‘I don’t need a strategy to win’: Ilford schoolgirl takes BBC One Young Apprentice by storm

Lizzie Dearden, Reporter Friday, November 2, 2012
11:59 AM

An Ilford schoolgirl is pitting her wits against other young entrepreneurs to win £25,000 in BBC One show the Young Apprentice.

Navdeep Bual (top left) is confident about her chances against the rest of the candidates in the Young Apprentice. Credit: BBC

Navdeep Bual, 16, is one of 12 candidates selected from thousands for their ambition and business skills.

The Seven Kings High School student already has an impressive list of achievements and is confident about her chances.

In an audition for the show, Navdeep said: “I don’t need a strategy to win the Young Apprentice, I think I can just go on it.

“They will never forget who I am and that’s very important and if candidates don’t like it then that’s probably because I’m telling them what they’re doing wrong and if they can’t deal with that I think they’ve got a problem.”

Navdeep burst onto the screen last night in the first show of the series.

Her team won the first challenge of selecting and selling second hand clothes at a profit.

The next seven episodes will see her pitted against the other candidates in challenges including designing a cookbook and branding a new hair gel.

She must impress every week or run the risk of being eliminated.

Former head girl Navdeep is no stranger to pressure, having been the UK’s Young Ambassador for the Global Campaign for Education, which led to her meeting Gordon Brown.

She frequently attends Model United Nations debates and received the Diana Award for contribution to community.

In August, she got 11A*s in her GCSEs and is now studying for A-Levels in biology, philosophy, chemistry, maths and politics.

Deputy headteacher Clive Rosewell said the school community is rooting for Navdeep.

He added: “We’re excited to see one of our students doing so well and we are very proud of her.

“She’s a high-flier who is destined for great things in life.”

Navdeep said her ultimate aim is to work for the UN but winning the competition would give her £25,000 to start her own business venture.

She said: “I’m coming up with something that’s going to change the course of business.

“In five years, I see myself in newspaper headlines around the world, people will see me everywhere.”

She added: “A lot of people mistake confidence for arrogance but that’s not the case here.”