The Apprentice Starts On Thursday - Meet The New Contestants

The Apprentice is officially back on TV screens this week which means it's time to meet the contestants. We are so ready for all the drama!

Yes, Lord Alan Sugar is returning with judges Karren Brady and Tim Campbell by his side to scope out the best in the business world.

The Apprentice

Let's take a look at the 16 new ambitious entrepreneurs getting ready to battle it out for Lord Sugar's approval as well as a staggering £250,000 investment.

Aaron

Age: 38

Occupation: Flight Operations Instructor

Location: Chorley, Lancashire

Alex set out to start his own security business after serving in the RAF for 12 years as Flight Operations Instructor.

His previous jobs include working as a milkman, horseman and a butcher, and he believes his strongest point is that he can "sell to anybody."

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Akeem

Age: 29

Occupation: Strategy Manager for a Financial Firm

Location: London

Akeem is a people’s person who loves being around others, but is also a “numbers guy”, whose analytical ability often causes him to think carefully about his every move. Akeem says he has “got the ambition, the drive and the experience working with strategy” to stand him out from the crowd.

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Akshay

Age: 28

Occupation: Owner, Digital Marketing Agency

Location: London

Akshay is a man who believes sleep is a "waste of time" and claims his first word as a newborn was "profit."

He believes he’s been put on earth to do one thing, and that’s to make money, adding that his friends call him AK47 "because I’m a killer salesperson.”

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Alex

Age: 27

Occupation: Owner, Commercial Cleaning Company

Location: Hertford

Alex has big goals for his commercial cleaning business and is "not going to stop" until he gets where he wants to go.

Despite leaving school after the first year of sixth form and encountering a few hurdles along the way, he is now on the way to tripling his turnover.

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Amy

Age: 48

Occupation: Owner, Beauty Brand

Location: London

After previously working in sales, showbiz and jingles, Amy found her true passion in her beauty business.

She describes herself as determined, persistent and a “tough boss”.

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Brittany

Age: 25

Occupation: Hotel Front of House Manager

Location: Bristol

Brittany's motto for life is "always look on the bright side and be grateful for everything."

Brittany has a positive outlook on life and is looking for Lord Sugar’s help launching her business idea for the first alcoholic protein drink.

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Conor

Age: 28

Occupation: Sales Executive and Former Professional Rugby Player

Irish ex-rugby player Conor describes himself as a “corporate panther” in the boardroom. His business idea consists of a fleet of quirky food and beverage vendors targeted at music and sports events.

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Francesca

Age: 26

Occupation: Owner, Sustainability Company

Location: Surrey

Mathematics graduate Francesca is looking for investment in her next venture: providing a product carbon footprint service for businesses with a simple equation of her own creation.

Coming from a line of successful entrepreneurs, she is confident that she can get to the top, stating: “I’ve never lost anything, I always win.”

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Harry

Age: 35

Occupation: Regional Operations Manager

Location: West Midlands

Inspired by the kindness of his grandparents, Harry wants to help and support people. He hopes to work with Lord Sugar to develop his bath bomb business and become "the bad boys of the bath bomb world together."

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Harpreet

Age: 30

Occupation: Owner, Dessert Parlour

Location: West Yorkshire

Harpeet is here to “level up” her successful, six-figure coffee and cakes business to become a leading brand in the UK.

She says: "I’m definitely not in business to make friends, I’m here to make money, and I’m pretty sure Lord Sugar isn’t looking for a new mate."

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Kathryn

Age: 29

Occupation: Owner, Online Pyjama Store

Location: Swindon

Describing herself as ambitious, kind, and often “savage”, Kathryn says she’s here to win, not to make friends. She plans to grow her online pyjama business and is confident they will one day be "worn by everyone."

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Navid

Age: 27

Occupation: Pharmacist

Location: London

Pharmacist and Nicki Minaj superfan Navid describes himself as quirky and unique. He hopes to launch a successful pharmacy business with the help of Lord Sugar.

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Nick

Age: 31

Occupation: Finance Manager

Location: London

Nick is a qualified accountant who hopes to make a name for himself in the drinks industry with his own line of flavoured water. He describes himself as extremely experienced, a force to be reckoned with, and an "animal in the boardroom."

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Sophie

Age: 32

Occupation: Owner, Boutique Cocktail Bar

Location: Cheltenham

Sophie hopes to use Lord Sugar's investment to renovate her boutique cocktail bar. With her positive attitude and witch school qualifications under her belt, Sophie feels winning is “in her DNA” and that her ideas are truly “out of the ordinary.”

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Shama

Age: 41

Occupation: Owner, Children's Day Nursery

Location: Bradford

Shama is a mother of five who is passionate about taking care of children. She describes herself as loyal, determined and outspoken, and hopes to prove she has the skillset required to be "one of the best, successful businesswomen in the early years sector."

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Stephanie

Age: 28

Occupation: Owner, Online Children's Store

Location: Kent

Stephanie describes herself as confident, decisive and brutally honest. she's looking for funding to develop her designer childrenswear store.

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The Apprentice starts this Thursday, 6^th January at 9pm on BBC One. Watch live and on-demand on BBC iPlayer.