Broker Apprentice was “huge boost of confidence”

Applications for the 2016 Broker Apprentice are now open and Charlie Barrett, last year's winner, has encouraged new brokers to "go for it".

Interviews to be on the series will be held in Belfast, Bristol, London and Manchester this August. 

"There are a few people in my company who haven't gone for it and I don't know why," he said. "It's so worth it."

According to Barrett being a contestant on the show has already helped him in his career.

"It has definitely increased my profile both within my organisation and the market which I operate in," he noted.

"Rather than just being another trainee at another brokerage it has sort of boosted me into a position where people actually poke up their ears and listen a little bit. It might be slightly premature, because my technical knowledge is still building, but it has certainly helped me massively."

Confidence
He also noted that being part of the Broker Apprentice taught him about his own capabilities as a broker and gave him a huge boost of confidence.

"Out of everyone I was competing against I was probably the least experienced person so I guess that contributed to why I wasn't exactly filled with confidence in terms of my potential to win it," he added.

"Hearing John O'Roarke say I had won it at the end was awesome."

As part of the process the finalists got to meet the management team from LV, an experience Barrett described as a "fantastic opportunity".

Advice
His advice to those who are lucky enough to be selected as finalists this year is to "use your eyes and ears more than your mouth".

"Don't go bragging about any ideas you've got, wait, watch and listen," he continued.

"But remember that it's very important to play as part of a team because ultimately that's what a career as a broker is about."

Click here to find out more about Broker Apprentice 2016 and how to apply for the competition.