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A scientific business proposal by Cardiff graduate Richard "Ricky" Martin won him a £250,000 partnership in the final of the BBC's The Apprentice.

Richard, a Biochemistry graduate from the School of Biosciences, will now be working with Lord Sugar, developing his plan for a scientific recruitment business.

Richard, aged 26 and from Hampshire, graduated from Cardiff in 2006. He also developed his interest in professional wrestling while at the University, competing under the name Ricky. However he is now leaving the ring to concentrate fulltime on developing his business.

BBC1 viewers saw Richard grilled as one of the last four would-be Apprentices in the series final. However, his plan for a niche recruitment consultancy for scientific industry won over even The Apprentice's notoriously tough interviewers. Lord Sugar then chose Richard as his business partner ahead of wine investor Tom Gearing.

Dr Tim Higgins, who taught Richard at the School, said: "Richard was an enthusiastic and confident student during his time at Cardiff School of Biosciences, with a particular interest in biotechnology and the environment. He was a student who continually strived to achieve results.

"We were extremely proud to see one of our graduates do so well on The Apprentice, particularly as Richard's winning proposal to Lord Sugar will make such good use of his scientific background."

Richard had been working as a recruitment manager in Portsmouth before embarking on the gruelling Apprentice series of tasks, up against 15 other entrants. He was identified by Lord Sugar's advisor, Karren Brady, as the candidate who had improved the most over the course of the series.