We like a man in a suit. With the new series of The Apprentice starting tonight we thought we’d look over the boys’ CVs…
We’re just like Lord Sugar, we’ve got saying you’re wired, or hired, or something. We’ll be looking over the lads’ CVs to just they’re up for the job.
Brett Butler-Smythe
Occupation: Builder
Lives: Plymouth
Brett went straight to the Royal Navy after leaving school, where he worked as a marine engineer. He says starting his own property business from scratch is his biggest business achievement to date. He says his biggest strengths are being hard working, committed and trustworthy, and that he has no weaknesses. His attitude to business is ‘work hard, play hard, work harder’.
He says: “I pride myself on not having any negative or bad traits about myself, they’re all good, they’re all positive.”
Dan Callaghan
Occupation: Director, Fragrance Retailer
Lives: Manchester
Dan’s first job after university was working for an MEP at the European Parliament in Belgium, where he lived for a year. He describes himself as bright, optimistic and cheerful. He cites turning his fragrance company around after a difficult few years as the business achievement he is most proud of. He names Jeff Bezos of Amazon as one of his inspirations, because he feels the company has redefined the way consumers see online shopping.
He says: ‘’I’m just a generally all round quite entertaining person, I think. A lot of people laugh at me.’’
David Stevenson
Age: 25Occupation: Owner, Sports Marketing Company
Lives: Nottingham
David’s background is in sports marketing and his company specialises in increasing crowd attendances at sporting events. He says his greatest achievement so far was promoting a high profile football match between two women’s national teams at Wembley to sold-out capacity. He cites Elon Musk as his business inspiration because of the amount he achieved early on in his career.
He says: “Me and Lord Sugar will work together because you’ve got age and beauty and those two go hand in hand all the time. Sugar’s got the age and I certainly am beautiful.”
Gary Poulton
Age: 34
Occupation: Programme Manager
Lives: Birmingham
Gary spent seven years at a leading supermarket chain as a Programme Manager, developing new store sites. He describes himself as someone who likes to succeed in all he does, and his biggest achievement in business to date was delivering the largest property development programme in the history of the supermarket he worked at in 2010-11.
He says: “I look like the nice, easy going, laidback Brummie but once I start doing my business, people know I’m the real deal.”
Joseph Valente
Occupation: Owner, Plumbing Business
Lives: Peterborough
Joseph describes himself as successful, passionate and driven. He says he applied for the show because he feels it is his destiny to be Lord Sugar’s business partner. He currently runs his own plumbing company and feels having a business is like being a parent, as it needs undivided attention and nurturing, and that Hugh Hefner is one of his role models.
He says: “I am the definition of success, I’m a godfather of business and I’m here to make Lord Sugar a lot of money.
Mergim Butaja
Occupation: Sales Account Manager
Lives: Coventry
Kosovan-born Mergim fled from the war-torn country to the UK with his parents and siblings when he was seven years old. Since the age of 18, he has been supporting his family by working in a range of jobs from sales to waiting tables. He names CEO of leisure retail chain The Range, Chris Dawson, as his business inspiration because of their similar backgrounds. Mergim says his determined attitude is his biggest strength and hopes he will inspire people who have lived through similar circumstances to succeed
He says: ‘’Why am I a worthy business partner for Lord Sugar? I’d be a challenge to him. Everyone he’s metprobably sucks up to him. I won’t, I’ll tell him like it is.’’
Richard Woods
Occupation: Director, Digital Marketing Agency
Lives: London
Richard is a director of a digital marketing company. He describes himself as self-assured and ambitious, and says his only regret is not being a millionaire before turning 30. He says building up four profit-making companies is the business achievement he is most proud of to date and cites Richard Branson as one of his inspirations because of the business empire he has created.
He says: “I’m a Swiss army knife of bouncy skills, business skills, enthusiasm, I’ve got everything highly tuned and highly chiselled.”
Sam Curry
Occupation: Private Tutor
Lives: London
Sam has been working as a tutor since leaving university, he has a passion for the arts and has taken part in numerous films and stage productions. He cites the fact that he’s always worked for himself as his biggest business achievement to date, and describes himself as loyal, honest and adventurous. Richard Branson is one of his main business inspirations because he agrees with the Virgin founder that you don’t need to be ruthless or cruel in business to succeed.
He says: “I’m an interesting mix between happy go lucky and adventurous and then quite logical and sensible. It’s a strange combination.’’
Scott Saunders
Occupation: Senior Account Manager, Sales
Lives: Hertfordshire
Scott’s business background is in sales, and he describes himself as sharp, motivated and obsessed with
making his first million. He likes simple but effective brands such as confused.com and cites Richard Kiyosaki, founder of Rich Dad Company, as one of his business inspirations because he admires the way he does business.
He says: “People do say to me they’ve never met anyone like me.’’
