Two entrepreneurs from counties Donegal and Dublin are among the contestants taking part in the new series of BBC One's The Apprentice, which returns to screens on Thursday 30 January at 9:00pm.
Hair & beauty salon owner Aoibheann Walsh from Co Donegal and animation entrepreneur Jordan Dargan from Dublin will be trying to impress Alan Sugar and win his £250,000 investment and mentorship for their business ventures.
Introducing the award-winning Walsh, the BBC said she is "looking for investment in a premium utility product for the beauty industry".
"I have designed a unique patented utility belt specifically for hairdressers, makeup artists, and costume designers on the go," she explained.
"In my experience within the beauty and hair industry, I noticed a significant problem: the tools that artists typically wear are often not functional, ergonomic, or aesthetically appealing, nor was there any focus on hygiene. This realisation drove me to create a tool belt that is not only ergonomic but also enhances the entire creative process."
When asked why she deserves the £250,000 investment, Walsh replied: "I believe I deserve Lord Sugar's investment as like him I have achieved my success through hard work and perseverance alone, this is highlighted due to my proven track record of success in one of the most lucrative industries. I can present a business model that maximises profit potential while minimising risk."
"I have already identified a gap in the market, secured patents, and developed prototypes; what I need now is an investor like Lord Sugar to amplify the reach of my products," she added.
Introduced as "the series' youngest contestant", Dubliner Dargan "wants to show the youth out there the creative power at their fingertips through his 3D animation business".
"I want to turn my one-man band into an orchestra of the world's most talented 3D artists to take my business to the next level," he told the BBC.
"I'm here to prove that age is just a number and location is just a time zone," he continued. "Hard work and persistence can take you far, regardless of where you're from or your years on this earth."
When asked why he deserves the £250,000 investment, Dargan replied: "I don't deserve it. I don't think anyone deserves anything in life, I believe you need to work for it, and I will out-work, out-smart, and out-perform anyone Lord Sugar puts in front of me."
Dargan and Walsh will join the 16 other contestants vying for the investment when The Apprentice returns to BBC One on Thursday 30 January at 9:00pm.
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