The Apprentice 2011: meet the candidates

No room for slouches! The Apprentice 2011 candidates show that they mean business Photograph: BBC/Talkback Thames

'Weak people in business are a waste of space and a limp handshake is unforgivable'
Meet 36-year-old business psychologist Edna Agbarha, who started working life on her uncle's market stall Photograph: John Wright/BBC/PA

'Aggression isn't the best form of strength … I bring a marriage of technical thinking with a bit of salesman bravado'
Because there's likely to be a shortage of that in the boardroom. Glenn Ward, 28, a senior design engineer, says Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg is his inspiration and describes himself as 'an intelligent man with a dry sense of humour'. We'll be the judge of that … Photograph: John Wright/BBC/PA

'I don't like lazy people … dole dossers that don't want to work. I don't like posh kids who have everything on a plate'
Ellie Reed, the 33-year-old managing director of a construction company, describes herself as 'positive, fun and driven'. As you can tell from her quote Photograph: John Wright/BBC/PA

'I'm the wheeler dealer who accidentally became a finance professional and wants out'
So says Edward Hunter, a 25-year-old accountant who would rather be rolling with the punches in the business world Photograph: John Wright/BBC/PA

'Lord Sugar will probably find it difficult to ever say anything negative to me because I always turn it round to a positive'
We wouldn't bet on it. A creative arts entrepreneur – she runs a company specialising in career development for the theatre – Felicity Jackson is 23 and a trained actor Photograph: John Wright/BBC/PA

'I want to be a big name in UK business … I'm everything. I'm all mouth. I'm a doer. I'm a leader.'
And clearly Gavin Winstanley has also swallowed the great Apprentice cliché handbook. The 27-year old set up his own online opticians after noticing the profit margin on glasses when working in a department store Photograph: John Wright/BBC/PA

'I see my job as my complete life. I work 24/7. There isn't a cut off.'
Fan of work-life balance Helen Milligan, 30, wants to give up her role as executive assistant to the chief executive of Greggs to work alongside Lord Sugar. She describes herself as 'calm, loyal and tenacious' Photograph: John Wright/BBC/PA

'I'm not a show pony, or a one-tricky pony. I'm not a jack-ass or a stubborn mule, and I'm definitely not a wild stallion that needs to be tamed. I am the champion thoroughbred that this process requires'
Jim Eastwood, 32, a sales and marketing manager heads dangerously towards Stuart Baggs' 'field of ponies' territory Photograph: John Wright/BBC/PA

'Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon.'
Melody Hossaini, founder of a global youth consultancy, has been trained on climate change by Al Gore, no less. The 26-year-old also speaks five languages Photograph: John Wright/BBC/PA

'I don't like your gimmicky salesman who thinks he can sell ice to an Eskimo. Chances are he can't, and why would an Eskimo buy ice?'
You can't argue with Leon Doyle's reasoning – although that surely won't stop the other contestants. The 26-year-old is the founder of an online takeaway ordering site and publishing business Photograph: John Wright/BBC/PA

'I'm like a really fine tuned switch. If I need to turn it down then I turn it down. If I need to turn it up, then I turn it up.'
More profound words – this time from 31-year-old Natasha Scribbins, a recruitment divisional manager Photograph: John Wright/BBC/PA

'For me The Apprentice is a bit like the Olympics or the World Cup for entrepreneurs … I want to challenge myself, find out if I am ready to step up to this level.'
Only with the grumpiest man on telly giving out the prizes. Inventor Tom Pellereau, 31, describes himself as 'creative, adventurous, loyal and enthusiastic' Photograph: John Wright/BBC/PA

'I'm short, sweet and smiley but when I do business, I mean business.'
Clearly Susan Ma, a 21-year-old skincare entrepreneur, has got her business face on. Her first job was selling skin products from a market stall, which she has now turned into a lucrative business Photograph: John Wright/BBC/PA

'My positive approach and very good looks make me stand out from the crowd.'
Along with your modesty, Vincent Disneur. The 29-year-old sales manager is apparently a self-confessed perfectionist. Aren't all Apprentice candidates? Photograph: John Wright/BBC/PA

'I will do whatever it takes to win.'
Well at least Zoe Beresford, a project manager for a drinks manufacturer, doesn't mess about with unintelligible business speak. The 26-year-old from Cheshire claims to have bought a house with her sister at the age of 12 Photograph: John Wright/BBC/PA

So who will be hired? The ever-grouchy Lord Sugar returns with sidekicks Karren Brady and Nick Hewer on Tuesday 10 May on BBC1, with the second episode following on Wednesday 11 May Photograph: BBC/Talkback Thames