© Photo: BBCAisha Kasim, 30, London
Aisha was born in Nigeria and moved to the UK when she was 15 years old
Aisha is the owner of a hair accessories business which sells extensions, wigs and hair products.
She has also invented a hair accessory - a heated hair bun that curls hair - and wrote the jingle to accompany the product.
Aisha describes herself as hippy-ish, funny and quirky, and names entrepreneur Victoria Beckham as one of her business inspirations. She believes that the the former Spice Girl has always followed her passions - and that this has led to her professional success.
© Photo: BBCApril Jackson, 26, London
April was born in London, before moving to Jamaica where she was later crowned Miss Jamaica.
April has also lived in France and studied in New York. While living in Jamaica, she founded a successful event management company and a children's charity.
She cites Skinny Girl Cocktails founder Bethenny Frankel as one of her business inspirations because of the way she grew her company into a lifestyle brand. April describes herself as ambitious, honest and loyal.
© Photo: BBCBrett Butler-Smythe, 28, Plymouth
After leaving school Brett went straight to the Royal Navy, where he worked as a marine engineer.
His top business achievement to date is starting his own property company from scratch.
According to Brett, his biggest strengths are being hard working, committed and trustworthy. He also believes that he has no weaknesses.
His attitude to business is 'work hard, play hard, work harder'.
© Photo: BBCCharleine Wain, 31, Plymouth
Charleine served in the Royal Navy for eleven and a half years before leaving the service to start her own hair and beauty salon, and online clothing boutique.
She is a passionate fundraiser and has raised over £20,000 for various charities.
Charleine cites hairdressers Patrick Cameron and Toni & Guy as her business inspirations because of the impact they made in the hairdressing world.
Charleine believes her drive and determination are her biggest strengths.
© Photo: BBCDan Callaghan, 23, Manchester
Dan's first job after university was working for an MEP at the European Parliament in Belgium, where he lived for a year.
Dan describes himself as bright, optimistic and cheerful. His proudest business achievement to date is turning around his fragrance company after a difficult few years.
He names Jeff Bezos of Amazon as one of his inspirations, because he feels the company has redefined the way consumers see online shopping
© Photo: BBCDavid Stevenson, 25, Nottingham
David's background is in sports marketing.
His company specialises in increasing crowd attendance at sporting events. According to David, his greatest achievement so far has been promoting a high profile women's football match at Wembley, to sold-out capacity.
He cites SpaceX CEO Elon Musk as his business inspiration because of the amount he achieved early on in his career.
© Photo: BBCElle Stevenson, 21, London
Elle describes herself as a "geezer bird" and says she is effervescent, passionate and maybe "a little insane".
Though she’s the youngest candidate of the group, she says those who know her would say she is older than her years. As well as teaching herself fluent Latin, Elle lists her biggest business achievement to date as her previous role, working as an operations director of a construction company - at just 20 years old.
She cites Taylor Swift as her business inspiration, calling her ‘the best businesswoman of the 21st century.’
© Photo: BBCGary Poulton, 34, Nottingham
Gary spent seven years as a programme manager, developing new store sites for a leading supermarket chain.
He describes himself as someone who likes to succeed in all he does.
Gary's achieved his biggest business accomplishment in 2010-11, when he delivered the largest property development programme in the history of the supermarket for which he worked.
© Photo: BBCJenny Garbis, 23, London
Jenny graduated from university this summer, where she achieved the highest grades in her year for her Business Studies course.
She describes herself as an adrenaline junkie who is only being happy when she’s busy. A keen feminist, Jenny cites actress Emma Watson as an inspiration for her role in the recent 'He for She' campaign.
She says that if she didn’t work in business, she would like to be in politics.
© Photo: BBCJoseph Valente, 25, Petersborough
Joseph currently runs his own plumbing company.
Joseph applied for the show because he thinks it is his destiny to be Lord Sugar's business partner. He describes himself as successful, passionate and driven.
He believes that having a business is like being a parent - it needs nurturting and his undivided attention.
Hugh Hefner is one of his role models.
© Photo: BBCMergim Butaja, 23, Coventry
Kosovan-born Mergim fled from the war-torn country to the UK with his parents and siblings when he was seven years old.
Since the age of 18, Mergim has supported his family by working a range of different jobs - from sales to waiting tables.
He names Chris Dawson, CEO of leisure retail chain The Range, as his business inspiration because of their similar backgrounds.
Mergim says his biggest strength is his determined attitude, and he hopes to encourage success within people who have lived through experiences like his own .
© Photo: BBCNatalie Dean, 25, Coventry
Natalie's business background is in corporate management in the telecoms industry. She describes herself as a tomboy and has a passion for football - she plays for a local women's team and supports Sheffield Wednesday.
She says Liv Garfield, CEO of water company Severn Trent, is her business inspiration because she admires what she has already achieved in her career.
© Photo: BBCRichard Woods, 31, London
Richard is a director of a digital marketing company. Richard describes himself as self-assured and ambitious, and says his only regret is not becoming a millionaire before turning 30.
His proudest business achievement to date is building-up four profit-making companies. He cites Richard Branson as one of his inspirations because of the business empire he has created.
© Photo: BBCRuth Whiteley, 47, Harrogate
Ruth describes herself as positive, colourful and driven.
Ruth's background is in telephone sales, though she previously worked as a DJ on a mid-morning show for her local radio station, as well as a stint as a court reporter.
Her biggest business achievement to date is setting up the telephone sales teams for an online schooling company in Scotland and Australia, as well as expanding the growth of the sales team in Philadelphia, USA.
© Photo: BBCSam Curry, 23, London
Sam has been working as a tutor since leaving university.
Sam has a passion for the arts and has taken part in numerous films and stage productions. He has always worked for himself and cites this as his biggest business achievement to date.
He describes himself as loyal, honest and adventurous.
One of Sam's main business inspirations is Richard Branson. He agrees with the Virgin founder's ethos that you don’t need to be ruthless or cruel in business to succeed.
© Photo: BBCScott Saunders, 27, Hertfordshire
Scott’s business background is in sales.
He describes himself as sharp, motivated and obsessed with making his first million.
Scott likes simple but effective brands, and cites Robert Kiyosaki - founder of Rich Dad Company - as one of his business inspirations, because he admires the way he works.
© Photo: BBCSelina Waterman-Smith, 31, Dubai
Selina studied in the UK before setting up her own events company in Dubai. She incorporates her performing arts background with the circus into many of the events that her company hosts
Selina describes herself as feisty, strong and kind. She cites setting up her business in a foreign country as her top business achievement to date.
© Photo: BBCVana Koutsomitis, 27, Barcelona
Vana grew up in New York and speaks five languages. A true cosmopolitan, Vana studied in Spain, France and China, and has lived in both Shanghai and London.
She currently runs a networking site for finance professionals. She says she has been entrepreneurial since the age of seven, when she sold her old toys on the streets of New York.
Actor and investor Ashton Kutcher is one of Vana's biggest business inspirations. She believes he has an eye for commercial ventures.
© Photo: BBC
