When and how did you learn to use the internet?
I started using the Internet actively since around 2002. The main impetus was being in business. That's how I started getting to grips with it. I think the Internet is fantastic.
So how do you mainly use the Internet?
Well when I set up my business I made the important decision of creating webmail accounts, which means that I can access my e-mail from wherever I am in the world without having to dial into my server.
I'm unconventional as I don't always want to work during "normal" working hours so webmail gives me the flexibility that I need. I use my e-mail every single day.
How about outside of business, how do you use the Internet on personal level, e.g. shopping etc?
I'm quite genned up on the subject when it comes to business, but I don't use the internet much in my personal life.
I've currently got six people on MySpace, and facebook pretending to be me, and I can tell you honestly that none of them are me. I'm not into that.
I will however use the Internet for research and then I find the price that's right for me and I call the company direct and negotiate the price.
You've got your own website, how involved were you in creating it?
Completely involved! I sat down with the web designer and went through everything.
I'm redesigning it at the moment, but rather than have one of those awful unprofessional pages up saying "this site is under construction" my site is still active and working because it's the window to my business, and that's how I get a lot of my work.
I felt it was important for my website to be corporate, clean, and easy to navigate. And the most important thing is that it says what I do and it's got my contact details.
Which sites would you say that you visit regularly?
For business I would definitely say Yell.com - it's great and saves me a fortune because I don't want to call 118 118.
I also always use Lastminute, when I'm travelling and Virgin, because I'm always on a train.
I use Tesco online to deliver my food. Other sites I use for research, Google is my home page.
I bank online so I'm always visiting the Barclays site, but only from a very secure setting.
I love online banking; it's the key to helping you control your finances, we've all got access to it and I think we should use it.
I use moneysupermarket.com, which is good for comparing financial products.
The only other major thing I use the Internet for is booking holidays. I look online to get the details. I use Portland and Lastminute.
You're really busy travelling with work; do you ever use the Internet to keep you up to date with the news?
Yes I'll always take a look at the BBC and Sky news sites. The other thing I do when I'm travelling and I want to hear some music, is log onto to Heart or Galaxy radio.
If I'm home sick whilst travelling I'll log on and listen to stations like The Wolf in Wolverhampton.
If you had a friend logging on for the first time which site would you recommend they visit?
You mean apart from ruthbadger.com? Well that would have to be Google, because it's the best fun putting your name in and seeing what comes up, it's the best experience in the world. Then you get to look and laugh at your namesakes.
What have you been up to since we last saw you on the Apprentice?
The moment I came out of the show I launched my own business, which is a business consultancy, which improves profitability and productivity.
I also help start up businesses, advise businesses going to the wall, that kind of thing.
I've also been doing a lot of motivational speaking.
And I've been really lucky and done a series for Sky called "The Big Idea", and I've just been working on "Badger or Bust", which I've been working on since last November.
And what about this year's The Apprentice, who do you think is going to win?
Oh I wish I could tell you but I know who makes the final two and it wouldn't be fair to say.
Looking back are you glad that you got to go your own way and do your own thing?
Ah, thanks for asking the question like that, most people just say how did it feel to lose? I'm not happy that I didn't win, not in a, "I should have been the winner" way, but more because I'm incredibly competitive.
Sir Alan did actually say rather
complimentarily that I would make a million in a year without him, so I suppose I am happy about how things panned out.
He's been very supportive and he still is. I'm glad I took part, I think I did myself proud, and things have gone well for me.
