The Apprentice 2014: Everything You Need to Know About the Candidates

The tenth series of BBC1's The Apprentice is returning to our screens next week, where formidable boss, Alan Sugar, (Lord Sugar), is once again offering one lucky candidate the chance of becoming his business partner, along with a £250,000 investment.

There will be tears, tantrums and best of all, the trauma of backstabbing, as 20 candidates go head-to-head via a series of challenges that will test their business acumen.

IBTimes UK gets to know this year's candidates.

Bianca Miller

Age: 25

Occupation: Personal Branding Company Owner

Interesting Fact: She launched her own business aged just 23 and she lives by the motto 'it's nice to be important, but it's important to be nice'.

Quote: "I regret not becoming a scientist so I could clone myself and be more successful in half the time."

Chiles Cartwright

Age: 35

Occupation: Company Director

Interesting Fact: He has a passion for martial arts and holds a black belt in karate.

Quote: "I am always the life and soul of the party and within my own family, I am considered the golden boy."

Daniel Lassman

Age: 27

Occupation: Pub Quiz Company Director

Interesting Fact: His first job was playing professional football for Hornchurch FC.

Quote: "I've sold bags of material to people that can't sew – work that one out."

Ella Jade Bitton

Age: 23

Occupation: Business Management Graduate

Interesting Fact: At just 16-years-old, she negotiated a concessions stand in Harrods for her family's interior design company.

Quote: "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

Felipe Alviar-Banquera

Age: 34

Occupation: Lawyer

Interesting Fact: His biggest business achievement was designing and launching a children's play area.

Quote: "I was one of the top 100 Columbians elected by the Columbian government. It was an honour because I was with people like Shakira."

James Hill

Age: 26

Occupation: Multiple Business Owner

Interesting Fact: He honed his entrepreneurial skills early by selling chocolate bars to his classmates when he was just 13-years-old.

Quote: "Del Boy's my nickname, always chancing, I'm a bit of an opportunist."

Jemma Bird

Age: 26

Occupation: Operations Manager

Interesting Fact: She is a trained dancer and dance teacher, and founded an entertainment cabaret agency.

Quote: "I need chances to prove myself and get recognition. I need praise and I get frustrated if I'm not receiving any."

Katie Bulmer-Cooke

Age: 28

Occupation: Fitness Entrepreneur

Interesting Fact: She has worked as a health and fitness expert for Argos and currently creates her own workout DVDs.

Quote: "In business I'm like a little stealth bomber that flies under the radar and smashes the competition before they've even realised I'm there."

Lauren Riley

Age: 29

Occupation: Solicitor

Interesting Fact: She regrets going out to work, straight from university, and not travelling around South East Asia.

Quote: "I'm a glamourous solicitor, they're in scarce supply."

Lindsay Booth

Age: 30

Occupation: Swimming Academy Owner

Interesting Fact: Her passion is teaching children how to swim because it is a skill that will one day save their lives.

Quote: "The other candidates will realise how feisty I am and how I will fight and prove that I can get to the end."

Mark Wright

Age: 24

Occupation: Digital Marketing Sales Manager

Interesting Fact: he is inspired in business by John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie and J.P. Morgan as they are all built their own empires from scratch.

Quote: "I think the world is full of way too many wafflers. I talk the talk, I walk the walk, and I dance the dance."

Nurun Ahmed

Age: 37

Occupation: Marketing Officer and Fashion Retailer

Interesting Fact: She set up three small businesses in 18 months and runs them alongside her full-time job as a marketing officer.

Quote: "I am the Asian spice that completes sugar and spice. We are the perfect business duo."

Pamela Uddin

Age: 23

Occupation: Assistant Brand Manager

Interesting Fact: She graduated from university with a first class honours and received a scholarship to complete her International Business masters.

Quote: "I know I'm different...And I know why I'm different. And that's because I know myself inside out and upside down."

Robert Goodwin

Age: 25

Occupation: Marketing Manager

Interesting Fact: His first job was as a tennis coach at the age of 15.

Quote: "I'm fearless, and if I don't shut up about something, you should just trust it's a well thought out decision."

Roisin Hogan

Age: 32

Occupation: Accountant

Interesting Fact: She always listens to her instincts, and as a result, she enjoys playing poker in her spare time.

Quote: "Munipulate, persuade and conquer. I would identify my opponents' weaknesses and pick them off one by one."

Sanjay Sood-Smith

Age: 27

Occupation: Senior Manager in Banking

Interesting Fact: While working as a bank manager when he was just 23, he increased his branch's national ranking from in the 900's to 30th spot, within six months.

Quote: "Out of every ten people I walk past on the street, I think I'm better looking than nine of them."

Sarah Dales

Age: 32

Occupation: Former PA and Hypnotherapist

Interesting Fact: Her proudest business achievement is setting up her hypnotherapy business on Harley Street.

Quote: "I like going to high-end places. I go to private members clubs...places which are affluent, and the people who go there tend to be the same."

Scott McCulloch

Age: 25

Occupation: Clinical Development Strategist

Interesting Fact: He once earned favour with colleagues, by openly criticizing a boss of his for micro-managing.

Quote: "I believe I am right about everything. If I don't know something, I'll know it by tomorrow, therefore I do know everything about everything."

Solomon Akhtar

Age: 23

Occupation: Technology Entrepreneur

Interesting Fact: He wishes he spent less of his money at university on having a good time, and invested more of it into his business.

Quote: "I think that sometimes my overenthusiasm can annoy people."

Steven Ugoalah

Age: 29

Occupation: Social Worker

Interesting Fact: Before coming to London, he spent a year travelling the Arctic doing community development social work with remote Inuit communities.

Quote: "I can deliver in minus 50; I can deliver in plus 10. If we went to Mars right now, I'd find a way to be excellent."

For a special treat, here is a clip of Steven Ugoalah's audition.

Source: BBC