New sixth formers at Aldridge School got a taste of The Apprentice when they met one of Lord Sugar’s TV candidates, Paula Jones.

Pictured is the winning team with BBC Apprentice TV star Paula Jones. (front l-r) Natalie Charles, Ellie Drakely and JOanna Coleman (back) Reece Caunt, Tom Danks, Marc Duffus and Jamal Downie

The Walsall Council worker, who appeared on the hit BBC series three years ago, was at the school to judge a business competition.

More than 120 Year 12 students at the Tynnings Lane School, took part in the entrepreneurial Apprentice Challenge Day organised by Walsall Education Business Partnership.

Students were divided into teams and given three hours to develop a new business model which they they had to present to a panel of judges including Paula and local business leaders.

She said: “In a relatively short space of time students came up with some very inventive business proposals and all of them gave fantastic pitches, even Lord Sugar would have been impressed.”

Lorenzo Cosco, from Walsall EBP, added: “They were incredibly enterprising and came up with creative ideas for new phone apps, food and hair products. This is a simple but great event because it really challenges young people to think about starting their own business at the same time as identifying their enterprise capabilities.”