Meet the 2026 Apprentice Competitors Seeking Lord Sugar’s Investment

The 20th series of The Apprentice is set to make waves as 20 ambitious candidates vie for Lord Sugar’s investment of £250,000 and his invaluable mentorship. This season promises to be extraordinary with new locations and diverse challenges, including a first-ever task in Hong Kong.

Series Highlights

The upcoming series will feature 12 action-packed episodes, where candidates will navigate a series of demanding tasks across London and beyond. These tasks will test their abilities in branding, selling, and negotiation with challenges ranging from creating children’s books to hosting events by the Red Sea.

Meet the Candidates

• Andrea Cooper, 46, is the owner of a lettings agency in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. She aims to develop a software system for short-term accommodation.
• Carrington Saunders from South East London runs an online loungewear business called Cas Collection and seeks to expand her already profitable brand.
• Conor Galvin, based in Cork, Ireland, operates a photobooth business that specializes in creating personalized prints for events.
• Dan Miller from Richmond, London, owns a successful student recruitment company and is looking to scale his services with Lord Sugar’s investment.
• Georgina Newton, an actress and events manager from East London, wants to take her touring theatrical production of pantomime stories to new heights.
• Harry Clough runs a subscription box service for food and drinks called Makemyday, aiming to expand his customer base.
• Karishma Vijay is the first businesswoman in her family, seeking to elevate her skincare brand, Kishkin, into a global sensation.
• Kieran McCartney is a seasoned estate agent from East London, looking to launch his own agency with years of experience backing his proposal.
• Lawrence Rosenberg, a public relations specialist from Watford, Hertfordshire, aims to integrate technology and human touch in the PR industry.
• Levi Hague operates a business named Living Forever Memories Ltd, focusing on personalized pet cremation urns.
• Marcus Donkoh manages a barbershop in South London and is looking to scale it into a global grooming brand.
• Megan Ruiter owns a bespoke womenswear clothing brand and seeks to scale operations with Lord Sugar’s guidance.
• Nikki Jetha, a mortgage broker from Essex, is working on simplifying the complicated mortgage process through her brokerage.
• Pascha Myhill aspires to build a recruitment company for the healthcare sector, aiming to deliver quality over quantity.
• Priyesh Bathia plans to expand his mobile cocktail business, Boozy Bar, into a national brand.
• Rajan Gill focuses on AV installations, specifically mounting TVs and designing media walls for modern homes.
• Rothna Akhtar aims to blend her baking business with wellbeing, offering interactive experiences in her bakery.
• Roxanne Hamedi, a pharmacist from Aberdeen, is launching Browtasia, a beauty brand targeting hair regrowth.
• Tanmay Hingorani envisions an AI-powered loyalty marketing platform tailored for the food and drink industry.
• Vanessa Tetteh-Squire aims to create a swimwear brand that empowers women with fuller busts through stylish, functional designs.

With varied backgrounds and innovative business ideas, these contestants are gearing up for a competitive season. They all share a common goal: to impress Lord Sugar and secure not only his investment but also invaluable mentorship for their entrepreneurial journeys.