Apprentice winner Steve praises rival

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Steve Raynor named Bill Cullen's apprentice

Steve Raynor has secured a €100,000 salary after 13 arduous weeks on the TV3 programme.

Speaking to the Evening Herald, he revealed that Stephen Higgins (25) was "incredibly supportive" to him in the house and still is.

He has even offered Steve, who currently lives in Cork, a place to stay before the new role with Bill begins.

Steve's fiance Eibhlin, mother of stepson Olan (8) and his daughter Doireann, 11 months, will make the move from Skibereen in January.

"Me and Steve were the best of friends in the house," Stephen Higgins explained.

"When the two of us were left there, neither of us wanted to be throwing punches in the boardroom."

During earlier boardroom interviews, Steve faced tough questioning from entrepreneur Gavin Duffy about his addiction problems. "My decision was made before I sent off the application," Steve told the Herald.

"It would have been naive to think that it wasn't all going to come out. I don't want my past to dictate my future. It's something I so wanted to do, I wasn't letting anything get in the way of it." Steve said that being honest with his fellow contestants helped him personally.

"It was quite liberating to be able to live with other people and be completely honest with them," he said.

"We have all made mistakes, if only I could turn back the clock. I don't want to be a role model, it's very much an individual thing." Bill Cullen said that he made his final decision to hire 'English' Steve for the corporate sales division based on his people skills.

"He's a people person and people buy cars off people they like and he's very likeable," Bill explained.

And he said he had absolutely no concerns over his previous addictions, after Steve admitted to successfully battling alcohol and gambling addictions.

"No at all. When you come through diversity, it makes you a stronger person and he's definitely stronger for it," Bill said.

Meanwhile, Stephen Higgins, who has three business offers to investigate in the New Year, said he has grown a lot from the show.

"I have learned that a bit of humility goes a long way," he said.

The two pals also keep in touch with Breffny Morgan (23) and Aoiffe Madden (23), two of the show's most controversial personalities. "I have made friends for life," Stephen said.