The Apprentice: meet the candidates

The twelfth series of The Apprentice launches on Thursday 6 October at 9pm on BBC One, with Lord Sugar, Karren Brady and Claude Littner returning to screens.

Meet this year's contestants who are hoping to become Lord Sugar's new business partner... 

Alana Spencer

Age: 24
Occupation: Owner, Cake Company
Lives: Ceredigion, Wales

Alana is the owner of a baking company and describes herself as determined, creative and charming. She started her first business at age 17, a chocolate company, before moving on to selling cakes. She believes she is an adaptable businesswoman who will not shy away from any task Lord Sugar sets.

"I am incredibly hard working, driven, and I'll stop at nothing to get what I want," she said.

Frances Bishop

Age: 25
Occupation: Owner, Children's Clothing Company
Lives: Doncaster

Frances is the owner of a children's clothing boutique and describes herself as talkative with a feisty personality, which she believes is what has got her so far in the business world. She wants to impress Lord Sugar with her strong positive outlook.

"I'm a pocket rocket," she said. "I'm quite fiery and live by the rule 'kill them with kindness'."

Aleksandra King

Age: 38
Occupation: Owner, Business Consultancy
Lives: London

Aleksandra owns and operates a business consultancy company. She describes herself as altruistic and extremely confident, believes she has a gift for spotting a good business opportunity and can sell to anyone. She cites her mother as an inspiration as she is fluent in seven languages and has an ability to 'get people'.

"Like the Tasmanian devil in the famous cartoon, I will torpedo my way through to the win," she said.

Courtney Wood

Age: 29
Occupation: Owner, Novelty Gift Company
Lives: Essex

Courtney designs and creates novelty gifts which he supplies to national and international retailers. He describes himself as fun with a positive attitude and he believes his confidence is one of his strongest attributes. He says he is not one to sit back and plans to assert his authority in the process. He thinks his cut-throat tactics will help him reach the top.

"How would I describe myself in one sentence? I'll give you one word: awesome," he said.

Dillon St. Paul

Age: 37
Occupation: Art Director, Fashion Magazine
Lives: Dublin, Ireland

Describing himself as super-creative, Dillon is currently a freelance Art Director at a fashion magazine. He describes himself as talented, kind and very funny. He intends to be 'Machiavellian' about tasks and says he will tell white lies if he needs to.

"Sometimes batting the eyelashes can get you a lot in business. Hence, the mascara comes in handy – so they can see those lashes," he said.

Grainne McCoy

Age: 31
Occupation: Owner, Makeup Studio
Lives: Northern Ireland

Grainne owns her own make-up business and works throughout the country on projects from film sets to fashion shows. She says her hunger and passion push her to succeed and she puts maximum effort into everything she does. She is confident that her self-belief and strong-mindedness will see her through the tasks.

"I need guidance and a little bit of mentoring to help me make that first million," she said.

JD O'Brien

Age: 37
Occupation: Owner, Beachwear Company
Lives: London

JD is the founder and owner of a men's beachwear company. He believes he can make the best of any situation whilst still being a 'good bloke'. He says he is going to put in the hard work and aims to make no mistakes along the way.

"I won't suffer fools," he said. "I will get upset by other candidates who don't know their arse from their elbow."

Jessica Cunningham

Age: 29
Occupation: Online Fashion Entrepreneur
Lives: Derbyshire

Jessica is owner of an online fashion company and the Operations Director for a PR and marketing agency. She believes her positive helpful attitude will propel her through the tasks, and says she wants to get close to the other candidates to find out how they operate, analyse their strengths and weaknesses and attempt to use them to her advantage.

"A motto I live by is: there is no competition if you're already winning," she said.

Karthik Nagesan

Age: 33
Occupation: Owner, IT Consultancy
Lives: Northamptonshire

Karthik owns an IT consulting company and says his friends would describe him as a born leader who takes charge and blazes a trail. He cites his role model as Alexander the Great because he is a master strategist and a brilliant tactician. He believes he is firm yet polite, making him the ultimate 'human magnet'.

"If I wanted to be like everyone else, I'd have waxed my monobrow," he said.

Michelle Niziol

Age: 35
Occupation: Owner, Property Consultancy
Lives: Oxfordshire

Michelle is the founder and owner of three companies in mortgages, property and lettings. She describes herself as straight-talking, passionate and honest but admits that she can sometimes be bossy and impatient. She says letting others take the lead could be challenge for her.

"I work 15 to 17 hours every day. 100 per cent, I'm a workaholic," she said.

Mukai Noiri

Age: 36
Occupation: Digital Marketing Manager, Fashion
Lives: London

Mukai has lived in over six countries across three continents and recently gave up his position as a senior communications manager to focus on his business idea. He believes his charm is one of his strongest qualities, though he is a straight talker which he thinks some people might perceive as being insensitive.

"I feel sorry for Lord Sugar because previous applicants have been weak," he said.

Natalie Hughes

Age: 30
Occupation: Owner, Hair and Beauty Salon
Lives: Glasgow

Natalie owns and runs two beauty and clothing businesses. She considers her best quality to be her quick thinking, but she is also a persuasive talker who insists that nothing embarrasses her. She prides herself on her ability to buy and sell with ease and believes she has the motivation to win.

"I started at a young age, I'm a hustler, I've got the hustler's ambition," she said.

Oliver Nohl-Oser

Age: 33
Occupation: Owner, Food Distribution Business
Lives: Wiltshire

Oliver is the founder and director of a sausage manufacturer which supplies supermarkets both in the UK and internationally. He believes his greatest business skills lie in his marketing ability and his powers of persuasion. When it comes to winning, he regards honesty as the best policy but says he won't be befriending other candidates as he wants to focus on the prize.

"Sometimes I feel like James Bond when I'm in my suit," he said.

Paul Sullivan

Age: 38
Occupation: Owner, Marketing Agency
Lives: Chigwell, Essex

Paul is the owner and director of a marketing company specialising in finance, technology, construction and property. He is a self-proclaimed charmer but doesn't think he needs a 'USP' to win; consistency and sincerity will put him ahead.

"I'll play the team when I need to be part of the team, but I'm here to win; I'm not here to make up the numbers," he said.

Rebecca Jeffery

Age: 31
Occupation: Owner, Design and Marketing Agency
Lives: Greater Manchester

Rebecca is the owner of a marketing and design business, working as both the account manager and creative director. She prides herself on being relentless and possessing an infectious enthusiasm, but admits that numbers and calculations are a weakness for her.

"People often foolishly mistake my enthusiasm for silliness or positivity for naivety," she said. "I'm proof that you can get things done without whinging."

Samuel Boateng

Age: 27
Occupation: Sales Manager, Major Car Brand
Lives: London

Samuel is responsible for managing and generating new business for over 700 businesses across London. He
regards his ability in developing new and innovative ideas to be his strongest business skill. He says he has excellent public speaking abilities and admits he will be 'on the charm offensive', but doesn't want to seem an easy target.

"My creativity, my passion, my charm, and my likeability all roll into one, creating one perfect guy," he said.

Trishna Thaknar

Age: 28
Occupation: Recruitment Agent, IT
Lives: London

Trishna works for a large IT company to provide internal recruitment services. She used to play football semi-professionally, and says her friends would describe her as engaging and funny. She believes her best business skill lies in her charm, but suspects her sensitivity could be her downfall as, if you cross her, she will not hold back.

"My only tactic is to be myself; this alone will make sure I win," she said.

Sofian Khelfa

Age: 32
Occupation: Senior Sales Executive, Technology
Lives: Essex

Sofiane works in a high-end retail store, negotiating technology sales with high profile clients. He says he has the
ability to adapt, deliver and build lasting relations with people in business, but his friends would say that he can sometimes be overzealous. He believes when he gets down to business, his skills and personality will shine through.

"The best survivors in the world are the people who adapt, and I'm the best at adapting," he said. "I'm like a chameleon. I adapt to anything, anywhere, anytime."