The Apprentice winner 2024 has been announced after a whirlwind series.
Rachel Woolford, owner of a fitness studio, has emerged as the latest business partner of Lord Alan Sugar after clinching victory in this year’s series of The Apprentice. The contestant, who kick-started her boutique gym venture North Studio amidst the Covid pandemic, battled it out with fellow finalist Phil Turner.
She triumphed and secured Lord Sugar’s hefty £250,000 investment and has formed a partnership with the renowned businessman. Upon being announced as the winner during Thursday’s grand finale, she expressed that securing the investment was “something beyond my wildest dreams”.
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However, Lord Sugar’s aide Tim Campbell, while acknowledging Woolford as a “great advocate” for her product and service, raised doubts about her ability to expand her business beyond the gyms she had already established. Following the final pitches from the two finalists, Lord Sugar arrived at his decision.
(Image: PA)
He stated: “This is a very tough decision, I’ve got to say because I’ve got two very, very credible people in front of me. I’ve got Rachel who claims she’s making money and that she’s going to make even more when she gets the second gym up and running but gyms are, with all due respect, two-a-penny.”
“Specialist pies are not and it’s a market that I’m very interested in, but how can I be interested in it if there’s no light at the end of the tunnel? There’s a loss-making business at the moment which you tell me is going to turn around and be okay, and that’s my dilemma.”
(Image: PA)
Lord Sugar spilled the beans, admitting: “It’s very, very hard for me. I’m having trouble here. But my gut feeling is telling me that, Rachel, you’re going to be my business partner.”
The telly hit kicked off with 18 eager beavers and a first mission sending them up to the Scottish Highlands to run a corporate retreat. After 12 nail-biting weeks and gruelling tasks, including one where they had to launch a new team for Formula-E, the electric motorsport championship, the pack was thinned down to just two finalists.
(Image: PA)
Team Nexus smashed it out of the park, bagging a record-breaking £38.7 million in sponsorship from the event. This was thanks to Rachel’s top-notch negotiation skills, beating the show’s previous highest win of £1.2 million by miles.
Catch all the drama of The Apprentice series 18 on BBC iPlayer. Fans of the series can also rewatch older series on the platform.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
