Harrogate businesswoman in the running for Lord Sugar’s £250,000 prize

HARROGATE businesswoman Ruth Whiteley is in the running for Lord Alan Sugar’s financial backing after it was announced she will appear on this season of television competition The Apprentice.

With a diverse CV, she currently owns Harrogate training and consultancy firm Impact Sales Training, and is now in the game to win £250,000 of support from Lord Sugar for her business plans.

Ms Whiteley also holds a partner position at A&R Properties, which has a privately owned portfolio of commercial and residential properties for sale in North and West Yorkshire, Lancashire and Spain.

In the early 2000’s, she co-presented the Good Morning Show on BBC Radio Leeds, and prior to that attended Harrogate Grammar School.

At 47, she is this the oldest of this year’s batch of contestants, which include hair extensions specialist and inventor Aisha Kasim from London, director of fragrance retailer Dan Callaghan from Manchester, and Joseph Valente from Peterborough, who owns a plumbing business.

She said: “Lord Sugar might think I’m a bit gushing, he might find me over-zealous, but… he’ll think I’m great”