Glasgow has TV Apprentice
A HAIR and beauty salon owner from the east end will be going head to head with the best of British business as part of the new series of The Apprentice.
Natalie Hughes, who owns VIP Salon in Dennistoun, compared herself to celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay as she prepares to take part in the 12th series of the hit television show.
She said: “I’m actually very forward, I like to get the job done, like [Gordon] does, and I like to make changes i n business.”
The 30-year-old businesswoman described herself as “the best in Scotland”, adding: “My salon is called VIP, so I always say: ‘VIP – it’s the only way to be. Look VIP, act VIP and be VIP.
“I have got bags of enthusiasm, I’m quirky, I think off the mark, I think out the box, I’m hard-working.
“I’ve got a lot to bring to the table. I know I will be successful. Failure is not an option for somebody like me.”
Natalie will be going head to head with the other 18 candidates including a cake company owner, an art director for a fashion magazine and an online fashion entrepreneur.
Their first task will see them being challenged to sort out “treasure from trash” in a lock-up containing furniture, vintage clothing, toys, ceramics, silver and glassware and attempt to sell it on a profit.
Other tasks over the coming weeks include creating an advertising campaign for jeans, manufacturing a range of sweets, hosting “latenight opening” events at well-known attractions, designing virtual reality games and producing and creating their own brand of gin.
Lord Sugar said: “I need to see who’s got a good business brain, that’s all I’m interested in. The winner gets a £250,000 investment and it will change someone’s life forever.
“You are going to learn more about yourself throughout the course of this process, I promise you that.
“Sometimes, some people can’t stand the heat, and they complain and they moan. If you want to moan you can send me an email at l ordsugar@ idontcare.com.”
Lord Sugar wants the new candidates to be under no illusion how competitive the process will be.
He added: “You see 18 people here, and we’re here for 12 weeks – that tells you there are going to be occasions where more than one person is going to be fired.
“And I don’t care how many it can be. I really don’t care.”
The series will kick off on October 6 on BBC 1.