Apprentice hopefuls have struggled
THIS year’s Apprentice contestants may talk the business talk but they definitely do not walk the business walk.
Pillow firm boss Thomas Skinner reckons he’s got what it takes to win the BBC show – but his track record will give Lord Sugar sleepless nights.
He’s already got a string of failed enterprises to his name.
Thomas’ Fastway Furniture was dissolved in 2018, market research outfit Capital 6 Investments Ltd went down the pan in July and Essex Furniture Ltd ceased trading in 2015.
His Fluffy Pillow Company Ltd was founded earlier this year and is yet to file any accounts. The 28-year-old Londoner said: “I don’t plan, I just do everything on impulse. When I plan, I always get it wrong.” And he’s not the only one whose business background is not exactly stellar. Scarlett Allen-Horton, 32, from the Midlands, owns her own recruitment company and claims: “I am an achiever.” But her Harper Fox Partners Ltd company owes creditors £35,000. Chartered engineer Shahin Hassan, 36, from Birmingham, says he is “ruthless”. He is also a director of Diamond Parul Nivas Ltd – a linen hire firm with debts of more than £460,000. Dean Ahmad is a 20-year-old owner of a sports management agency from Essex – his Fine Edge Cricket firm has debts of £2,379.
Para athlete and motivational speaker Souleyman Bah, 20, from south-east London, saw his Shield Fitness company – founded in 2017 – struck off this year. And events manager Riyonn Farsad, 30, of south London, saw his card games firm Riyonn fold in 2019.
Three other candidates – Marianne Rawlins, Iasha Masood and Kenna Ngoma – run their own firms but their outfits are yet to file any trading accounts.
● The Apprentice begins a new series next Wednesday at 9pm on BBC One.