Manchester Entrepreneurs: The Search for the Next Apprentice

By Fahim Sachedina

A typical remark for The Apprentice may be that it is a dolled-up reality show which does not reflect the true hardships of business, but ME sees the entrepreneurial creativity entailed as an opportunity to give those outstanding candidates a chance to display their fine talent and competitive edge as budding entrepreneurs.  

The Apprentice season 8 has kicked off with the usual overtly-combative contestants and intense drama, at which Manchester Entrepreneurs (ME) responds by putting together its own rendition of the popular show. Cue the outrageous one-liners, they have their very own Alan Sugar waiting to see contestants fight for survival in the boardroom!

This time, ME teams up with two of the most prestigious corporate firms (Accenture, RBS) who advocate enterprise and an intrapreneurial culture, alongside ME’s very own student-business, Pieboy Clothing.  As an avid propeller of student-businesses, ME has put much emphasis into sourcing for partners who are great supporters of student enterprise; and to further boost Manchester student business profiles, The Apprentice will feature challenges drawn and based upon these names. The National Association of College and University Entrepreneurs (NACUE) will also be present to ensure the smooth-running of the event and the RBS ESSA will showcase The Apprentice to other student enterprise enthusiasts across the UK.

The tasks set seem to be a testing mix between Marketing, Strategic Planning, Pitching, Selling and Negotiating whilst making difficult, and in true Apprentice style, “make-or-break”, decisions.  A series of videos will be released at the end of each day documenting the day’s events and announcing the next challenge followed by a short video trailer of the competition, establishing The Manchester Apprentice as an annual tradition for ME.

For twenty candidates, this will be their chance to experience life in the boardroom, and on the frontline where one spark of genius in one of the tasks, could lead to a cataclysmic effect for one or two individuals. Whilst the pressure could lead some to make uncharacteristic decisions, by placing them in an environment where they are more susceptible to do this, this would then stand them in good stead for the future.  

This is the foundation that the Manchester Entrepreneurs have created, from their collaborative and supportive alumni network and their contacts across the corporate business environment, which aim to promote an entrepreneurial business culture alongside one of the most enterprising societies in the UK. With youth unemployment on the rise and a short-supply of adequate, fulfilling jobs for the ever-expanding graduate market, enterprise may well be a solution, and this is precisely the message ME has been fighting hard to deliver.