BUSINESS hotshots gearing up for the newest series of The Apprentice next month have likened themselves to "Tasmanian devils" and "pocket rockets".

But Oxfordshire buisnesswoman Michelle Niziol hopes her honesty, passion and straight-talking can grab the attention and iinvestment of Lord Sugar.

The property consultancy owner based in Bicester is one of 18 men and women lining up as this year's candidates.

The popular BBC One show returns for its 12th series on October 6, airing on Thursdays for the first time.

Ms Niziol founded and owns three companies in mortgages, property and lettings.

The 35-year-old describes herself as straight-talking, passionate and honest,  but admits that she can sometimes be bossy and impatient.

She said: "I work 15 to 17 hours every day. 100 per cent, I'm a workaholic."

Oxford Mail:

Split into two teams, the candidates will have to work together to pick out treasure from trash at a large lock-up containing antiques and collectables before selling them to the public.

The winning team will be the one that makes the biggest profit, meaning they will escape the threat of being fired by Lord Sugar and his wagging finger in the boardroom.

Other tasks in the series will see the candidates coming up with an advertising campaign for jeans, manufacturing a range of sweets and creating their own brand of gin.

The contestants will hope to impress Lord Sugar in order to secure his £250,000 investment in their business plan.

The business tycoon will be joined once again by aides Baroness Karren Brady and Claude Littner as the boardroom antics get under way.

Lord Sugar said: "You can compare this to being on a life support machine and one of your colleagues here pulling the plug out just to charge their mobile phone up.

"That's how competitive it will get."

He added that he is only interested in seeing "who's got a good business brain" and that if people taking part are unable to tackle the process and want to complain and moan, they can "send me an email at lordsugar@idontcare.com".

Lord Sugar said his £250,000 investment will "change someone's life forever" after previously investing £1.25 million in five businesses during the show's run.

Meet the nine men and nine women hoping to win his business investment:

  • Alana Spencer, 24. Occupation: Cake company owner

Lives: Ceredigion, Mid Wales

Spencer describes herself as determined, creative and charming. She started her first business - a chocolate company - at 17 before moving on to selling cakes.

Top quote: "I am incredibly hard-working, driven and I'll stop at nothing to get what I want."

  • Aleksandra King, 38. Occupation: Business consultancy owner

Lives: London

Fluent in seven languages, King also describes herself as altruistic and extremely confident, while she also believes she has a gift for spotting a good business opportunity and can sell to anyone.

Top quote: "Like the Tasmanian devil in the famous cartoon, I will torpedo my way through to the win."

  • Courtney Wood, 29. Occupation: Novelty gift company owner

Lives: Essex

Wood designs and creates novelty gifts which he supplies to national and international retailers and describes himself as fun with a positive attitude. He believes his confidence is one of his strongest attributes.

Top quote: "How would I describe myself in one sentence? I'll give you one word - awesome."

  • Dillon St Paul, 37. Occupation: Art director for a fashion magazine

Lives: Dublin, Ireland

St Paul describes himself as talented, kind, very funny and super-creative. He intends to be "Machiavellian" about tasks and will tell white lies if he needs to.

Top quote: "Sometimes batting the eyelashes can get you a lot in business. Hence, the mascara comes in handy - so they can see those lashes."

  • Frances Bishop, 25. Occupation: Children's clothing company owner

Lives: Doncaster

Bishop describes herself as talkative with a feisty personality, which she believes is what has got her so far in the business world. She wants to impress Lord Sugar with her strong, positive outlook.

Top quote: "I'm a pocket rocket. I'm quite fiery and live by the rule 'kill them with kindness'."

  • Grainne McCoy, 31. Occupation: Make-up studio owner

Lives: Northern Ireland

With her make-up business, McCoy works throughout the country on projects from film sets to fashion shows. She says her hunger and passion push her to succeed and she puts maximum effort into everything she does.

Top quote: "I need guidance and a little bit of mentoring to help me make that first million."

  • JD O'Brien, 37. Occupation: Beachwear company owner

Lives: London

O'Brien believes he can make the best of any situation while still being a "good bloke". He says he is going to put in the hard work and aims to make no mistakes along the way.

Top quote: "I won't suffer fools. I will get upset by other candidates who don't know their arse from their elbow."

  • Jessica Cunningham, 29. Occupation: Online fashion entrepreneur

Lives: Derbyshire

Cunningham is the operations director for a PR and marketing agency as well as her online fashion business. She believes her positive, helpful attitude will propel her through tasks. She wants to get close to the other candidates to find out how they operate, analyse their strengths and weaknesses and attempt to use them to her advantage.

Top quote: "A motto I live by is: There is no competition if you're already winning."

  • Karthik Nagesan, 33. Occupation: IT consultancy owner

Lives: Northamptonshire

Nagesan says his friends would describe him as a born leader who takes charge and blazes a trail. He cites his role model as Alexander the Great because he is a master strategist and a brilliant tactician.

Top quote: "If I wanted to be like everyone else, I'd have waxed my monobrow."

  • Oxfordshire candidate Michelle Niziol35. Occupation: Property consultancy owner

Lives: Oxfordshire

Niziol founded and owns three companies in mortgages, property and lettings and describes herself as straight-talking, passionate and honest but admits that she can sometimes be bossy and impatient.

Top quote: "I work 15 to 17 hours every day. 100%, I'm a workaholic."

  •  Mukai Noiri, 36. Occupation: Digital marketing manager in fashion

Lives: London

Noiri has lived in six countries across three continents and recently gave up his position as a senior communications manager to focus on his business idea. He believes his charm is one of his strongest qualities but is also a straight-talker.

Top quote: "I feel sorry for Lord Sugar because previous applicants have been weak."

  • Natalie Hughes, 30. Occupation: Hair and beauty salon owner

Lives: Glasgow

Hughes owns and runs two beauty and clothing businesses and considers her best quality to be her quick thinking, but she is also a persuasive talker who insists that nothing embarrasses her.

Top quote: "I started at a young age, I'm a hustler, I've got the hustler's ambition."

  • Oliver Nohl-Oser, 33. Occupation: Food distribution business owner

Lives: Wiltshire

Nohl-Oser is the founder and director of a sausage manufacturer which supplies supermarkets both in the UK and internationally. He believes his greatest business skills lie in his marketing ability and his powers of persuasion.

Top quote: "Sometimes I feel like James Bond when I'm in my suit."

  • Paul Sullivan, 38. Occupation: Marketing agency owner

Lives: Chigwell, Essex

Sullivan is the director and owner of a marketing company that specialises in finance, technology, construction and property. He is a self-proclaimed charmer but doesn't think he needs a unique selling point to win; consistency and sincerity will put him ahead, he says.

Top quote: "I'll play the team when I need to be part of the team, but I'm here to win; I'm not here to make up the numbers."

  • Rebecca Jeffery, 31. Occupation: Design and marketing agency owner

Lives: Greater Manchester

Jeffery works as both the account manager and creative director for a marketing and design business. She prides herself on being relentless and possessing an infectious enthusiasm but admits that numbers and calculations are a weakness for her.

Top quote: "People often foolishly mistake my enthusiasm for silliness or positivity for naivety. I'm proof that you can get things done without whingeing."

  • Samuel Boateng, 27. Occupation: Sales manager for a major car brand

Lives: London

Boateng is responsible for managing and generating new business for more than 700 businesses across London. He regards his ability in developing new and innovative ideas to be his strongest business skill, and says he has excellent public speaking abilities.

Top quote: "My creativity, my passion, my charm and my likeability all roll into one, creating one perfect guy."

  • Sofiane Khelfa, 32. Occupation: Technology senior sales executive

Lives: Essex

Khelfa works in a high-end retail store, negotiating technology sales with high-profile clients and says he has the ability to adapt, deliver and build lasting relationships with people in business. He says his friends might call him over-zealous, but he believes when he gets down to business, his skills and personality will shine.

Top quote: "The best survivors in the world are the people who adapt, and I'm the best at adapting. I'm like a chameleon. I adapt to anything, anywhere, anytime."

  • Trishna Thakrar, 28. Occupation: Recruitment agent in IT

Lives: London

A former semi-professional football player, Thakrar now works for a large IT company providing internal recruitment services. She says her friends would describe her as engaging and funny and believes her best business skill lies in her charm, but that her sensitivity could be her downfall as, if you cross her, she will not hold back.

Top quote: "My only tactic is to be myself; this alone will make sure I win."