Apprentice winner sets up her own company

Michelle Dewberry, winner of reality show The Apprentice, is quitting Alan Sugar’s company, it was announced today.

The former checkout girl is starting her own consultancy business, Michelle Dewberry Ltd.

Dewberry, 26, from Hull, landed the £100,000 (€147,523) job after beating 15,000 rivals on the BBC2 series with her cool temperament, fierce determination and the way she had overcome her difficult upbringing.

But she was recently reported to be on gardening leave after becoming pregnant with fellow contestant Syed Ahmed’s child.

Dewberry discovered she had lost the baby after going to hospital suffering from stomach pains last month.

Today the former telecoms consultant said: “I am so grateful for the experience I have gathered from Sir Alan and others within his organisation.

“I am excited to take these learnings and help other companies by way of my new company, MDL.”

Sugar, 59, said: “I wish Michelle the best of luck with her new venture.

“She leaves with my blessing, and there is no question that I would consider using her new company to work with her again on special projects that need evaluating.”

A statement from both the Amstrad boss and Dewberry said that she decided to move on because her computer disposal project had been “concluded”.

After winning the show, Dewberry began working on the project for tycoon Sir Alan, famous for the catchphrase `You're fired!', three months ago.

Today’s statement said: “Michelle has been working at Viglen, part of Alan Sugar’s Amstrad group of companies, since filming of The Apprentice ended last year.

“Michelle was given the task of investigating an environmental recycling project on behalf of Xenon Green, a subsidiary company of Viglen.

“Michelle did an excellent job of researching and reporting back to Sir Alan and the Viglen board.

“Based on Michelle’s research, both Michelle and the board concluded that to move to a full implementation of the proposed activity was too premature a move for the group as a whole.

“Xenon Green will continue to operate at a low level as it has been.

“It was decided not to proceed with the proposed expansion plan for the time being.”

“As this project has now been concluded, Michelle has decided to take her learnings and leave Viglen to start a new business venture of her own.”

Dewberry, who left school with just two GCSEs, beat rival Ruth Badger to the coveted prize.

She grew up on a Hull council estate and was the second eldest of six children.

She was spurred into getting a career when her older sister, a drug addict, fell to her death from the eighth floor of a tower block at the age of 19.

The tragedy prompted Dewberry, who has an on-off relationship with Syed, into action, and by 24 she was running her own telecoms business.