The Apprentice UK is Back! Meet the Candidates

The Apprentice UK is Back! Meet the Candidates The Apprentice UK is Back! Meet the Candidates Image Source: BBC Apprentice UKTHE  Apprentice UK returns for its 12th series this  Thursday October 6th on BBC One, with 18 brand new candidates having come forward to do battle for the ultimate prize of Lord Sugar’s   £250k investment in their business plan.Over the next 12 weeks, we will watch as the 18 candidates go head to head with one another in a series of tasks, and face boardroom reviews from Lord Sugar and  his advisers Baroness Karren Brady and Claude Littner. At the end of every week, one candidate will be  fired until, at the end of week 12, the winner emerges.Fans of the show will know that the contestants are in for a tough challenge, so prior to the first firing, we bring you mini-profiles of each of the candidates.The Apprentice UK  airs on BBC One this Thursday, October 6, 2016, at 9pm. The first task for the new candidates is to sell collectables at a car boot sale. And dont forget to tune in to BBC Two afterwards at 10pm for The Apprentice: You’re Fired, host ed by comedian Rhod Gilbert,  for analysis and to meet the first candidate to be fired.  Both The Apprentice UK  and The Apprentice: You’re Fired shows will be available on iPlayer shortly after broadcast. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Alana Spencer, 24Occupation: Owner,  Narna’s CakesLives: Ceredigion, WalesImage Source: BBC THE Apprentice UKALANA started her first business, a chocolate company, at age 17, before moving on to selling cakes. She now owns the baking company, Narnas Cakes, and has been likened to famous foodie, Nigella Lawson. She pitches herself as a versatile businesswoman, determined not to shy away from any task Lord Sugar sets for her. Alana  says: “I am incredibly hard working, driven, and Ill stop at nothing to get what I want.”Aleksandra King, 38Occupation: Owner, Business ConsultancyLives: London, EnglandIMAGE SOURCE: BBC THE APPRENTICE UKALEKSANDRA King, 38, is the owner of a business consultancy firm in London. She says she is  altruistic, and is confident in her ability to sell to anyone. Her inspiration is her mother. Fluent in seven languages, she says one of her strengths is that she understands people. Aleksandra  says: “Like the Tasmanian devil in the famous cartoon, I will torpedo my way through to the win.” (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Courtney Wood, 29Occupation: Owner, Bubblegum StuffLives: EssexIMAGE SOURCE: BBC THE APPRENTICE UKCOURTNEY Wood is the owner of Bubblegum Stuff, a company that designs and makes  novelty gifts for supply to global retailers. Courtney sees  himself as a fun person with a positive attitude. He believes  his confidence is one of his key assets. Courtney claims he will not sit back, and plans to assert his authority in the process. Asked howe he would describe himself in one sentence, Courtney responds: “Ill give you one word: awesome.”Dillon St. Paul, 37Occupation: Art Director, Harmonia PublishingLives: Dublin, IrelandIMAGE SOURCE: BBC   THE APPRENTICE UKDILLON St. Paul  has worked  as an art director at fashion magazine, Irish Tatler, and works as a design consultant for Harmonia Publishing. Dillon sees  himself as talented, kind and very funny, but  intends to be ‘Machiavellian’ about tasks. He says he has no qualms about  telling white lies if necessary. Dillon is one of two Irish candidates in this year’s lineup. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Frances Bishop, 25Occupation: Owner, The Pud  StoreLives: DoncasterIMAGE SOURCE: BBC  THE APPRENTICE UKFRANCES  Bishop is the owner of her own  children’s clothing business,  The  Pud  Store. Frances is talkative with a feisty personality that she believes is one of the main things that has helped  her get so far in the business world. She says: “I’m a pocket rocket. I’m quite fiery and live by the rule ‘kill them with kindness’.”Grainne McCoy, 31Occupation: Owner, Grainne McCoy MakeupLives: Northern IrelandIMAGE SOURCE: BBC  THE AP PRENTICE UKGRAINNE McCoy is the owner of her own makeup business, Grainne McCoy Makeup, and she works on a diversity of projects, from film sets to fashion shows. Grainne  says she has a massive will to  succeed and puts everything into what she does. She is a confident and strong-willed businesswoman, and believes that her strong-mindedness  will see her through even the toughest tasks. Grainne  says: “I need guidance and a little bit of mentoring to help me make that first million.” (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); JD O’Brien,  37Occupation: Owner, Munkle BeachwearLives: LondonIMAGE SOURCE: BBC  THE APPRENTICE UKJD OBRIEN is the founder of a men’s beachwear company, Munkle. He believes he can maintain the good guy look whilst still making the best of any situation. JD  says he will work hard  and has a goal of  making no mistakes throughout his journey. He says that he will get annoyed with candidates who “don’t know their arse from their elbow”.Je ssica Cunningham, 29Occupation:  Owner, Prodigal FoxLives: DerbyshireIMAGE SOURCE: BBC  THE APPRENTICE UKJESSICA Cunningham is owner of an online fashion company, Prodigal Fox. Jessica  believes that her positive outlook and attitude  will help  her through the set tasks. Jessica  wants to try and get close to the other candidates to figure out how they operate, suss out  their strengths and weaknesses, and attempt to use them to her advantage. Jessicas motto is “there is no competition if youre already winning”. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Karthik Nagesan, 33Occupation: Owner, IT ConsultancyLives: NorthamptonshireIMAGE SOURCE: BBC  THE APPRENTICE UKKARTHIK Nagesan is the owner an IT consulting company in Northamptonshire. He claims his friends would describe him as a born leader who takes charge and blazes a trail. Karthik  believes he is firm yet polite, making him a  â€˜human magnet’. Karthik says he is different from the rest, adding that if he want ed to be the same, he would have waxed his  monobrow.Michelle Niziol, 35Occupation: Owner,  IMS GroupLives: OxfordshireIMAGE SOURCE: BBC  THE APPRENTICE UKMICHELLE  Niziol is the founder of the IMS Group, a property consultancy agency.  Michelle believes her best traits are her  straight-talking passionate honesty, but does admit that she can sometimes come across as bossy and impatient. Michelle thinks that letting other candidates take the lead could be tricky  for her. Michelle claims that she is  â€œ100 per cent, a workaholic”. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Mukai Noiri, 36Occupation:  Senior Manager,  PMILives: LondonIMAGE SOURCE: BBC  THE APPRENTICE UKMUKAI Noiri is a  Senior Manager of 1-2-1 Consumer Engagement and Database Marketing at PMI. Mukai has lived in over six countries across three continents and believes his charm and charisma are his strongest qualities. Mukai believes that  he is a straight talker but  some people might see  him as being in sensitive because of it. Mukai  feels sorry for Lord Sugar because “previous applicants have been weak”.Natalie Hughes, 30Occupation: Owner,  VIP Dolcie BoutiqueLives: GlasgowIMAGE SOURCE: BBC  THE APPRENTICE UKNATALIE Hughes is the owner  of VIP Dolcie Boutique in Glasgow. Natalie believes that  her best traits are her quick-thinking persuasiveness, and claims that nothing embarrasses her. Natalie  believes she has an  ability to buy and sell anything  and has a massive motivation to win. Natatlie claims to have “the hustler’s ambition”. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Oliver Nohl-Oser, 33Occupation: Owner, The Cumbrian Sausage Ltd, Managing Director, James Alexander Fine Foods LtdLives: WiltshireIMAGE SOURCE: BBC  THE APPRENTICE UKOLIVER Nohl-Oser is the founder of Cumbrian Sausage Ltd and director of James Alexander Fine Foods Ltd. Olivers  marketing ability and his powers of persuasion are what he pitches as his best abilities. Oliver also  regards honesty as the best policy. He says he won’t have much time to  befriend the other candidates as he will be focusing  solely on the prize. Oliver  says: “Sometimes I feel like James Bond when I’m in my suit.”Paul Sullivan,  38Occupation:  CEO and Head of Marketing,  DMA UKLives: Chigwell, EssexIMAGE SOURCE: BBC  THE APPRENTICE UKPAUL Sullivan is the CEO and Head  of Marketing, at DMA UK. Paul  claims to be a charmer but doesn’t think he needs a unique selling point to winâ€"he believes consistency and sincerity will put him ahead. Paul  says  that he will  play with the  team when he  needs to, but is there to win, emphasising that he is “not here to make up the numbers”. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Rebecca Jeffery, 31Occupation:  C0-Owner,  Fi BecsLives: Greater ManchesterIMAGE SOURCE: BBC  THE APPRENTICE UKREBECCA Jeffery is a co-owner of marketing and design business, Fi Becs. She says she is  relentless with an infectious enthusiasm, but a dmits that numbers and figures  are not her strong point. Rebecca  says: “People often foolishly mistake my enthusiasm for silliness or positivity for naivety. I’m proof that you can get things done without whinging.”Samuel Boateng, 27Occupation: Sales Manager, Major Car BrandLives: LondonIMAGE SOURCE: BBC  THE APPRENTICE UKSAMUEL Boateng is in charge of  managing and creating  new business for more than 700 businesses across London. He regards innovation and development of new ideas as his strength. He claims to have  excellent public speaking abilities and admits he wants to use his charm, but doesn’t want to seem an easy target. Samuel says all his skills and traits rolled into one  creates one perfect guy”. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Sofiane Khelfa, 32Occupation: Senior Sales Executive,  HarrodsLives: EssexIMAGE SOURCE: BBC  THE APPRENTICE UKSOFIANE Khelfa works as a Senior Sales Executive in the leading UK retail store Harrods. He says his key skill is the ability to adapt, deliver and hold long-term relationships in business.. He believes eventually that  his skills and personality will shine through. Sofiane  says: “The best survivors in the world are the people who adapt, and I’m the best at adapting. I’m like a chameleon. I adapt to anything, anywhere, anytime.”Trishna Thakrar, 28Occupation: Recruitment Agent, IBMLives: LondonIMAGE SOURCE: BBC  THE APPRENTICE UKTRISHNA Thakrar works as a recruitment agent for IBM. A former semi-professional footballer, she says says her friends would describe her as engaging and funny. She claims  her best business trait  is her charm, but thinks  her sensitivity could be a problem  as, if you cross her, she will not hold back. Trishna  says: “My only tactic is to be myself; this alone will make sure I win.”