Dragon slayers

THEY'RE in! Dragons' Den millionaire Shaf Rasul has snapped up FOUR new apprentices.

The lucky quartet beat more than 2,000 applicants to land a year working for the Scottish Sun columnist.

Shaf, who stars in the online version of the hit BBC show, has hired the recruits for his expanding empire.

He picked William Wallace, Amanda Rofail, Fraser McLean and Tom Mursell to help run his portfolio which includes property and internet businesses.

The tycoon - who made last year's Sunday Times Rich List with his £48million fortune - launched the initiative in December after Government stats showed youth unemployment hit one million last year.

He said: "Young people have been hit harder than any other age group during the recession.

"And we launched this search to give four young people their first step on to the career ladder. I want to produce four award-winning entrepreneurs and I don't think anything like this has ever been done."

Multimedia technology graduate William, 25, from Johnstone, Renfrew-shire, says his dad William Sr's fight with cancer inspired him.

He said: "It was a strange time for me, but I'm glad I could make him and my mum proud."

Web whiz Tom, 20 - the first to be recruited - founded notgoingtouni.co.uk while he was still at school, before selling the website.

Business graduate Amanda, 26, from Perth, is a Tesco customer services manager and Fraser, 24, from Glasgow, is a communications graduate.

Shaf, from Alloa, said: "The standard was high. I was inspired by their dynamism and enthusiasm.

"I'm looking forward to supporting and monitoring the candidates in their development."