Apprentice hopefuls ready to do battle

THE hit reality TV show The Apprentice returns to TV3 next Monday night with 16 contestants battling over 12 weeks to go into partnership with businessman Bill Cullen.

This year’s winning Apprentice will receive a package worth €200,000. The prize will be made up of a €100,000 in cash and a further €100,000 worth of office space, communication and IT equipment, marketing support, legal and accounting services and advertising. Cullen’s aide Brian Purcell is also contributing to the prize, with €40,000 worth of PR consultancy from Insight Consultants.

The fourth series of the show introduces a new format. Candidates seeking to be Cullen’s next apprentice will no longer be working for him — instead they’ll go into partnership with him, working on a new idea for a business or an existing business.