Alan's boy wonders...old

AN ex professional footballer and an award-winning dancer are among this year's lads battling it out to be Sir Alan's new apprentice.

Ben Clarke

Age: 22

Career: Trainee Stock Broker

Qualifications: BA (Hons) Economics and Business

Lives: Belfast

Clarke is a rebellious stockbroker who considers himself to be ruthless and money obsessed. The former Gavin Henson lookalike is inspired by the Playboy brand.

He says: "Me making money is better than sex."

Howard Ebison

Age: 24

Career: Retail Business Manager

Qualifications: CIMA Parts Qualified Accountant - BSc (Hons) Maths and Business Studies

Lives: Derby

The award-winning dancer is an area manager to 10 pubs and believes that people enjoy working for him. He hopes one day to set up his own consultancy.

He says: "I am a credible businessman who wants to go far. I'm incredibly ambitious. If I don't go far down this route I shall go far down another route."

James McQuillan

Age: 32

Career: Senior Commercial Manager

Qualifications: MA Hons in Economics

Lives: Surrey

The football referee, sports fanatic and former child chess champion describes himself as a "smoother". He has worked as a labourer, trolley collector and nightclub doorman.

He says: "I'm astute and shrew and smart... maybe blunt at tim es."

Majid Nagra

Age: 28

Career: Business Development Manager

Qualifications: BSC Computer Science

Lives: Coventry

Nagra was expelled from school but has changed his life and works with beauty centres and charities while running his own car hire business.

He says: "I think that business is the backbone to this world, without companies buying and selling there wouldn't be any economy."

Noorul Choudhury

Age: 33

Career: Science Teacher

Qualifications: GTTP, CIM

Lives: Rochdale

The fashion-obsessed teacher aims to start up a men's tailoring business and believes that Argos should be banned from selling jewellery.

He says: "I have always been ambitious and driven and I've got the capabilities to deliver. I am not all talk... I can manage a team of people, total strangers, because I am feisty and have an attitude."

Phillip Taylor

Age: 29

Career: Estate Agent

Qualifications: NEBS Certificate in Management

Lives: County Durham

Taylor believes that you should make friends but make money while doing it.

He says: "Business is the new rock and roll and I'm Elvis Presley."

Rocky Andrews

Age: 21

Career: Sandwich Chain Owner

Qualifications: N/A

Lives: North Yorkshire

Andrews is this year's youngest candidate and already earns more than the salary on offer from Sir Alan.

He left school at 16 to pursue a career in football with Middlesbrough United but was diagnosed with arthritis making it impossible to continue. He started up a sandwich business aged 17 which now includes 15 shops across the north-east of England.

He says: "For me, business is about hard work, attention to detail, being willing to make mistakes and learning from these mistakes."

Your comments

This article has 2 comments

I always want to do some thing that could bring a other which anybody will tell about it for right. As I'm a right person I hope to do right thing successfully and so great... These guys got that I think and I see myself beetween then. Sorry for my poor english!!!

By Mouhamad.. Posted May 7 2009 at 5:51 PM.

saw apprentice yesterday.

these guys all have no business sense. And are really not capable of the job in hand. How hard was it to see, cleaning to make money........... and they couldnt even was cars and none of them seemed at all bright!!!!!

By harry.. Posted March 26 2009 at 11:30 AM.

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