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Former Apprentice contestant Raef Bjayou claimed there is still room for entrepreneurial success in the current economic downturn, during a talk at Canterbury College on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old from Fulham, who was fired by Sir Alan Sugar in week nine of the last BBC 1 series earlier this year, was the keynote speaker at The Flying Start Rally.

Well-spoken and sharply dressed, he painted a positive outlook for the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

“There are a lot of people around at the moment who’ll tell you the market is saturated and there’s far too much competition to do what you want to do,” he said.

“But what I say is once you take away those people who won’t work as hard as you, or aren’t as good as you, your competition shrinks dramatically and you’re far more likely to succeed.”

Audio: hear more of Raef speaking to Adam Williams >>>

He added: “Now is a terrific time for students to add value to themselves through education.

“We’re entering a phase in the 21st century where the bureaucratic age is ending and the empowering individual age is beginning.”

The former public schoolboy also admitted Barack Obama’s rise to US President-elect should inspire all of us to achieve greater things in the face of adversity.

Since hearing the dreaded “you’re fired”, Raef has combined public speaking and TV appearances with a role as an ambassador for The Prince’s Trust.

The Flying Start Rally was organised by Canterbury Christ Church University, Kent University and Canterbury City Council on behalf of The National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurs as part of their enterprise week.