Claire Young

Claire, 31, was runner-up in Series Four, in 2008 and has since launched three business ventures: Elegant Venues, a wedding venue business, Girls Out Loud, a social enterprise for girls aged 13-18, and School Speakers, arranging vocational talks at schools.

1. Develop a good business plan and do your research. Your business is your baby and you don’t want people to call your baby ugly! You might think you have an amazing idea, but when you talk to people about it in focus groups, they might offer you great insights to whether it will actually work.

2. Understand your numbers. If you are not good at it, then learn. A lot of people have amazing business ideas, but they have no idea how to get started, how to make money or what a PNL is.

3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. I constantly ask people for help, I have no shame. What the worst thing they can do - say no?

4. Promote yourself and network. Business is all about relationships. The best £50 you can send is to get a business card printed. Use anything from Twitter to Facebook to get your name out there. Even if you hate networking, you’ll have to get on with it. The backbone of any business is sales – if you’re not selling, you don’t have a business - and people only buy from people.

Who needs Alan Sugar?