Big business

APPRENTICE winner Yasmina Siadatan may have just bagged a job with a six-figure salary, but for many of Britain’s businesspeople, the future is looking a lot less rosy.

Thanks to the tough economic climate, many previously successful companies are struggling to stay afloat – but fortunately a saviour could be at hand in the shape of Gerry Robinson.

In this new series Gerry’s Big Decision, the respected entrepreneur is inspecting firms on the brink of collapse, but he won’t just be dispensing words of advice.

If he believes a venture is worth saving, he’ll put his money where his mouth is and invest.

It seems the bosses competing for his backing should still expect a lot of straight-talking along with their cheque.

After all, Robinson is even honest enough to admit that his new programme does bear a passing resemblance to certain other business-based shows.

He says: ‘‘It’s somewhere between The Apprentice and Dragon’s Den and something else, everything’s a hybrid, really.

But the sums of money involved are greater in this.’’ In fact, it seems even he was surprised by just how high the stakes turned out to be.

Robinson says: “I think I approached this like you do most things – you think about it in a semi-casual way. But then two things happen. One is, you get hugely involved with the people concerned who, almost by definition, are in quite a lot of trouble, and so the desire to help is quite high.

“And secondly you have this horrible reality that you have to put money into it, and if you’re putting money into it, it has to be right. It’s quite an emotional rollercoaster, it really is, because you can see how desperate people can be. The series’ potency lies in that.”

In the first episode, he meets two couples who have built up award-winning breweries, but now stand to lose everything they’ve worked for, including their savings and, in one case, their home.

It’s up to Robinson to immerse himself in the business, talk to the staff and try to assess each company’s weaknesses and strengths, before deciding which – if either – of the firms he wants to invest in.

Although there may be a competitive element as the owners try to persuade him they are most deserving of his money, Robinson insists there are no losers.

He says: “In the end, the object is to try to benefit everyone taking part, so that the companies can go on to survive even if you don’t invest in them. But definitely it’s not about trying to say ‘A are all idiots, they lost, and B are terrific and they’ve won’. It’s not that at all.”

Instead, Robinson hopes that any companies that do not get his money will at least get the benefit of his wisdom. He said: “I think you can genuinely help people even if you don’t end up backing them financially. I honestly believe that.

“I think in most instances, somebody coming in from outside with a bit of experience, because they’ve no axe to grind, really can help. If you’re involved with something that you’ve been involved with all of your days and you’re frightened about it going under, sometimes you just can’t see the obvious.”

WITH the best will in the world, not every job could ever be considered great fun. That’s not the case for Ben Southall – a young man with the words “jammy so-and-so” written right through him.

He’s landed the job that dreams are made of – sandy beaches, sunshine, free luxury accommodation and a £70,000 salary for six months’ work as the caretaker for a beautiful Barrier Reef island.

It all started when the Queensland Tourist Board set up a marketing campaign in January amid a blaze of publicity.

The search for the right candidate began, with a competitive three-month selection process for the once-in-a-lifetime job.

There were 35,000 applicants from across the world, and this documentary follows the fortunes of four young British candidates who made it through to the final 50.

The programme witnesses the emotional highs and lows of the four young men and finds out how Ben landed the plum job.