YOUNG businessmen and women of the future competed to prove they were the ones that should be hired not fired.

Greensward Academy in Greensward Lane, Hockley, held its own version of hit BBC show the Apprentice.

And the winning six-person team enjoyed a swanky limousine ride to Southend seafront and a slap-up meal at the Honey Pot cafe in Hockley.

The task had been set for Year 12 A-level business students to design a four-page colour brochure for the academy’s training school.

Teacher Karen Conran said: “Pupils had a week to produce the brochure and then had a boardroom grilling, where three out of the four teams were fired.

“While there was only one winning team, all the students were winners and should be very proud of the quality work they produced.”