AS the new series of The Apprentice gets underway this week, Reece Donnelly hopes to be the show’s first Scottish winner.
He’s among 18 competitors hoping to secure £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar in the 17th series of the contest.
The Glasgow-based owner of performing arts school The Theatre School Of Scotland launched his first business at the age of 19 and now claims to be on track to turning over half a million.
“My USP is that I’m the youngest CEO of a further education college in the UK,” Donnelly told the BBC.
“Despite my age, I have all the experience, drive, and personality to take my success achieved in Scotland to link up with Lord Sugar and scale that up across the rest of the UK.”
Donnelly also insists he wants to show that Scotland is about more than "kilts and haggis".
“Lord Sugar has never invested in a Scottish candidate,” the contestant said. “And I’m here to prove that Scotland is filled with forward-thinking entrepreneurs and that we are not in fact a haggis-eating, kilt-wearing nation.”
He went on: “My proven track record of starting, scaling and ultimately turning businesses into a success, along with Lord Sugar’s knowledge and contacts, is a recipe for success.”
The Apprentice is set to air from Thursday January 5 on BBC One and iPlayer.
