The Apprentice 2011: Meet the candidates

The Apprentice 2011: Meet the candidates

The sixteen finalists to make this year's show

With the new series of The Apprentice about to start (the first episode airs Tuesday 10 May on BBC One, with episode two following the very next day), this year's hopeful candidates have been revealed. From skin care entreprenuers to self proclaimed "inventors", Britain's brightest businessmen and women will battle it out in the boardroom over 12 tasks organized by Lord Alan Sugar and his savvy advisors, Nick Hewer and Karren Brady.

The series also has a rather intriguing twist as this year's successful candidate will no longer win a six figured salary job working in one of Lord Sugar’s businesses, but instead see their business idea found the basis of a partnership with Lord Sugar, with an investment to the value of £250,000.

We've profiled each of the 16 hopeful candidates below - click an image to read more. Think you can spot this year's answer to 'Stuart Baggs The Brand' or the eventual winner? Share your predictions in the comments section below.

The Apprentice 2011

Alex Britez Cabral - fired on task 2 Age:… More details
The Apprentice 2011

Alex Britez Cabral - fired on task 2

Age: 28

Occupation: Estate Agent Manager

Lives: London

Motorbike enthusiast Alex who lived in Paris as a child, describes himself as ‘ambitious, driven, and extremely focused’. Born and raised in London, Alex’s first job was making tea in a small estate agents before becoming a thriving agent himself. His greatest achievement is taking a business losing money and turning it around to a fast growing profitable business within twelve months.

He Says: “Fear is a great motivator. If you are successful, you are unpopular, so unpopularity is a good thing.”

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The Apprentice 2011

Edna Agbarha - fired on task 6 Age:… More details
The Apprentice 2011

Edna Agbarha - fired on task 6

Age: 36

Occupation: Business Psychologist

Lives: London

One of ten siblings, London born Edna rose from working life as a teenager on her uncle’s Covent Garden market stall to her first position as a Business Psychologist and coach. Edna holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology, two Masters degrees and enjoys cycling in her free time.

She says: “Weak people in business are a waste of space and a limp handshake is unforgiveable.”

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The Apprentice 2011

Edward Hunter - fired on task 1 Age:… More details
The Apprentice 2011

Edward Hunter - fired on task 1

Age: 25

Occupation: Accountant

Lives: Reading

Half-British and half-Afghan, Reading born and raised Edward’s first job was as a gardener at the age of 12. He successfully applied for a role in a global professional services firm headquartered in London straight after university and was hired as Senior Associate in the audit team before becoming an accountant at a FTSE 30 energy company. Trained at one of the world’s leading accountancy firms, Edward describes himself as a ‘man with strength of character and conviction who is honest and direct’.

He Says: “I’m the wheeler dealer who accidentally became a finance professional and wants out.”

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The Apprentice 2011

Ellie Reed - fired on task 5 Age: 33 Occupation:… More details
The Apprentice 2011

Ellie Reed - fired on task 5

Age: 33

Occupation: Managing Director – Construction Recruitment

Lives: Yorkshire

The Bradford born entrepreneur started her working life with a paper round and eventually went on to start a new business during a recession, playing a crucial role in helping the company become one of the most successful in its market. Golf lover Ellie describes herself as ‘positive, fun and driven’ and once chased a burglar out of her house at 17.

She says: “I don’t like lazy people... dole dossers that don’t want to work. I don’t like posh kids who have everything on a plate.”

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The Apprentice 2011

Felicity Jackson - fired on task 4 Age:… More details
The Apprentice 2011

Felicity Jackson - fired on task 4

Age: 23

Occupation: Entrepreneur Creative Arts

Lives: London

Felicity worked at a hairdressers as a teenager before going into children’s entertainment and eventually setting up her own company specialising in career development for actors. An avid fan of soaps and a trained actress, Felicity compares herself to Kanya King and is inspired by the T-Mobile brand.

She says: “Lord Sugar will probably find it difficult to ever say anything negative to me because I always turn it round to a positive.”

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The Apprentice 2011

Gavin Winstanley - fired on task 3 Age:… More details
The Apprentice 2011

Gavin Winstanley - fired on task 3

Age: 27

Occupation: Managing Director - Opticians

Lives: Liverpool

Gavin’s first foray into working life was as a salesman at a high street clothing store and was made a manager at the age of 16. A passionate football fan, Gavin started up his own online opticians, which now has two high-street stores, after noticing the profit margins on glasses when working in a London department store.

He Says: “I want to be a big name in UK business.....I’m everything. I’m all mouth. I’m a doer. I’m a leader.”

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The Apprentice 2011

Glenn Ward - fired on task 7 Age: 28 Occupation:… More details
The Apprentice 2011

Glenn Ward - fired on task 7

Age: 28

Occupation: Senior Design Engineer

Lives: Hertfordshire

Glenn Ward took apart and rebuilt an entire computer aged 8 and his entrepreneurial streak ensued when he began washing cars in his local area at age 14. An amateur footballer, Glenn cites Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg as his inspiration and describes himself as ‘an intelligent man with a dry sense of humour’ who can ‘read between the lines’.

He Says: “Aggression isn’t the best form of strength…I bring a marriage of technical thinking with a bit of salesman bravado.”

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The Apprentice 2011

Helen Louise Milligan - runner-up Age:… More details
The Apprentice 2011

Helen Louise Milligan - runner-up

Age: 30

Occupation: Executive Assistant to CEO

Lives: Northumberland

Stockport born Helen describes herself as ‘calm, loyal and tenacious’ and enjoys reading in her free time. A keen swimmer, she studied Law at University and climbed the ranks from part time work as a waitress to managing a restaurant before landing her role as Executive Assistant to the CEO of Greggs bakery.

She says: “I see my job as my complete life. I work 24/7. There isn’t a cut off.”

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The Apprentice 2011

Jim Eastwood - fired in the final Age:… More details
The Apprentice 2011

Jim Eastwood - fired in the final

Age: 32

Occupation: Sales & Marketing Manager

Lives: Northern Ireland

Jim started work in his father’s fish & chip shop chipping potatoes from the age of nine and went on to maintain top sales performances as a Sales and Marketing Manager. Jim, who was All Ireland cycling champion as a teenager, champions Richard Branson and describes himself as ‘driven, self-motivated, resilient and an eternal optimist.’

He Says: “I’m not a show pony or a one-trick pony, I’m not a jack-ass or a stubborn mule, and I’m definitely not a wild stallion that needs to be tamed. I am the champion thoroughbred that this process requires.”

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The Apprentice 2011

Leon Doyle - fired on task 8 Age: 26 Occupation:… More details
The Apprentice 2011

Leon Doyle - fired on task 8

Age: 26

Occupation: Fast Food Marketing Entrepreneur

Lives: Leeds

Harrogate born Leon, a former paper boy and lorry driver, describes himself as ‘charming, genuine and honest’. Leon, who survived a near fatal fall from a tree at the age of 12 once completed the Great North Run for charity. A Director and Founder of an online takeaway ordering site and publishing business, Leon notes Richard Branson and Apple as inspirational.

He Says: “I don’t like your gimmicky salesman who thinks he can sell ice to an Eskimo. Chances are he probably can’t, and why would an Eskimo buy ice”.

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The Apprentice 2011

Melody Hossaini - fired on task 10 Age:… More details
The Apprentice 2011

Melody Hossaini - fired on task 10

Age: 26

Occupation: Founder & Director – Global Youth Consultancy Business

Lives: Midlands

Born in Iran, Melody lived in four different countries before settling in the UK. Melody who speaks five languages, set up a renowned UK youth organisation at the age of 13 and has won the ‘Woman of the Future’ award for her voluntary work. Global Youth Sector Entrepreneur Melody has previously worked with 12 Nobel peace prize winners including Desmond Tutu, Dalai Lama, Sherin Ebadi and was trained on climate change by Al Gore.

She says: “Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there are footprints on the moon.”

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The Apprentice 2011

Natasha Scribbins - fired on task 11 Age:… More details
The Apprentice 2011

Natasha Scribbins - fired on task 11

Age: 31

Occupation: Divisional Manager – Recruitment

Lives: London

German born Natasha achieved only four GCSEs but went on to graduate from University with a Bachelors Degree in International Hospitality Management. Happy to get her hands dirty Natasha worked cleaning the bakeries of a major retail chain at the age of 15 before venturing into business. An avid fitness fanatic, Natasha is inspired by the Nike brand for their representation of women in sport.

She says: "I’m like a really fine tuned switch. If I need to turn it down then I turn it down. If I need to turn it up then I turn it up.”

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The Apprentice 2011

Susan Ma - fired in the final Age: 21 Occupation:… More details
The Apprentice 2011

Susan Ma - fired in the final

Age: 21

Occupation: Natural Skincare Entrepreneur

Lives: Croydon

Born in Shanghai, adrenaline junkie Susan moved to Australia at the age of six before eventually settling in London aged 13. With her mum having no grasp of English, Susan succeeded in getting herself into a school despite her young age and went on to study Philosophy and Economics at University. She describes herself as ‘ambitious, optimistic and easy going’. Her first ever job was working on a market stall selling skin care products which she has now turned into a lucrative business.

She says: “I’m short, sweet and smiley but when I do business I mean business.”

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The Apprentice 2011

Tom Pellereau - hired! Age: 31 Occupation:… More details
The Apprentice 2011

Tom Pellereau - hired!

Age: 31

Occupation: Inventor

Lives: London

London born Tom’s first job was working on a farm sorting agricultural bulbs from mud. A keen inventor and sports enthusiast, Tom succeeded in taking a prototype made in his kitchen to the shelves of two leading pharmacy outlets in the UK. He describes himself as ‘creative, adventurous, loyal and enthusiastic’, and cites Thomas Edison as an icon.

He Says: “For me The Apprentice is a bit like the Olympics or the World Cup for entrepreneurs… I want to challenge myself, find out if I am ready to step up to this level.”

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The Apprentice 2011

Vincent Disneur - fired on task 5 Age:… More details
The Apprentice 2011

Vincent Disneur - fired on task 5

Age: 29

Occupation: Sales Manager – Telecoms Software

Lives: Canterbury

Half-Belgian and half-Swiss, Glasgow-born Vincent is a film buff and frequent traveler with a penchant for theatre. The self confessed perfectionist who was a Liverpool mascot as a child, names Bill Gates and Richard Branson as role models and would love to have been the brains behind Microsoft.

He Says: “My positive approach and very good looks make me stand out from the crowd.”

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The Apprentice 2011

Zoe Beresford - fired on task 9 Age:… More details
The Apprentice 2011

Zoe Beresford - fired on task 9

Age: 26

Occupation: Project Manager – Drinks Manufacturer

Lives: Cheshire

Born in Stoke on Trent, Zoe joined her family firm straight from university and played an integral role in the company’s development working in sales and marketing. Zoe, who bought a house with her sister at the age of just 12, describes her attitude as not ‘why’ but ‘why not’. Zoe was awarded the ‘Rolls-Royce Manufacturing Technology Prize’ for the highest dissertation mark in the school of engineering.

She says: “I will do whatever it takes to win.”

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The Apprentice 2011

Karren Brady Karren returns as one of Lord… More details
The Apprentice 2011

Karren Brady

Karren returns as one of Lord Sugar's advisors for a second series.

Karren began her career at LBC when she was 18 years old and swiftly moved onto Saatchi & Saatchi as junior Account Handler. She joined Sports Newspapers Ltd in 1988 and became Director within a year.

Karren is now known as the first woman of football. She was Managing Director of Birmingham City Football Club from 1993 to 2009 and during that time turned the Club’s fortunes around. She took over Birmingham City FC when it was in administration, and in her first year at the helm, the Club recorded a financial trading profit. In January 2010, Karren was appointed Vice Chairman of West Ham United FC.

Now, following appearances as one of Lord Sugar’s interrogators, Karren has replaced Margaret Mountford as Lord Sugar’s right-hand woman.

Read our interview with Karren here
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The Apprentice 2011

Nick Hewer Quick-tongued Nick returns for his… More details
The Apprentice 2011

Nick Hewer

Quick-tongued Nick returns for his usual role as Lord Sugar's right-hand man.

Former PR impresario Nick Hewer started off in public relations in the mid 1960s. Heading up his own PR company until its sale in 1997, Nick built an impressive corporate client list which, over more than 30 years, included many British and international companies and organisations, including the Secretariat of His Highness the Aga Khan, based in Chantilly, France and the wife of the ruler of Dubai, the late H H Sheikh Maktoum.

Nick first came across Lord Sugar when his PR company was chosen to represent Amstrad in 1983. Soon taking care of his profile across all business and personal dealings, Nick became a trusted ally and firm friend to the tycoon, playing an integral part in the management structure at Amstrad.

"You were all over it like a tramp on chips" - read this and more of Nick's best bits from previous series of The Apprentice here
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The Apprentice 2011

Lord Alan Sugar After leaving school in Hackney… More details
The Apprentice 2011

Lord Alan Sugar

After leaving school in Hackney aged 16, Sugar started selling car aerials and electric goods out of a van he bought for £50. In 1968, he founded Amstrad, and now, over 40 years later, he has an estimated worth of £730 million, and was ranked 85th in the 2010 Sunday Times Rich List.

In 2000, Sugar was knighted for his services to business and he holds two honorary Doctorates of Science degrees, awarded by City University and Brunel University respectively.

Lord Sugar is a philanthropist who donates to a number of charities including Great Ormond Street Hospital and Jewish Care.

Stylist meets Lord Sugar - read our interview here
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The Apprentice 2011

Watch the return of The Apprentice on Tuesday, 10… More details
The Apprentice 2011

Watch the return of The Apprentice on Tuesday, 10 and Wednesday 11 May at 9pm on BBC One.

The Apprentice will air on BBC One, BBC HD, the BBC’s high definition channel and BBC One HD and will be repeated on BBC Three.

Picture credits: BBC/Talkback Thames
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