Winner of Apprentice will partner Lord Sugar

LORD Sugar is to put his money where his mouth is by investing £250,000 in the winner of next year's series of The Apprentice.

The current version of the BBC1 show sees the victor land a 100,000 job working for one of Lord Sugar's businesses.

But from the seventh series in 2011, the tough-talking boss will turn into a business partner rather than simply telling him or her: "You're hired!"

The tycoon will stump up the start-up cash and then jointly own the business with the winner, with each taking a 50 per cent share.

The sixth series of the show, which will follow the existing format, airs this autumn.

Lord Sugar said: "In the past years, I was searching for a candidate to employ – now I am looking for a business partner.

"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."

Lord Sugar took up a seat in the Lords last year as the Labour government's enterprise tsar, raising concerns about possible impartiality.

The BBC Trust's Editorial Standards Committee previously found his role did not lead to a conflict of interest with his job on The Apprentice as long as safeguards were strictly observed.

The recent series of Junior Apprentice also involved investment rather than a job, with teenager Arjun Rajyagor bagging a 25,000 "pocket money" fund to launch his business career.