ARMIDALE man Mark Wright, 25, has fought his way to the top of British television, taking out the winning title on The Apprentice.
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The ambitious entrepreneur beat off 20 other candidates in a course of 12 tough tasks to prove his digital marketing agency should be backed with a $480,000 business partnership with Amstrad founder Lord Sugar.
"It's a bit of a rollercoaster ride," Mr Wright told the BBC, maker of the program. "But I'm in it for the long haul."
The reality television winner began his sales career working for Intersport Armidale.
Intersport manager Llara Wright said he had always been a good employee.
Mr Wright’s parents joined their sales-savy son in England to watch the final.
His uncle, Phil Wright, said the family were having to adjust to Mr Wright being a celebrity.
“It’s just amazing the amount of people stopping him in the street getting photos with him,” Mr Wright said.
Even if his nephew hadn’t won the competition, he said the amount of attention it attracted would have ensured future employment for Mr Wright.
“It looks like he’s really nailed it as far as sales,” he said.
“He’s now put himself in a position to secure a pretty decent job.”
Mr Wright has worked in marketing in England and Brisbane before appearing on The Apprentice.
But before all of that, he was working at Cliff Wright Motors after he left school.
His uncle thinks that Mr Wright’s work ethic and Australian accent have probably resonated well with British audiences.
Television crews visited Armidale to talk with Mr Wright’s family and film his background.
When asked what his poor business skills were, Mr Wright told the BBC he didn’t have any weaknesses.
He was also asked what his worst personality trait was and replied: “I’d like to think I don’t have any… but people would say I’m arrogant and I don’t accept other people’s opinions.”