The Young Apprentice is just riding on the success of the original Apprentice and is a waste of everyone's time . Just used by the BBC for entertainment.

Times have changed since Sugar started his business at 17. Nowadays young high flyers prefer to finish their education with some qualifications behind them which will benefit them more in life and work.

I was delighted to see all of the top six contestants from last year went back to finish their education.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s108/...final-six.html

I completely disagree with you that it is a waste of their time. I think it's a really good opportunity for them to use their talent, and for someone to get a big investment into their business.

The fact that they've returned to their education does not mean that being on YA meant nothing to them. It's always explained that the £25,000 is not given to them as a lump sum upon winning the process, Lord Sugar drip-feeds it to them for when they need it. Take Zara, for example. She planned to use the money to expand her film business, but right now she's at Hurtwood House, furthering her education. Her business might not take off for another couple of years, but it will happen at some point. There is a perception that Lord Sugar doesn't respect academic qualifications, and I don't believe that at all - he has never said he didn't respect them, he just didn't want the money to be used for that, which is what made the difference between Zara and James last year. Zara is actually an A* student and a very well-educated young woman, but that obviously didn't lose her any points with Sugar, because she won the series - and I think she was a deserving winner.

Other people from Young Apprentice have gone on to do well as well. The one I'm thinking of particularly is Zoe Plummer, who went on to become one of the youngest shop owners in the country. I can't remember what the others have done, but I remember reading an article about them and being impressed by how successful a lot of them have been, and I think being on Young Apprentice probably helped with that.

The BBC might just be doing it for entertainment, but Lord Sugar isn't, and it's him that is ultimately running the show's format.

Harry Maxwell seems to be doing pretty brilliantly looking at that article! LSE is going to be on top of the global universities soon. Good to see Harry H doing well too, and of course Zara and the rest, too!

I think the biggest part of this is actually the opportunity. Whilst it's not going to guarantee you success and an instant business to launch, it does give you a lot of practical skills and as an 18 year old myself (going on 19) it's definitely interesting to watch how these people, younger than I am and last year the same age, cope with things. I think employers would absolutely love to see 'Candidate on the Young Apprentice' on a CV of a young person because it does suggest promise & a drive to work for things as well as an innovative thing to do.

I am glad that they did go to and complete education though, of course.

So, Haya is now working for Harry M.

I won't be watching this years series, it's all getting a bit repetitive, but good luck to all the youngsters and well done on them for showing the initiative to get involved in something like this - beats hanging out on street corners!

Watched one - think it is really sad that there's an expensive programme dedicated to encouraging young people to bahave in a greedy, selfish, manipulaitve manner.

Whatever happened to compassion?

I think most of the kids on there last week were little sh 1ts who are being encouraged to become big sh 1ts. Still I guess this country needs replacement wa...er..bankers for when the current lot retire early on their bonuses.

It's shame someone like Alan S (I refuse to call him by his title...) is seen as a role model.

Watched one - this sort of show's not for me. Rather see youngsters encouraged into more caring vocations.