Lord Sugar has revealed that, unlike in past series, the winner of the 2011 series of The Apprentice will not be given a job at his firm. Instead, similar to the Junior Apprentice, the winner will receive access to a fund which will give the winning candidate the opportunity to launch a company of their own.

The fund will offer the budding entrepreneurs a £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar in the business of their choice. The winner of the program will be able to decide which sort of business they want to run and then Lord Sugar will provide a financial injection and personal expertise in running the new company. Lord Sugar and the winner will each own 50% of the new company.

“In the past years I was searching for a candidate to employ, now I am looking for a business partner,” Lord Sugar said. “The good news is they won’t have to put any money into the new company, I will.

“With an injection of £250,000 of value into this start up company, this is an amazing opportunity for someone who will choose the type of business it will be. I will be looking for a person with some expertise who can demonstrate they have a good understanding of all facets of business, so as to take this venture to another level.”

The sixth series of the show airs this Autumn, applications for the seventh series are still open on the BBC website.

Junior Apprentice winner Arjun has described Lord Sugar and his aides, Nick Hewer and Karren Brady as “amazing role models”. Speaking after his win, Arjun said the trio were supportive and were people he was inspired to be like in the future.

Arjun said: “Lord Sugar, Nick and Karren were all amazing role models and wonderful people to work around. They gave their criticisms and their praises but they were always fair.

“They always ensured that we all understood how much of an achievement it was that we had made it this far. They were always supportive and are still, to this day, people that I aspire to be like.”

On his win, the 16-year-old said: “The feeling of being the first ever winner is beyond amazing. When I found out, I couldn’t believe it, I was physically taken aback and had to double-check.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I believe that I would win when I first sent off that application form but now that I have, I couldn’t be more elated, my family and friends have been the greatest support system that anyone could have asked for and I actually cannot believe that it is all over.”

Comedian Dara O’Briain has been confirmed as the new host of the ‘You’re Fired’ Apprentice spin off show. The 30 minute programme, which airs after the main show, sees the fired candidate interviewed and questioned by the host and a panel of celebrity guests in front of a studio audience.

The Irish funnyman – who currently hosts BBC2 panel show ‘Mock The Week’ – said he is delighted to take on the role. “I’m delighted to be stepping into the chair for this. As a comedian, I’ve spent my entire career asking people: ‘What do you do for a living?’. It can’t be too much of a stretch to include the words ‘ … now that you know you’re not getting this job’ at the end of the question”.

Janice Hadlow, Controller, BBC Two, said: “I’m thrilled to have Dara on board. His unique style of quick-witted banter is ideally suited to the job of probing the latest casualty of Lord Sugar’s infamous firing finger.”

Mark Linsey, Controller, Entertainment Commissioning, said: “Dara is such a witty and clever man – perfect attributes for the host of The Apprentice – You’re Fired.

“He’s absolutely the right man for the job and I’m delighted he’s said yes!”

The Apprentice and You’re Fired are currently slated to return to TV screens in November of this year.

Arjun Rajyagor has become the first winner of the Junior Apprentice, beating Tim Ankers to the top position. In the final boardroom Lord Sugar said it was a very tough, “near impossible”, decision, adding that Arjun had a soft nature and clear academic qualifications.

Tim and Arjun earlier beat Zoe and Kirsty in the final Junior Apprentice task.

Lord Sugar started by saying that both of the candidates had been exceptional during the last task before asking the candidates why they should win.

Arjun argued that he had been instrumental in winning a number of the tasks, saying he could do a multitude of different things, “I have the potential, I have the drive and the passion.”

“I didn’t expect to last one week, I felt lucky to be here,” Tim said. “I have this massive natural ability, this prize fund will allow me to learn more and realise my dream.”

Lord Sugar then summed up this thoughts: “Arjun, I’ve spoken of your apparent soft nature, your clear academic qualifications. My concerns are about you adapting and coming up with that spark needed in business.

“Tim, there were times that I was really tossing up in my mind whether you should be on your way home.

“It’s a tough choice and I’m not going to worry about the runner up because I know that the runner up will succeed anyway.

“But because there has to be one winner, Arjun, you are the winner of Junior Apprentice.”

“I can’t believe I’m the first Junior Apprentice, it’s mind blowing,” Arjun said on the news. “I can’t wait to tell my parents. To think the amount of opportunities this will open up for me, it’s so amazing.”

Zoe Plummer and Kirsty Cleaver have lost out on the chance of becoming Lord Sugar’s first Junior Apprentice after falling at the last hurdle. The pair lost their final task which required the remaining candidates to create and launch their own brand of bottled water.

The two teams had to each create a brand identity, jingle and television advert for their bottles of water, before they got started however they had to get some help from the fired candidates. Kirsty and Zoe picked Hannah Cherry, Hibah Ansary and Jordan De Courcy while Tim and Arjun opted for Emma Walker, Rhys Rosser and Adam Eliaz.

Kirsty and Zoe opted to target the teenage market with their ozonated water called ‘Drip Drop’. Using the tagline ‘Never Stop’, their advert – directed by Kirsty – saw two teenage boys have their bottle of water pinched by a young girl.

Tim and Arjun meanwhile targeted the adult market with their no nonsense brand called simply ‘A Bottle Of Water’. Directed by Arjun, the advert saw a city slicker running through a park taking off his clothes until he is handed ‘A Bottle Of Water’, using the tagline ‘All You Need Is…’

Karren was impressed with mathematician Arjun’s work as director, telling the cameras: “I think we’ve unleashed some real creative talent.”

When it came to the pitches both teams received compliments from the industry experts, with Zoe and Kirsty being described as having “real passion”.

However there was only one person’s opinion that really mattered – and that was Lord Sugar’s. In the boardroom Lord Sugar said both teams’ pitches were “absolutely amazing” and the candidates were a “real inspiration”. Commenting on their brands, Lord Sugar praised Zoe and Kirsty’s ‘Drip Drop’ name saying it was a good idea but added the target market was a “big gamble” and not large enough. He continued, describing their advert as a “mugging on a council estate.”

On Tim and Arjun’s brand, Lord Sugar criticised the pair for offering a 150% margin to retailers but said the duo responded well to questions during the pitch.

Lord Sugar told Tim and Arjun: “Your brand is simple and well defined, you clearly understood the concept. The marketing idea behind it didn’t come off that well but the professionals were very impressed.”

On the ladies, Lord Sugar said: “You’re business model was flawed in the target market you chose, your team has lost.”

On their exit, Zoe said she would continue on working to become a success in business while Kirsty said she was going to keep her head held high.

Lord Sugar has confirmed a second series of The Junior Apprentice and said it will be longer, saying 6 episodes “wasn’t enough”. Speaking ahead of tonight’s Junior Apprentice final, Lord Sugar said that the new format was a blessing for him as it allowed him to do “something else”.

Lord Sugar said: “I’ve enjoyed Junior Apprentice tremendously – it was my brainchild.

“It was one reason for me continuing The Apprentice.”

After 5 series of the main version of the programme, Lord Sugar revealed he was thinking of quitting, saying: “The format’s very good and the viewing figures keep growing, but there might come a time when I think ‘I can’t add to it’.

“That’s why Junior Apprentice came just at the right time and the BBC kind of detected that’s how I felt about it – that I needed to do something else.

“The BBC are going to commission a longer series next time because six episodes wasn’t enough.”

On this year’s four finalists, Lord Sugar added: “They’ve got great potential. It’s heartwarming these youngsters exist in this day and age.”

The final task for the Junior Apprentices has been revealed ahead of tonight’s final show. The four remaining candidates, split into two teams, must create their own brand of bottled water. The pairs must come up with a name, bottle design, jingle and TV ad before presenting the results to industry leaders.

Lord Sugar will also be present at the pitches as he decides not only which team will win but who will become his Junior Apprentice. The winner of the competition will receive access to a £25,000 fund to kick start their career in the business world.

To help with heir mammoth task, just like in the adult version of the programme, previously fired candidates will return to help out with the final task.

Speaking ahead of the final, Arjun said: “Lord Sugar said to me that he didn’t see me as much of a team leader and that I wasn’t very decisive. I think I’ve manned up a bit now.”

Zoe said: “I think one of the things that Lord Sugar picked up on is the fact that he thinks I can sometimes be too domineering. So I’ve taken that on board.”

But how will the teams fair and, more importantly, who will win the title of Junior Apprentice? Tune in from 9PM TONIGHT to find out!

Fired Junior Apprentice candidate Emma Walker has described Lord Sugar as the ‘most inspiring person’ she’s ever met. Speaking after her exit, broadcast last night, Emma said Arjun was the strongest remaining candidate and blamed herself for being fired after last night’s task.

“In the task I was fired on I wasn’t myself which I believe was key to me getting fired,” Emma said. “However it has taught me a lot about myself and the way I go about things. And from the experience I have definitely learnt from my mistakes.”

Emma continued: “Arjun is definitely the strongest candidate left. He has the amazing ability of being good at everything he puts his hand to. He isn’t a one trick pony and is a great person to work with. Plus, I genuinely believe he deserves it. My moneys on him.”

On Lord Sugar and his aides Nick and Karren, Emma only had good words to say: “Lord Sugar was the most inspiring person I have ever met. I can see why he is so successful in business, With him there is no messing around and at the end of the day a business is out there to make profit.

“Nick and Karren were very helpful, the fact they were there added pressure and made it feel like you were constantly in a business environment. Which I thought distinguished who could handle it, and who couldn’t.”

She concluded: “I’ve learnt a lot, and when I do finally get into business I will take the experience that I have had and make sure the mistakes are not made in the real world.”

Emma Walker has become the fifth candidate to be fired from the first ever series of The Junior Apprentice, the sixth to leave overall.

This week’s task required the candidates to make the most money by pitching products purchased in Holland to retailers in the UK. Kirsty Cleaver was the project manager of Instinct, with now just two members, the other being Tim Ankers. Meanwhile Arjun Rajyagor took control of Team Revolution, Emma Walker in charge of Zoe Plummer and Emma Walker.

Despite troubles in pitching, Team Instinct brought home a record profit of £40,000, a whopping £21,000 more than team First Forte in the show’s first series which saw adults battling it out for a job with Lord Alan Sugar.

The takings by Instinct left Revolution to battle it out in the board room, with Emma Walker getting the axe.

The result means that Arjun Rajyagor and Zoe Plummer join Tim Ankers and Kirsty Cleaver for tomorrow’s grand final!

Tomorrow night will see the Junior Apprentice hopefuls take on their fifth challenge from Lord Sugar: Take a trip to Holland and purchase products they think will sell well here in the UK, but which of the candidates will survive to make next week’s final?

Once back on British ground, the candidates will have to pitch their products to four of the country’s leading retailers, the team which brings back the most amount of orders will win.

Check out some preview clips of tomorrow night’s episode below…