BBC’s The Apprentice is set to return for its landmark 20th series later this month with the worlds of mortgage advice, property and lettings all represented among this year’s candidates – a mix likely to resonate with those operating across bridging and commercial finance.
The new series, which launches on January 29, will see 20 candidates compete for Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment.
Among them are a mortgage broker, an estate agent and a lettings agency owner.
According to The Sun, BBC bosses have “pulled out all the stops” for the anniversary series, opening with a high-profile trip to Hong Kong in episode one.
Lord Sugar returns alongside Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell, as candidates are put through a series of tasks designed to test commercial judgement, resilience and the ability to scale business ideas – skills that sit squarely at the heart of specialist and short-term finance.
Pic credit: BBC iPlayer
THE MORTGAGE BROKER
One of those hoping to impress is Nikki Jetha, a mortgage broker from Hornchurch, Essex.
Jetha is an associate director at national mortgage broker Coreco and a mother of two, with a stated ambition to simplify the mortgage process and make it more accessible.
Speaking to The Sun, Jetha said her inspiration comes from Kim Kardashian, adding: “Kim proved that you can be glamorous, family-orientated and a complete boss.”
Andrew Montlake, chief executive of Coreco, told Bridging Soup: “Coreco encourages all of our people to follow their dreams. Nikki has our full support and we wish her good luck through the process.”
IN THE MIX
Pic credit: BBC iPlayer
The estate agency sector will be represented by Kieran McCartney, an estate agent from East London and director at McCartney & Partners Estate Agents.
McCartney has made it his mission to rebuild trust in estate agency and believes Lord Sugar could be the ideal partner to help him scale that vision.
He told The Sun: “Estate agents often suffer from a poor reputation, but we can change that. By combining my industry expertise with Lord Sugar’s guidance and resources, we can set a new standard for trust.”
THE LETTING AGENT
Flying the flag for the lettings sector is Andrea Cooper, a lettings agency owner from Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
At 46, Cooper is this year’s oldest candidate and brings considerable business experience, running two companies and aiming to develop a software platform for short-term accommodation.
The Sun reports that she is also a qualified midwife, having earned a first-class degree at the age of 40.
With property entrepreneurs at different stages of their commercial journey, the 20th series of The Apprentice looks set to strike a chord with those involved in property-backed lending, bridging and commercial finance.
The Apprentice returns to BBC One and iPlayer on Thursday 29 January at 9pm, with the boardroom heading overseas to Hong Kong for the opening episode.
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