Hugh Salmon

Surprising human insights from the big, wide world

Watching the BBC's The Apprentice, I am reminded of a show in last year's series when one of the contestants endlessly repeated 'What's the strategy? ...

Christopher Hall

Business manager of Nottingham Trent University’s centre for entrepreneurship and enterprise, The Hive

So, it's started again. For the next three months the viewing public will be treated to and will lap up a 'fly on the wall' vision of what makes an entrepreneur - except we won't and it isn't. But many people, who aren't in the know, will think it's meant to be this way.

Jan Shure

Co-founder of SoSensational.co.uk, the fashion website for grown up women

Do the females competing to be Lord Sugar's business partner in Series 9 of The Apprentice think they are dressing for the boardroom or the bar? (And by "the bar", I mean the kind where they down shots rather than the kind where they would need a wig and gown).

Karren Brady

Businesswoman, Vice Chairman of West Ham FC and a LifeSkills Ambassador

I would argue that too many businesses are reluctant to take the risk on a young person without any experience. Turned on its head, that small risk could actually be a life-changing opportunity to set a young person on course for a truly bright future. So, I think every business needs to consider whether they are doing enough to support young people in their communities to first gain work experience, and then to move into employment. We cannot expect schools or parents alone to support a young person into work. In my view, businesses are a vital part of the equation.

Emily Sargent

Writer, reader, enjoys videos of people falling over

I like the opening five minutes of The Apprentice the best I think. Mainly because of the contestants' VTs; which this year contained some very bold and arousing statements. "I am a great of my generation. I take inspiration from Napoleon," so says a small man wearing ladies sunglasses.

Sammy Sultan

Social Commentator, Comedian & Aspiring Chat-Show Host

As early as midway through the first episode we gain an appreciation of whom we are going to collectively despise. It is normally the irritating cretin who takes it upon him/herself to come up with a team name such as 'oblivion' or 'evolve.' Why they feel compelled to come up with such lame post-apocalyptic names is beyond me.

Wendy Jones

Trustee of National Numeracy and a former BBC education correspondent

I half-watched The Apprentice last night while going through the email backlog - both experiences made slightly more bearable by the other. But my attention was suddenly caught by a Maths Problem.

Bev James

Business mentor and CEO of The Coaching Academy, the world’s largest training organisation for coaches

With a new series of Dragons' Den and The Apprentice lined up, the concept of the business reality show is still going strong but are these shows having a positive effect on business management and leadership within the workplace?

Jonathan Heath

Online Editor at Spectrecom

Within this campaign Heineken have not only produced a quality piece of video marketing. The crowd source element has involved their social media channels lobbying for input in choosing "The Candidate" encouraging sharing and engagement and improving the virility of the piece.

Bruce Daisley

Director of Twitter UK

It's hard to be objective, my personal aversion to meetings is an almost visceral rage, but I fear they may even be destroying our productivity. The powerplay of meetings is depressing, the mangle of overt and covert agendas. People taking turns to speak, then zoning out when it isn't their turn.

Alfie Evers

Writer of Comedy/Opinionated Overlord

It's been two or three weeks since The Apprentice finished and I'm not afraid to admit, I'm becoming a little twitchy.

Owen Roberts

Head of Callcredit Check

For seven years now I have been lying to those closest to me. I tell my children every day that you must always tell the truth yet as I sit at the dinner table with them I am engaged in an elaborate cover up. The time has come to own up to them; I DON'T LIKE BROCCOLI.

Raconteur Media

Premium publisher of special-interest content to some of the world's leading media brands

Multi-millionaire entrepreneur Peter Jones tells Liz Lightfoot how he wants to boost business with new-style apprenticeships.

Raconteur Media

Premium publisher of special-interest content to some of the world's leading media brands

Greater investment, additional numbers and extra support signal a new era for apprenticeships. But crucial to its success is ensuring employers offer quality programmes.

Hilary Wardle

Freelance journalist and TV guru

Apparently asking your manager if they have a strategy is a fireable offence, while being a complete chaotic mess is heartily encouraged. That's the message we took away from Wednesday's episode of the Apprentice, anyway.

Hilary Wardle

Freelance journalist and TV guru

In previous series of the Apprentice at least one of the weekly tasks was carried out in a foreign country. However, with the recession biting - and the Eurostar costing marginally more than East Coast Trains - the Beeb decided to move the potential for an international incident closer to home this time around. To Edinburgh, in fact.