Top boss Simon Biltcliffe reckons his "apprentice" is far better than Sir Alan Sugar's new boy.

Mr Biltcliffe, managing director of Bicester print firm Webmart UK, has taken on teenage whizzkid Richard Boon and is grooming him for success.

Just like Simon Ambrose on TV show The Apprentice, Mr Boon faced a grilling from a tough interview panel which included Mr Biltcliffe.

And like the Amstrad tycoon, Mr Bitlcliffe was impressed by his enthusiasm and entrepreneurial ability in a Dragons Den-style presentation.

Now the 19-year-old from Woodstock is working his way around rapidly expanding Webmart to discover where his natural business skills can be used best.

Mr Biltcliffe said: "I think young Mr Boon is more switched on than the guy Alan Sugar took on in The Apprentice.

"He is learning his craft but doing incredibly well and he has the image I would like to develop for the company. Potentially the sky is the limit for him."

Mr Boon was spotted by Mr Biltcliffe during the finals of a competition called The Pitch which he won, landing £85,000 worth of cash for his idea from investors including his future boss.

But his product, an adjustable footstool for pensioners with walking difficulties, has been put on the backburner after the chance came to work for Webmart UK.

Mr Boon explained: "I went to see Simon to discuss my ideas and I ended up having an interview and then a job offer.

"I am working my way round different positions and with each one I am thrown in the deep end and I am learning new skills.

"I am helping Simon with his plans for the business and developing my own ideas."

Meanwhile, in his spare time, is involved with four bands, especially Inner Breeze which played recently in front of Witney MP and Conservative leader David Cameron at the opening of the new enterprise centre at his Marlborough School in Woodstock, where he was a pupil until just last year.

He added: "I gave a talk on entrepreneurialism and then I went to play in the band. I just can't seem to relax!"