The Apprentice is set to make a return to our screens in just a few days as a batch of aspiring entrepreneurs all hope to walk away with an investment from Lord Alan Sugar.
The BBC hit show, which has been a fan favourite since 2005, will see 18 candidates competing to win a life-changing £250,000 investment into their business.
Last week, the full line-up was released including four Yorkshire contestants, Sales Executive Oliver Medforth, Wellness Brand owner Dr Asif Munaf, Dental Group owner Dr. Paul Midha and Boutique Fitness Studio Owner Rachael Woolford.
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As Lord Sugar is about to make another invesment into a new business, here is a look back at the winners over the years.
(Image: BBC/Boundless/Ray Burmiston)
Who are The Apprentice winners?
Marnie Swindells – 2023
The most recent winner was Marnie Swindells. She used the £250k investment to kick-start her dream of opening a boxing gym, Bronx. Now, the 28-year-old has put it on record that she wants to enter the promoting industry alongside her venture.
Harpreet Kaur – 2022
Yorkshire’s Harpreet Kaur, who owns a dessert parlour used the prize money to expand and rebrand her already successful, six-figure coffee and cakes business.
Last year she revealed that she bought back Lord Sugar’s shares in the dessert business, writing that this marked “a significant achievement in her business journey”.
Carina Lepore – 2019
Carina Lepore won The Apprentice in 2019 with her artisan baking business. In September 2020, she opened her second bakery in Beckenham.
Sian Gabbidon – 2018
Swimwear designer Sian Gabbidon was chosen as the winner of the 14th series of the BBC hit show.
The business woman from Leeds has since expanded her range to include party clothes and loungewear and can be bought at popular retailers like ASOS and Asda.
Sarah Lynn/ James White – 2017
In 2017 Lord Sugar decided to invest in two businesses. James White and Sarah Lynn both received the £250,000 investment.
The duo impressed the business legend with their business plans for IT recruitment and confectionery respectively, meaning he had to fork out half a million pounds in total.
Alana Spencer – 2016
Alana Spencer won 2016’s series of the reality show. She used Lord Sugar’s investment to boost her brand, Ridiculously Rich by Alana.
In 2022, she had opened four ‘Ridiculously Rich’ stores in Wales and Since then, two branches in north Wales closed their doors for good but the business continues to thrive in south Wales as well as online.
Joseph Valente – 2015
Plumber Joseph Valente stormed to victory in 2015. He used the £250k investment to expand his business, which maintains and instals plumbing, heating and electrical products. In 2020 Joseph was forced to sell the company.
Mark Wright – 2014
Mark Wright went on to launch a successful digital marketing website Climb Online with Lord Sugar’s investment and went on to be listed on Forbes 30 under 30 list.
Leah Totton – 2013
Leah Totton set up a Botox clinic in central London after winning The Apprentice. She has since welcomed her first baby with golfer partner Justin Harding.
Ricky Martin – 2012
Ricky Martin won the reality series in 2012 and used the money to set up Hyper Recruitment Solutions, which specialises in scientific recruitment. Ricky is also a regular speaker in schools, universities and conferences about employability and jobs in science.
Tom Pellereau – 2011
Tom Pellereau one of the most successful winners to date. He went into business with the tycoon developing an S-shaped nail range called Stylfile, which was sold at Tesco and Asda supermarkets.
Their company has made a turnover of £1.5million. Tom went on to develop a collapsible baby bottle, a bowel cancer screening device and other inventions.
Stella English – 2010
Stella won The Apprentice in 2012 and went on to work for Lord Sugar’s IT division Viglen for over a year.
But things took a turn when she brought a constructive dismissal case against the entrepreneur, claiming that she had been forced to resign, which was later dismissed by a court. Wales Online reports.
Since then, she went on to work as a management consultant at computer giant HP. Afterwards, she began hosting Crowdbox TV, a crowdfunding TV channel in 2014.
Yasmina Siadatan – 2009
Hull-born Yasmina Siadatan landed a high-flying job at Lord Sugar’s Amscreen Healthcare Company following her win in 2009.
She worked for Lord Alan for 12 months but chose not to return after her maternity leave. After taking time off to have her two sons. She was later headhunted by former Dragons’ Den star James Caan and now works as creative director of Start Up Loans.
Lee McQueen – 2008
Lee from Middlesex won the 2008 series despite lying about his university achievements. He went on to work with Lord Sugar in helping to set up Amscreen, which formed part of the businessman’s holding company Amshold.
He left the company after two years to set up his own sales training company called Raw Talent Academy, and technology company Phoenix 51.
Simon Ambrose – 2007
Simon Ambrose won a job with Lord Sugar’s property company Amsprop when he won the series in 2007. Since then, he moved into the nightlife scene by operating several London bars and restaurants.
(Image: © Courtesy Sian Gabbidon / SWNS)
Michelle Dewberry – 2006
After winning the show in 2006, Michelle from Hull was paid £100k a year to launch Xenon Green, Lord Sugar’s computer equipment disposal project, but left the role after a year.
She went on to set up her own consultancy firm and then become a Sky News TV pundit, run a shopping website called Daily Chic, and penned an autobiography called Anything Is Possible.
Tim Campbell– 2005
Former London Underground transport manager Tim Campbell won the first series of the reality show in 2005.
The winner bagged a £100,000 a year job at Lord Sugar’s Amstrad company, and was tasked with launching the Integra electronic anti-wrinkle device.
In March 2007 set up a social enterprise called Bright Ideas Trust, which supports young entrepreneurs from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Now, almost two decades later, he’s back in the boardroom once again sitting beside Lord Sugar and his former mentor and Baroness Karen Brady.
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