Said Charlie.
The ultimate test for the teams' products is to impress the "Beat The Boss" judging panel - 25 young experts aged between 8 and 12! They'll be putting The Bright Sparks and The Big Shots products though their paces and voting to decide the winner.
The Bright Sparks have the insider knowledge of what’s hot and what’s not on the playground, and The Big Shots are successful business people in their own right. But which product will come out on top...?
Charlie was, of course, tight lipped on the subject “You’ll just have to wait and see - only one team can win!” she said.
Beat The Boss is televised on BBC1 on Monday’s at 5pm, starting on 16th April.
