[James]

Friday, 29 September 2006

Apprentice winner quits prize job

Michelle Dewberry said she was grateful for the experience

The woman who won the BBC's The Apprentice has left the £100,000-a-year job which was part of her prize.

Michelle Dewberry, 26, is leaving to start her own consultancy firm.

Both she and Sir Alan Sugar, who selected Dewberry from more than 15,000 applicants, said her role at his Amstrad company had been "completed".

She was reported to have been put on leave after becoming pregnant with, then losing, a baby she was having with fellow contestant Syed Ahmed.

'New venture'

The former checkout worker from Hull said: "I am so grateful for the experience I have gathered from Sir Alan and others within his organisation.

"I am excited to take what I have learnt and help other companies by way of my new company, MDL."

Sir Alan, 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 said Dewberry has been given the task of investigating an environmental recycling project on behalf of one of Sir Alan's companies.

Her work was described as "excellent" but following an evaluation it was decided that expanding the project was too "premature".

Alan Sugar should have picked Ruth, IMO.