Margaret Mountford
Encyclopedia
Margaret Mountford is a British lawyer, businesswoman and television personality known for her role in The Apprentice
.
. She was educated at the voluntary grammar school Strathearn School
in Belfast
and at Girton College
, Cambridge
.
Mountford has been a non-executive director of Amstrad plc
since 22 September 1999. She also has many years of corporate law experience as a law firm partner at Herbert Smith
(from which she retired in March 1999). She is also a non-executive director at Georgica plc.
Mountford believes that her Northern Irish background has helped her career, saying: “I think coming from Northern Ireland gives you a lot of basic level-headedness and stands you in very good stead. A lot of what’s required is a common sense approach, much of business depends on that actually.”
Mountford is studying for a Ph.D in papyrology
at University College London
. She chairs the board of governors of St Marylebone
, an inner-London Church of England
Comprehensive School.
Mountford is also a trustee for the Bright Ideas Trust
. BIT was set up by the first Apprentice winner Tim Campbell and helps young people start their own businesses.
version of The Apprentice
television
show, a role with which she achieved increased public popularity. Mountford also took part on the panel in The Apprentice - You're Fired on 27 May 2009 for the first time, during which she hinted that Lorraine would not make the final.
In June 2009 Mountford announced she was leaving the show at the end of Series 5
in order to concentrate on her Ph.D studies at University College London
(UCL). She was replaced for Series 6
by businesswoman Karren Brady
.
She appeared in the 'interview' episode of the 2010 series, where she helped Lord Sugar narrow down the applicants to a final two candidates. Mountford returned for the Apprentice Final in 2011 in a similar role.
The Apprentice (UK)
The Apprentice is a British reality television series in which a group of aspiring young businessmen and women compete for the chance to win a £100,000-a-year job as an apprentice to the British business magnate Lord Sugar in series one to six...
.
Biography
Mountford is originally from Holywood in Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. She was educated at the voluntary grammar school Strathearn School
Strathearn School
Strathearn is a voluntary, all-girls grammar school in Belfast, Northern Ireland.It is situated in the east of the city and attended by about 750 girls aged 11–18. The grounds include sports facilities and pitches for hockey and athletics as well as many mature trees, which surround the front lawn...
in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and at Girton College
Girton College, Cambridge
Girton College is one of the 31 constituent colleges of the University of Cambridge. It was England's first residential women's college, established in 1869 by Emily Davies and Barbara Bodichon. The full college status was only received in 1948 and marked the official admittance of women to the...
, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
.
Mountford has been a non-executive director of Amstrad plc
Amstrad
Amstrad is a British electronics company, now wholly owned by BSkyB. As of 2006, Amstrad's main business is manufacturing Sky Digital interactive boxes....
since 22 September 1999. She also has many years of corporate law experience as a law firm partner at Herbert Smith
Herbert Smith
Herbert Smith LLP is an international law firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom. The firm has offices in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The firm was founded in the City of London in 1882 by Norman Herbert Smith and today has 240 partners and 1,300 fee-earners.-History:The firm was...
(from which she retired in March 1999). She is also a non-executive director at Georgica plc.
Mountford believes that her Northern Irish background has helped her career, saying: “I think coming from Northern Ireland gives you a lot of basic level-headedness and stands you in very good stead. A lot of what’s required is a common sense approach, much of business depends on that actually.”
Mountford is studying for a Ph.D in papyrology
Papyrology
Papyrology is the study of ancient literature, correspondence, legal archives, etc., as preserved in manuscripts written on papyrus, the most common form of writing material in the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece, and Rome...
at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
. She chairs the board of governors of St Marylebone
St Marylebone School
St Marylebone C of E School is a specialist secondary school for girls in Marylebone, London. It specialises in Performing Arts and Maths & Computing. In the sixth form, boys can also attend....
, an inner-London Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
Comprehensive School.
Mountford is also a trustee for the Bright Ideas Trust
Bright Ideas Trust
Bright Ideas Trust is a registered charity founded by former The Apprentice winner Tim Campbell, established to help people aged 16-30 build their own businesses.-Target group:...
. BIT was set up by the first Apprentice winner Tim Campbell and helps young people start their own businesses.
TV appearances
From 2005 to 2009 Mountford was one of Lord Sugar's advisers in the UKUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
version of The Apprentice
The Apprentice (UK)
The Apprentice is a British reality television series in which a group of aspiring young businessmen and women compete for the chance to win a £100,000-a-year job as an apprentice to the British business magnate Lord Sugar in series one to six...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
show, a role with which she achieved increased public popularity. Mountford also took part on the panel in The Apprentice - You're Fired on 27 May 2009 for the first time, during which she hinted that Lorraine would not make the final.
In June 2009 Mountford announced she was leaving the show at the end of Series 5
The Apprentice (UK series five)
Series Five of The Apprentice was a British reality television series which was won by Yasmina Siadatan. The series began airing on BBC One on 25 March 2009 and ran for twelve weekly hour-long episodes, as in all previous years. Auditions and interviews took place during July 2008 in London,...
in order to concentrate on her Ph.D studies at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
(UCL). She was replaced for Series 6
The Apprentice (UK series six)
Series Six of The Apprentice is a British reality television series. The series started on BBC One on 6 October 2010 and ran for twelve weekly hour-long episodes, as in all previous years...
by businesswoman Karren Brady
Karren Brady
Karren Brady is an English sporting executive, television broadcaster, newspaper columnist, author and novelist. She is the former managing director of Birmingham City Football Club and current vice-chairman of West Ham United...
.
She appeared in the 'interview' episode of the 2010 series, where she helped Lord Sugar narrow down the applicants to a final two candidates. Mountford returned for the Apprentice Final in 2011 in a similar role.