DRAMATIC use of classical music, views of London’s city skyscrapers glistening in the sunshine and 12 pairs of shiny shoes walking over the Millennium Bridge – it can only be The Apprentice.

The new series of the Young Apprentice – last year called Junior Apprentice – will be gracing our screens from Monday and, while it always promises great viewing, the show is also being praised for inspiring young would-be businesspeople across the UK.

This year there are 12 bright 16 and 17-year-olds competing for the top prize – £25,000 of Lord Alan Sugar’s backing for their own business ventures.

Far from being vulnerable teenagers not yet ready for life in the spotlight, most of the youngsters have already started their own companies, from rearing chickens and selling eggs and setting up a photography business to making school leavers’ hoodies and creating films for charities.

With young people in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons following the summer’s riots, and at a time when university fees are set to rocket, it’s no wonder Lord Sugar and his aides – Nick Hewer and Karren Brady – are encouraging more teens to start a business.

“We want to show you can start something from nothing,” said Lord Sugar, who started his own successful career when he left school at 16.

“We want to get away from this culture of going to university, then going to have a gap year for two years, then getting a job at some consultants or going on the dole. There’s too much of what I call an expectancy culture. I’m afraid to say that the goody-goody benefits system has made it a bit too cushy for people and now it’s time for a wake-up call.

“This programme proves that you can start to make some money and stand on your own two feet.”

President of Dorset Junior Chamber, Gary Seneviratne, said the show did a great job of inspiring entrepreneurial youngsters.

“It definitely puts it in their minds,” he said. “When I went to university it was all about getting a job. But this kind of thing helps put the idea in people’s minds that they can do it.”

Gary added that sometimes people had the idea, but not the confidence to go through with it.

But he said: “When they see an example of it, they say: ‘I’ll do it.’”

In the first episode of the show the youngsters are split into two teams and sent off to produce and sell their own ice cream, where they prove that many teenagers today are fully equipped with the business skills required to be a success.

Lord Sugar admits he was seriously impressed with the outcome of both teams.

“It really is frightening how good they are,” he said.

“And you’ll see as the series rolls on, how they rival some contestants on the normal Apprentice in terms of their performance.”

Of course, the winner of the show will receive that invaluable cash injection and support from Lord Sugar himself for their own business venture - last year’s successful candidate, 17-year-old computer expert Arjun Rajyagor, has a flourishing computer building business.

But Lord Sugar, Brady and Hewer all hope the series will inspire teenagers all over the country to start up their own companies.

“It goes to show that, with a bit of energy, a spark of an idea and absolute determination, you can start something from nothing,” said Brady. “Some of them are running their own businesses now anyway. And Nick and I see them all the time when we’re out on tasks. They’re very mature, very together and very articulate.”

She added: “Our series doesn’t show the quick fix. It’s not a talent show. You do have to actually think about things, you need to know a little bit about maths and you do have to work hard and show determination. But with that, great things can be achieved.”

• Young Apprentice starts on BBC One on Monday.

Start your own business

Thinking about starting up your own business? Why not take part in the Local Business Accelerators campaign?

The Daily Echo is one of almost 500 newspapers taking part in the government initiative launched to support the growth of local businesses.

A partnership between the regional press and the most promising fledgling businesses in the area, between one and three years old, the scheme will see three companies chosen by the paper for help.

The selected businesses will receive mentoring, support and an advertising budget, with one lucky company chosen from the hundreds of regional winners to receive individual mentoring sessions from the LBA national ambassador, Dragon’s Den favourite Deborah Meaden.

A shortlist will be drawn up in December, with three local winners chosen in January. Entries close on November 14.

Visit accelerateme.co.uk for more information on the scheme and how to enter.