The Apprentice returned to our television screens for its fifth series last night; inevitably the program will lead to many newspaper column inches over the coming weeks.
What the viewer sees on TV is a slickly produced, entertainment show with as accurate a portrayal of real business as the James Bond 007 franchise has to the security services.
The apprentice is edited and staged to provide the viewing public with an experience based loosely around the concept of business and enterprise.
Whether the main man is serious about leaving the show remains to be seen.
As with most things in life, it’s a matter for evaluation and balance.
The positives:
The program raises awareness of business and enterprise; It provides entertainment; Affords a springboard for the apprentice candidates into a ‘celebrity world.’
The negatives:
Is less than realistic;
Suggests Entrepreneurs are divisive;
Encourages a selfish attitude contrary to the ethos of business.
Business is fascinating, it can be both lucrative and enjoyable but fundamentally it is about two parties having a mutually beneficial exchange, ideally one which results in a profit for the seller; anything less and it’s a relationship unlikely to endure. Can the same be said of The Apprentice?