Badger’s bonus

The super saleswoman who came within a whisker of winning The Apprentice – the BBC TV reality show aimed at finding Britain’s best young business brains – walked away with a bonus after meeting budding entrepreneurs in Birmingham.

Ruth Badger, who was runner-up to Michelle Dewberry in the battle to become Sir Alan Sugar’s apprentice, gave advice to 16 potential entrepreneurs on how to make a success of their businesses when she visited Pertemps Employment Alliance.

PEA operations director Mujib Choudhury presented Ruth with a £300 cheque which she accepted on behalf of Wolverhampton’s Compton Hospice. Ruth is a patron of the hospice.

Ruth, who became known affectionately as ‘The Badger’, won millions of fans with her no-nonsense approach and her knack of securing sales and winning business during the TV series.

The Wolverhampton 27-year-old was invited by Pertemps Employment Alliance (PEA) to meet a group of 16 unemployed people bidding to turn their business dreams into reality.

She spent hours sharing her wisdom with the budding entrepreneurs during her visit to PEA’s Working Neighbourhoods (WiN) Newtown Advancement Centre, in Newtown Shopping Centre, Birmingham.

PEA delivers a range of Government funded Welfare to Work initiatives in Birmingham, Solihull, and in other towns across England. Sue Gaskell, PEA’s employer liaison co-ordinator based at the company’s Handsworth office, said: “Ruth has a fantastic track record in business and rose very rapidly to senior management during her sales career.

Our clients were thrilled to meet her and I know they gained some invaluable tips from Ruth which could help them achieve success in their business enterprises.”

Ruth talked about key areas including sales and marketing, networking, growing a business, making pitches, closing deals and increasing profit margins.

Sue added: “We have many clients who have been unemployed for long periods but who have developed good business plans and just need the right advice and support to take the first steps on a successful career in business. PEA have helped many young businesses to prosper and Ruth provided motivation and inspiration for our group of budding entrepreneurs.”

The PEA WiN centre provides clients with a more holistic approach to securing a job including; employment advice and guidance, micro-finance support for business start ups and an on-line learning facility accessible to everyone in the local community. Other facilities include the Birmingham Credit Union, a crèche, internet café, community bistro and a healthy living centre with a range of activities at either reduced cost or free of charge to local residents.

www.pertemps.co.uk