The Apprentice: Who is Foluso Falade? The Manchester project manager hoping to impress Lord Sugar on BBC show

The 2024 series of BBC’s hit show The Apprentice gets under way on Thursday night and Manchester will be represented. Project manager Foluso Falade will be hoping to impress Lord Alan Sugar in the boardroom. 

She will be up against 17 other candidates from across the country hoping to be crowned as Lord Sugar’s apprentice. They include Paul Bowen, a pie shop director from nearby Chorley in Lancashire.

Who is Foluso Falade?

Foluso says that money doesn’t move her, but making a difference to people’s lives does. Foluso wants to help young people get a head start in business, and sees herself as the 'Mary Poppins of business'. In addition to this, she wants to run the first Social Enterprise to win Lord Sugar’s investment. 

Speaking ahead of the new series, Foluso said: “My biggest success to date is choosing to start a business aimed at helping young people. It was a gamble, but I believe it will be my best business success. I thankfully haven’t had anything fail, but the biggest learning point so far has been starting with what I have and understanding that I must work within my means with building upward as my goal."

She added: “My passion for business comes from my mother who has owned a shop in Manchester for 25 years - my entire life. I’ve always been inspired by her perseverance, and passion to keep growing and she’s inspired me to take a leap of faith and believe in myself. I am a one-of-a-kind type of person, an investment in one that guarantees profit. With my people-focused attitude, I plan on building an empire in an ethical way, whilst raising up inspiring people along the way.”

Who are the 2024 Apprentice candidates?

• Amina Khan (Ilford)
• Dr. Asif Munaf (Sheffield)
• Flo Edwards (London)
• Foluso Falade (Manchester)
• Jack Davies (Bristol)
• Maura Rath (Wexford)
• Noor Bouziane (Liverpool)
• Oliver Medforth (Yorkshire)
• Onyeka Nweze (London)
• Paul Bowen (Lancashire)
• Dr. Paul Midha (Leeds)
• Phil Turner (Bognor Regis)
• Rachel Woolford (Leeds)
• Raj Chohan (Leamington Spa)
• Sam Saadet (Essex)
• Steve Darken (London)
• Tre Lowe (London)
• Virdi Singh Mazaria (Leicester)

How to watch The Apprentice

The new series of The Apprentice gets underway on BBC One at 9pm on Thursday February 1. You will also be able to watch it on BBC iPlayer.