The fourteen candidates vying for a job alongside Sir Alan Sugar in The Apprentice have been revealed.

The hopefuls will be split into two teams along gender lines, with one contestant from the losing side being fired each week.

They are:




Name: Adele
Age: 29
Qualifications: 7 O-levels; 1 A-level.
Career: General manager in a retail company selling kitchens and bathrooms
Fact: She worked until 8.00pm the night before giving birth and even managed to sell a kitchen to her midwife whilst in labour.
Quote: "Some people call me a workaholic, but I just enjoy work with a passion."




Name: Adenike
Age: 30
Qualifications: BA in Business Studies, MA in International Business and MBA from PACE University, New York.
Career: Owns and manages a top-end restaurant and runs large events for demanding corporate clients.
Quote: "I am a entrepreneur by nature and it's all I know."




Name: Lindsay
Age: 35
Qualifications: BA, Postgraduate Diploma in Broadcast Journalism, Postgraduate Diploma in Internal Communications Management.
Career: Communications manager for an international oil company, founder of the UK's first national car-sharing agency.
Claim to fame: Finalist for Cosmopolitan Woman of Achievement Awards.
Quote: "You must be honest about where you're aiming to go and how you are competing with others to get there."




Name: Miranda
Age: 26
Qualifications: BTEC National Diploma, GNVQ in Leisure and Tourism.
Career: Managing director of an estate agency. Previously owned a successful mail order company and funded her own exhibitions company.
Claim to fame: Completed a fire walk over 25 feet of red hot embers burning at temperatures in excess of 1,200 degrees - oh and being a contestant on Wheel Of Fortune.
Quote: "I've got huge life experience for my age, which is better than anything written on a piece of paper."




Name: Miriam
Age: 26
Qualifications: BA in French and Spanish.
Career: Manager of an exclusive hotel in the French West Indies. Previously a wedding consultant who then founded an events company.
Hobbies: Diving with sharks.
Quote: "I don't know all the classic business theories or have the 'pat' answers - my experience comes from what I've directly learnt in the field. I bring a unique experience as I've lived in four different countries and am bilingual."




Name: Rachel
Age: 32
Qualifications: BA in German, Chartered Institute of Management Advanced Certificate.
Career: Charity fundraiser and former advertising sales executive.
Claim to fame: Spacehopping down Oxford Street dressed as a baby (for charity).
Quote: "I have incredible presence and am one of those people who fills a room even when alone. I have an infectious desire to live life to the full."




Name: Saira
Age: 34
Qualifications: BA in Humanities, MA in Environmental Planning.
Career: Sales manager for an online recruitment company
Facts: She runs marathons, loves diving and speaks four Asian languages: Urdu, Bahri, Punjabi and Hindi.
Quote: "I hope that as an Asian woman I will give other Asian women the inspiration to go out there and do well in business."




Name: Ben
Age: 29
Qualifications: 1 O-level.
Career: Currently runs his own headhunting firm. Awarded Global Consultant of the Year for the largest executive search company in the world.
Claim to fame: Singing on That's Life as part of a Cub Scout group.
Quote: "In my career I win all the time."




Name: James
Age: 34
Qualifications: BSc (first class) in Land Management, Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS), Securities, Futures and Derivatives Representative (SFDR).
Career: Investment banker. Formerly, a finalist in Property Week's Young Property Personality Of The Year.
Weaknesses: His Aston Martin.
Talents: Can do an impression of a donkey!
Quote: "I seek success as a result of my own achievements."




Name: Matthew
Age: 39
Qualifications: BA in Business and Computing, postgraduate Diploma in Marketing, Member of the Institute of Marketing.
Career: Mature student. Previously, a self-qualified stockbroker, prospective Conservative party parliamentary candidate, computer trainer.
Hobbies: Co-founder of The Tall Society.
Quote: "The objective of a business is not to make money. The object of a business is to satisfy customers. The result is to make money."




Name: Paul
Age: 34
Qualifications: 7 O-levels, Basic and advanced sales for an international car dealership, Work and Method Study Certificate and Systems Analysis Certificate.
Career: Property developer. Previously, property management, letting agent, textiles production manager.
Claim to fame: Putting together a £3m deal on a phone while riding a bike.
Quote: "I know I'm not the cleverest bloke in business, so I always make sure I check everything, and then I check and check again. That's why I'm a success. That's how I'll win this show."




Name: Raj
Age: 30
Qualifications: LLB Law (Hons)
Career: Internet entrepreneur, founder and managing director of an estate agency (which went bankrupt when venture capital failed to materialise).
Hobbies: "I have no hobbies or interests - my total focus is on business."
Quote: "I'm an entrepreneur, not an angel."




Name: Sebastian
Age: 29
Qualifications: BSc in Natural Science, Securities Institute Diploma, registered member of the Financial Services Authority, MBA from INSEAD, Commercial pilot's licence.
Career: Financial analyst, recent MBA graduate.
Weaknesses: Saville Row suits, skiing, gliding, tennis and "doing acrobatics in powerful planes."
Quote: "I have no doubt that I am a superb candidate for The Apprentice."




Name: Tim
Age: 26
Qualifications: BSc in Psychology, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development Diploma.
Career: Transport manager, London Underground.
Hobbies: Boxing.
Quote: "Sir Alan has a lot he could teach me, and perhaps I might know a few things that I could teach him as well."


The Apprentice begins on BBC Two this Wednesday, February 16 at 9pm.