|PIC1|Young people will attend projects based in the London boroughs of Lambeth, Haringey, Harrow and Waltham Forest organised by the HeBe Foundation, and will work together on a number of BBC Apprentice inspired challenges.

Instead of selling Lamborghinis and marketing over priced chocolate, the 24 young challengers will be given tasks to help their communities – such as organising parties for pensioners, putting on festivals for families and making a range of products.

This unique initiative highlights that the BBC’s successful Apprentice show didn’t just provide inspiration and motivation for ambitious individuals looking for the ultimate career break.

The HeBe Foundation, a voluntary organisation that runs youth based initiatives throughout London is using lessons gleaned from watching The Apprentice to encourage young people to dig deep into their ‘inner entrepreneur’ via their Junior Apprentice youth scheme.

Supported and guided by teams of youth workers and volunteers from the Hebe Foundation and 02, youngsters aged between 12-21 years will participate in one of the four Junior Apprentice projects that will take place a cross London this summer. In the process they will develop entrepreneurial skills and learn how to work in a team as they compete in tasks over a two week period.

Winners for each of the tasks will receive a variety of prizes, including laptops, driving lessons, cash and IPods.

The ultimate winner of each area will then compete for the title of London wide Junior Apprentice. The young person who wins the title of Junior Apprentice will get a job as a London Youth Adviser to a number of established charities that work with young people including the London Baptist Association.

Amie Buhari, a co-director of The HeBe Foundation said, “The Apprentice show has inspired lots of young people to be interested in entrepreneurship. As a result, The HeBe Foundation thought it would be exciting to run a scheme where young people could learn entrepreneurial skills by working in teams and develop new skills. The first Junior Apprentice project was held last year. Twenty four young people took part and they had great fun and learnt a lot.”

She continued, “This year’s Junior Apprentice scheme has been made bigger and better and will now be held in four London boroughs. Now even more young people will benefit from participating in a project where they can learn new things through self discovery, develop self confidence and embark on tasks that help bring out their ‘inner entrepreneur’ as well as have great fun in the process.”

O2’s Bob Hughes, who is leading the task force of volunteers supporting the challenges explain; “Amie and her team from the HeBe Foundation do brilliant work to inspire young minds. We are delighted that we have been able to help London’s Junior Apprentices 2009. And hopefully we might find our next star employee too.”