Will Hayley impress Lord Sugar on Young Apprentice?

She is the young businesswoman hoping to impress the most critical of judges. Meet Shropshire's Young Apprentice hopeful Hayley Forrester.

The A-level student becomes the second teenager from the region to feature in the hit show after Rhys Rosser, of Llanfyllin, featured in last year's debut series. Filming had already started on the show.

Hayley, who is studying biology, maths, business & economics and ICT, said she had been inspired by her experiences on the show.

Hayley discovered she had secured a place on it just before the summer holidays.

Following an online application she was required to attend interviews in Birmingham ahead of being selected.

"They were looking for business ideas, what you are like and what inspires you," she said.

"I think my inspirations are my dad and Richard Branson. My dad is a farmer."

Impressed

Hayley, a student at Shrewsbury High School, said she had been impressed with Lord Sugar and his advisors Nick Hewer and Karren Brady.

She added: "Lord Sugar is very fair as a person and he definitely inspires young people as he is a success in his own business. Karren and Nick are very good. They definitely do follow us and watch our every move."

The ambitious former head girl added her life 'revolves around order'.

A farmer's daughter and member of a young farmers' club, she said she passionately disagrees with people claiming benefits when they could be working.

Hayley said she was also inspired by the success of drinks company Innocent, and she sells free range, organic eggs from her own chickens.

Lord Sugar today defended allowing contestants as young as 16 to take part in a version of The Apprentice, and insisted the teenagers are fully supported. His comments came after criticism of ITV's The X Factor for including contestants as young as 16.

Lord Sugar said: "That's why we look after them so well, we're very, very conscious of that."