Rothna Akhtar Biography: Inspiring Journey from Student Wellbeing to The Apprentice
Rothna Akhtar is a British Bangladeshi entrepreneur, baker, student wellbeing professional and television personality who gained national recognition through The Apprentice UK in 2026. Based in East London, she has combined a professional career supporting university students with an entrepreneurial interest in baking.
Her journey is particularly interesting because it does not follow a conventional business path. Her wellbeing experience and education provided valuable communication and interpersonal skills, while her passion for baking developed into Rothna’s Bakery. Although her journey on The Apprentice did not end with Lord Sugar’s investment, the programme introduced her ambitions and business personality to a much wider audience.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Rothna Akhtar |
| Age | 28 during The Apprentice 2026 |
| Hometown | East London, England |
| Raised In | Tower Hamlets, East London |
| Nationality | British |
| Ethnic Background | Bangladeshi |
| Religion | Islam |
| Education | BA History |
| University | University College London (UCL) |
| Graduation Year | 2018 |
| Profession | Student Wellbeing Adviser, baker and entrepreneur |
| Workplace | Imperial College London |
| Business Venture | Rothna’s Bakery |
| Known For | The Apprentice UK Series 20 |
| Source of Income | Student wellbeing career and baking business |
Who Is Rothna Akhtar?
Rothna Akhtar is a British professional and entrepreneur whose public profile combines higher education, student wellbeing and baking. She became widely recognised when she appeared as a candidate on Series 20 of The Apprentice UK. Her participation allowed viewers to learn about her entrepreneurial ambitions and the story behind her bakery.
Before national television exposure, Rothna had already established a career focused on helping university students. Her experience in wellbeing distinguishes her from many traditional entrepreneurs and has influenced the people-focused approach she brings to business.
Rothna Akhtar Early Life and Background
Growing Up in East London
Rothna grew up in Tower Hamlets in East London. Her East London roots form an important part of her public identity, and she has described herself as a British Bangladeshi Muslim woman from the area.
Her family also played a role in encouraging her interest in baking. Rothna has spoken about watching The Apprentice with her family while growing up, making her eventual participation in the programme a significant milestone in her journey.
Rothna Akhtar Education
Studying History at UCL
Rothna studied History at University College London and graduated in 2018. Studying history helped her develop skills in critical thinking, analysing different viewpoints and understanding complicated arguments.
Her university years became important for reasons extending beyond academic study. Rothna developed an active interest in student welfare and representation, creating an early foundation for the professional career she later pursued.
Rothna Akhtar Career Beginnings
Rothna served as Welfare and International Officer at Students’ Union UCL for 2018–19. The position allowed her to become directly involved in issues affecting students and gave her experience in representation and wellbeing.
During this period, she was involved in establishing a Hate Crime Reporting Centre through the Students’ Union Advice Service. Her work demonstrated an early commitment to student support and eventually contributed to her progression into a professional wellbeing career.
Career at Imperial College London
Working in Student Wellbeing
Rothna continued her professional journey in higher education and became a Student Wellbeing Adviser for Mathematics at Imperial College London. Her work centres on helping students discuss concerns and identify appropriate support.
The position requires communication, empathy and the ability to understand different situations. These abilities also have relevance to entrepreneurship, where understanding customers, colleagues and business relationships can be as important as commercial knowledge.
Rothna’s Bakery and Her Passion for Baking
Alongside her wellbeing career, Rothna transformed her enthusiasm for baking into a business called Rothna’s Bakery. Her baking journey developed through making desserts for family and people close to her.
Her Nutella cupcakes proved particularly popular with her family, whose encouragement helped motivate her to begin selling her creations. Rothna initially made products such as cupcakes, cheesecakes, truffles and dessert boxes before developing her skills further.
Rothna Akhtar as a Self-Taught Baker
From Desserts to Bespoke Cakes
Rothna largely developed her baking abilities through independent learning, experimentation and consistent practice. As her experience increased, she moved towards more complex creations, including bespoke wedding cakes.
Building the venture while maintaining a professional career required considerable commitment. Her progress demonstrates how a personal creative interest can gradually develop into a genuine entrepreneurial opportunity when supported by practical experience and persistence.
Rothna Akhtar Business Philosophy
Rothna’s approach to baking extends beyond simply producing cakes. She associates the activity with creativity, celebration, connection and personal wellbeing.
This philosophy creates an interesting connection between her two professional worlds. Her university career focuses on wellbeing, while her entrepreneurial work uses baking as a creative and social experience. Combining these ideas eventually became central to her larger business ambitions.
Rothna Akhtar on The Apprentice 2026
Rothna entered Series 20 of The Apprentice UK as a 28-year-old Student Wellbeing Adviser from East London. Her appearance introduced Rothna’s Bakery and her entrepreneurial ambitions to a national television audience.
The competition tested candidates across demanding commercial tasks requiring teamwork, sales, leadership and decision-making. Rothna progressed to week ten, giving her substantial exposure during the series. However, her journey ended before she could secure Lord Sugar’s investment.
Rothna Akhtar Business Venture and Expansion Idea
An Experiential Bakery Concept
Rothna’s business proposal aimed to develop her existing baking operation into something broader than a conventional cake shop. Her concept incorporated bespoke occasion cakes, interactive baking workshops and a personalised cake-bar experience.
The proposed model reflected her interest in making baking interactive and enjoyable. Instead of customers simply purchasing finished products, parts of the concept would encourage them to participate in the experience, connecting creativity, food and social interaction.
Rothna Akhtar Career After The Apprentice
Appearing on The Apprentice significantly expanded Rothna’s public profile. Her career story became known beyond university wellbeing circles and customers of her baking venture.
Following her television experience, Rothna discussed her journey, baking business and approach to entrepreneurship publicly. Her appearance gave Rothna’s Bakery greater visibility while positioning her as a professional whose interests span wellbeing, business and creativity.
Rothna Akhtar Source of Income
Rothna has two clearly established areas of professional activity. She works in student wellbeing at Imperial College London, representing the higher-education side of her career.
Her second commercial activity is Rothna’s Bakery. The venture has included desserts and bespoke cakes, creating an additional entrepreneurial dimension to her professional profile.
Rothna Akhtar Public Image and Influence
Rothna’s public image is strongly connected with wellbeing, baking and entrepreneurship. Her journey from student representation to professional wellbeing work demonstrates continuity in her interest in supporting and understanding people.
At the same time, her entrepreneurial development shows a more creative side. Her television exposure also gave her an opportunity to represent her British Bangladeshi Muslim background on a prominent UK business programme.
Conclusion
Rothna Akhtar has developed an unusual career that connects education, student wellbeing, baking and entrepreneurship. From studying History at UCL and becoming involved in student welfare to working at Imperial College London, her professional journey has consistently included a strong people-focused element.
Rothna’s Bakery added another dimension to that journey, transforming a passion for homemade desserts into an entrepreneurial venture. Although she did not ultimately secure investment on The Apprentice, reaching week ten gave her business and personal story national exposure. Her developing career demonstrates how creativity and professional experience can combine to create distinctive entrepreneurial ambitions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rothna Akhtar
Who is Rothna Akhtar?
Rothna Akhtar is a British Bangladeshi student wellbeing professional, baker and entrepreneur from East London. She became nationally known after appearing on Series 20 of The Apprentice UK in 2026.
How old is Rothna Akhtar?
Rothna Akhtar was 28 years old during her appearance on The Apprentice in 2026.
What does Rothna Akhtar do?
Rothna works as a Student Wellbeing Adviser at Imperial College London. She is also a baker and entrepreneur associated with Rothna’s Bakery.
What is Rothna’s Bakery?
Rothna’s Bakery is Rothna Akhtar’s baking venture. Her work has included desserts and bespoke cakes, while her wider business concept incorporated occasion cakes, interactive baking workshops and personalised cake experiences.
Where did Rothna Akhtar study?
Rothna studied History at University College London. She graduated from UCL in 2018 before continuing her career in student welfare and wellbeing.
