Two hopefuls trying to convince Lord Alan Sugar to invest in their business are from Cumbria.

Rebecca Jeffery, who grew up in Asby and attended both Lamplugh and Keswick schools, and Oliver Nohl-Oser, who was brought up in the Eden Valley, will star on The Apprentice.

Oliver is co-founder of Penrith-based The Cumbrian Sausage Company, which has its production unit at Maryport's Solway Industrial Estate.

The 33-year-old started the company in Penrith with a university friend 10 years ago.

Although he lives in Wiltshire, he calls Cumbria his "second home" as he comes back regularly and uses his mum's cottage in Milburn, near Penrith, as his company's base.

Although he's keeping tight-lipped about his appearance on the BBC One show, he believes his greatest business skills lie in his marketing ability and powers of persuasion.

When it comes to winning, he regards honesty as the best policy but says he won't be befriending other candidates as he wants to focus on the prize.

He added: "Sometimes I feel like James Bond when I’m in my suit."

Rebecca, 31, is the owner of a marketing and design business called Fi and Becs, which she runs with her sister Fi Woodhead in Greater Manchester.

She left the area when she was 18 to go to Nottingham University where she graduated in 2006 with a degree in American and Canadian studies.

Her dad, Howard Bouch, who lives at Seaton, said that Rebecca often comes home to west Cumbria to visit family.

"She loves it up here," he said. "I'm so proud of her and think she's done fantastic getting on The Apprentice."

Rebecca, a mother-of-one, prides herself on being relentless and possessing an infectious enthusiasm, but admits that numbers and calculations are a weakness for her.

She said: "People often foolishly mistake my enthusiasm for silliness or positivity for naivety.

"I'm proof that you can get things done without whinging."

The primetime show returns next Thursday and will once again see Lord Sugar joined by advisors Baroness Karren Brady and Claude Littner. The winner will secure a £250,000 business investment.

Lord Sugar said: "I need to see who's got a good business brain, that's all I'm interested in.

"The winner gets a £250,000 investment and it will change someone’s life forever."

Thursday's series kicks off with a task designed to test the candidates' skills in negotiation and selling.

The teams arrive at a lock-up containing antiques and collectables including furniture, vintage clothing, toys, ceramics, silver and glassware. They must spot the treasure from the trash, before they sell their chosen items to the public and trade to make as much money as possible.

Other tasks over the coming weeks include creating an advertising campaign for jeans, manufacturing a range of sweets, hosting ‘late night opening’ events at well-known attractions, designing virtual reality games and producing and creating their own brand of gin. After each task, the losing team will face Lord Sugar in the boardroom and under the spotlight of his interrogation, candidates must fight to keep their place in the process and avoid hearing the dreaded words “You’re fired!”