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the idea and gave me the space for free which was amazing! I phoned all the local schools and gave them the information about the event and to my amazement over 400 students turned up! I then did smaller events in places like Nottingham and some of the world-leading employers like PwC started knocking on my door as they wanted my help. I now put on over 250 events a year and work with about 60 big companies and have helped over 600,000 young people. I bridge the gap between education and employment and we have also moved into digital media, social media and podcasts. We have a huge amount of data from our research that we share with clients, which is invaluable. I am very proud of what I have achieved and I don’t really see it as work as it’s just a way of life and I love what I do. FTB : You will soon be on our screens in the next series of The Apprentice – how was that experience? DM: It was a big risk for me as I had to be shut away from my business which I’ve been so heavily invested in for almost 10 years. I had to trust that my team and business would continue doing well without me. I actually learnt a great deal about myself while I was filming. We were allowed one short phone call a week, and I never called my family or friends, as I called work to ensure everything was going well and to plan. What I found out about myself was so important though. I had the opportunity to work with different people from different backgrounds, make quicker decisions under time pressure and for the first time, being told what to do by others! I went from being the boss to being managed by other candidates on tasks. I also realised that it was all right to have some time out, as everything ran very smoothly when I wasn’t around, so I can now take a holiday and not worry.They were very good to me when we were filming, as I am dyslexic, and so they gave me extra time to read up on certain tasks. They were long days though and sometimes we filmed up to 16 hours a day, but it was a great experience. FTB : What plans do have for the future? DM: We are building a job app for students at school and university which I think will be so useful for them. It will give help with CVs and job applications and because it’s on your phone you can access it at all times. I also have a little passion project going which I am excited about but it’s not quite ready yet. FTB : What advice would you give first time buyers? DM: Location is very important and first time buyers may want to live in a precise
“I NOW PUT ON OVER 250 EVENTS A YEAR AND WORK WITH ABOUT 60 BIG COMPANIES AND HAVE HELPED OVER 600,000 YOUNG PEOPLE”
location and have an idea of what property they want, but it might be out of their reach, so be prepared to settle with something different and at least get a foot on the ladder. Start saving as soon as you can and even if you can only afford a studio which isn’t in the best area, it’s a stepping stone. The first property you buy will not be your
forever home. Also, make sure you read all the small print and understand what the lease says, unless it’s a freehold property, and what the service charge is for and how much it will be.
Young Professionals – YPUK @youngprouk
First Time Buyer February/March 2026 15
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