Feeling the fear, and doing it anyway…We talk to star of The Apprentice Jade English about her life-changing TV experience and how she plans to help others find career happiness.

Jade English isn’t like most interviewees. For starters, she asks you questions and treats you like an old friend. Despite losing out on a £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar (she was ‘fired’ in week 10), you can’t help thinking that, with such openness and generosity, her future’s going to be as bright as her smile.

 A crazy year

“Before applying, I was in a bit of a rut,” admits Manchester-based Jade. “My job was OK but it wasn’t satisfying my soul. I applied and stuck a cheque for £250k on my ceiling and visualised it every day. Before I knew it, I was in the house in London, it was crazy. No phones, no social media, you couldn’t even read books.”

The broadcast media graduate describes the series 13 experience as ‘magical’. She says Lord Sugar is “exactly what he’s like on TV – you wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of him!” and, of Karren Brady, “it was great to be in the company of such an inspirational woman”.

Was having the famous finger pointed toward her as awful as it looks?

“Winning and investment would have been great,” replies Jade, “but just taking part changed my outlook on life entirely – it made me realise what I really want to do and chase after my dreams.”

Back to business

Jade’s business plan centred on a website to help people secure their ideal career through new experiences. Now back in Manchester, and when she’s not doing her media sales day job, Jade is sharing older-than-her-years wisdom via radio appearances and blogging. She promotes well-being, self-acceptance and overcoming anxiety, with a particular emphasis on empowering young women.

“I encourage people to take a step back and discover what they actually want,” explains Jade. “To be unafraid, try new things and discover a career path that might not make them rich, but will make them happy.

“If nothing else comes from The Apprentice, the messages I receive saying ‘thank you so much for your latest blog, it’s really helped me’ make my down days better.”

New Year’s resolutions

Rather than give stuff up for 2018, Jade created a positive to-do list on her blog. She’s already ticked off several entries:

“I had my first golfing lesson!” she beams. “I missed the first shot and looked like a right idiot but by the end, people (who’d watched her Instagram videos) were messaging to say ‘you’ve got quite a good swing on you!’”

Single, focussed and finally doing what makes her happy, now Jade wants to help others to follow:

“Everyone should find what makes them happy. That’s why I’m still seeking investment for my website… so watch this space.”

And her social media too…

Blog: jadeenglish.com

Instagram: itsjadeenglish

Twitter: @ItsJadeEnglish