An Oxford graduate is starring in the BBC’s reality TV show The Apprentice in a bid to win a job working for Lord Sugar.
Jordan Poulton graduated from Worcester College in 2009, having read Philosophy and Modern Languages, and in his time was one of Oxford Entrepreneur Society’s most successful presidents makigng it one of the largest societies of its kind in the world.
According to Poulton’s audition for The Apprentice, “entrepreneurialism is in my blood”. He claims he began his career selling kittens in the school playground.
Jamie Pickering, a PPE student at Worcester, commented: “It’s great for the College that a graduate is featuring in such a high profile show.
“He has been a little bit anonymous so far but hopefully his prior experience at the greatest college in Oxford will stand him in good stead against his rivals.”
Poulton has remained in the back seat as neither project manager nor sub-team leader, but has managed to maintain a 100 per cent winning record.
In the first show, Poulton was tasked with selling goods such as bottled water and Chinese lucky cats, in bulk, and in the second brewing and selling a flavoured beer.
Poulton has, however, attracted more attention for his relationship with fellow candidate Luisa Zissman than for his selling figures.
The couple, who met during filming for the show, dated for six months but broke up this week. Zissman is said to have thought that the relationship was damaging her credibility.
Holly Meehan, a second year at Keble commented: “As a budding entrepreneur I find it inspiring that figures like Poulton can act as guiding lights for my passion.
Poulton’s time at Oxford was marked by entrepreneurial activities. During a single Fresher’s Week he increased the Oxford Entrepreneur’s society membership by 25 per cent and launched several initiatives including the Incubation Centre for recently launched businesses.
Current Oxford Entrepreneurs President Sean Stevens commented: “Jordan Poulton was an excellent President. I know that everyone on the OE committee is rooting for him, and we hope that his entrepreneurial tenacity will outshine the rest of the contestants.”
Poulton also founded the Oxford Investment Society and CrewDates Ltd, the crewdating website in Oxford and Cambridge.
The Apprentice features a group of aspiring businessmen and women who compete in an extended televised interview process for a £250,000 investment in their business idea.
A candidate from the losing team is fired each week based on their performance in weekly tasks. Previous candidate tasks have included advertising campaigns, designing mobile phone apps, and creating and selling food items.
Since leaving Oxford, Poulton has joined the Telefonica European Graduate Programme and been part of the founding team behind O2 Wi-Fi, which has around six million users and 5,000 hotspots and is the UK’s fastest growing wi-fi network.
Poulton was unavailable for comment.
