The Apprentice returns to our TV screens this week for its 12th series. Lord Sugar will once again joined by advisers Baroness Karren Brady and Claude Littner as they put 18 new candidates through their paces to secure his £250k investment in their business plan.
Airing on Thursdays this year, the series will follow Lord Sugar’s potential business partners as they set out to prove their business skills are ready for any challenge in the fight to the final boardroom.
The nine men and nine women come from a range of careers and backgrounds, from bakeries and business consultancy to property and IT, each with different experience to draw from during the tasks.
Among the candidates is Rebecca Jeffery from Altrincham, owner of a marketing and design business Fi and Becs.
Since Lord Sugar offered the opportunity to become his business partner, he has invested £1.25m in five businesses.
Lord Sugar says: “I need to see who’s got a good business brain, that’s all I’m interested in.
“The winner gets a £250,000 investment and it will change someone’s life forever.
“You are going to learn more about yourself throughout the course of this process, I promise you that. Sometimes, some people can’t stand the heat, and they complain and they moan.
“If you want to moan you can send me an email at lordsugar@idontcare.com.”
The series kicks off on Thursday with a task designed to test the candidates’ skills in negotiation and selling.
The teams arrive at a lock-up containing antiques and collectables including furniture, vintage clothing, toys, ceramics, silver and glassware.
They must spot the treasure from the trash, before they sell their chosen items to the public and trade. The aim is simple – make as much money as possible to avoid being in the firing line on the losing team in the boardroom.
Other tasks over the coming weeks include creating an advertising campaign for jeans, manufacturing a range of sweets, hosting ‘late night opening’ events at well-known attractions, designing virtual reality games and producing and creating their own brand of gin.
The Apprentice will air weekly on Thursdays at 9pm BBC One and BBC One HD from 6th October.