A 21-year-old who rose from market trader to skincare entrepreneur has her sights set on becoming Lord Sugar’s business partner in the latest series of The Apprentice.

Susan Ma, from Croydon, had to organise her own schooling aged 13 after her mum settled the family in London despite speaking no English.

And the philosophy and economics graduate says that behind her smiley face and short stature lies the ruthless heart of a no-nonsense businesswoman.

Miss Ma will be one of 16 candidates taking on a string of entrpreneurial challenges to impress Lord Sugar, who will inject £250,000 into a business of the winner’s choice.

He told the contenstants: “You’re going to run it, and I say you’re going to run it because don’t expect me to be doing all the work because I’m not looking for a ‘sleeping’ partner.

“I’m not Saint Alan, the patron saint of bloody losers.

“You can look at it as a bit of an uncivil partnership, so to speak.”

The seventh series of the show, which begins on BBC One on May 10, will also see the challengers design a mobile phone app, transform rubbish into money and explore the lucrative possibilities of biscuits.