You’re Hired!

So, the cult TV series The Apprentice is finally back on our screens and it feels like it is all everyone is talking about!

Having had the pleasure of meeting, and having a drink with, the legendary Nick Hewer of Apprentice fame at the end of last year, I have a renewed excitement for this year’s series.

I have already got over excited about the office sweepstake and the chance of winning the grand prize of £12 (I’ve got Gavin Winstanley in case you were wondering) and set my series link on Sky plus!

It is fair to say that I have not always been the biggest fan of the show but since meeting Mr Hewer and seeing the direct impact the show has on young people first hand, I have a renewed respect and think the show goes a little deeper than just entertainment.

Some might say that it should be not be taken too seriously, which I would agree with, but what I think is often forgotten is the impact that it has on inspiring young people to get involved in business.

This is where meeting Nick Hewer comes in. Nick was kind enough to be a judge last November at The Big Pitch Challenge. The Challenge involved teams of college students from the Valleys area to put together their ideas on how best to market a local business as part of Merthyr Tydfil’s Global Enterprise Week in association with the Heads of the Valleys Innovation Programme (HOVIP).

Nick Hewer with The Big Pitch contestants

I spent the evening watching a group of sixteen year olds from the Valleys confidently present their ideas on how best to market the new visitors centre for Rhymney Brewery.  It was clear to see that a lot of thought and research had been put into each presentation and the task had clearly not been undertaken lightly.  I think we were all in the presence of Wales’ next entrepreneurs and many put together pitches that some of us could take some tips from!

Even Nick himself seemed impressed saying “The level of enthusiasm from all of the students that took part surpassed my expectations”

The buzz afterwards was electric and the queue waiting for photographs and autographs with Nick was not to be sniffed at. The students were so excited to have been able to present their ideas to Nick and they were full of ideas of what businesses they were going to set up after college. It is clear that south Wales is soon to be flooded with young entrepreneurs from fashion designers to computer engineers.

Knowing that private enterprise is the key to growing our economy, maybe we should encourage what is essentially a reality TV programme, especially if the level of determination and inspiration that it can create is channelled into something positive for the future.

So, even though the show is a bit of light entertainment and gives us all something to talk about while our computers are starting up the next morning, it is also, in my opinion, one of the main factors today in inspiring young people to get involved in business even if their first motivation wis to prove that they can do a better job than the candidates.

I wish all the candidates this year good luck but my money is on Gavin…literally!

Katie