Former BBC Apprentice contestant, Michelle Niziol, reflects on career beyond the boardroom as Series 20 launches

As Lord Sugur returns to the boardroom for The Apprentice 20th series, starting on Thursday 29th January, former Oxfordshire candidate Michelle Niziol is reflecting on the programme as one of many important moments in her career, and an early lesson in resilience, as Michelle was fired early in week 1.

“The Apprentice turned out to be one of those experiences that made me even more determined, as I chose to use the setback as fuel,” said Michelle.

Over the past 20 series, The Apprentice has featured hundreds of candidates from across the UK, many of whom have gone on to build careers in business, media and entrepreneurship. The programme has become a regular fixture on the BBC schedule, generating national conversation around business ideas and leadership styles. As the series reaches its 20th run, Lord Sugar will have Baroness Brady and Tim Campbell MBE by his side, as the series remains one of the BBC’s longest-running business reality programmes.

Michelle appeared in Series 12 of the BBC show and was already established in the property sector at the time. Her business activity continued before, during and after filming, and she recalls going straight back to work the day after filming ended.

“There was no pause button,” she said. “I had clients and staff waiting for me and key decisions to make.”

Since then, Michelle has continued to build and lead multiple property and wealth businesses under the IMS Property Group. Over more than 20 years in the sector, she has grown a multi-million-pound property portfolio and built a group of businesses spanning property, finance and wealth strategy. She is now a regular national commentator on entrepreneurship, property, affordability and financial security.

Michelle took on responsibility at a young age, leaving A-levels early to support her family and going on to achieve home ownership by the age of 18. She says the experience shaped her practical, long-term approach to money and financial decision-making.

“When you’ve lived with uncertainty early on, you think differently about money,” she said. “You focus on financial stability and long-term wealth.”

Michelle is now an active advocate for entrepreneurship, speaking out on the pressures facing business owners, including affordability, childcare costs and financial security. Through her Childcare Counts campaign, she has called for childcare to be recognised as a legitimate business cost for the self-employed.

As The Apprentice marks its 20th anniversary, Michelle believes the series still holds relevance and says she is looking forward to watching it, while noting that its greatest value often lies beyond the boardroom.

“So much of the focus is on who wins,” she said. “But most careers are shaped by the moments that don’t go to plan. For many people, it’s not about getting the winner’s trophy — it’s about what you learn when it ends.”

“The cameras move on very quickly,” she added. “Real life doesn’t. You still have to show up, do the work and make decisions every day. That’s where careers are actually built.”

Today, Michelle continues to lead her portfolio of property and wealth businesses and is regularly sought out for her experience advising other founders and business owners on sustainable growth and financial security.

The Apprentice returns to BBC One from Thursday 29th January, and for the first time ever, the boardroom will take place in Hong Kong for episode one.