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SCOOPING a £250,000 investment and the expertise of one of Britain’s best business brains is certainly not to be sniffed at if you’re a budding entrepreneur.
But for some winners of The Apprentice, Lord Alan Sugar’s involvement appears to be a little too much, and has led to them parting ways.
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While a handful of past winners have gone on to build big business empires, the same cannot be said for most of those who decided to go it alone.
From bad Tripadvisor reviews to crippling debt, we reveal what happened next as the latest series comes to an end.
Large loss after ‘show sex scandal’
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James White was the beneficiary of a surprise double investment from the tough-talking Lord Sugar alongside confections expert Sarah Lynn in 2017.
However, while her venture went on to major success – eventually being stocked in Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Selfridges – his didn’t enjoy the same fate.
The self-professed Del Boy’s IT business, Right Time Recruitment, faced a series of setbacks, including losing £30,000 in the first six months.
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It followed a scandal on his series of The Apprentice, when show insiders claimed James and fellow contestant, Jade English, got up to “saucy antics”.
The alleged incidents broke the rules and the source told The Sun: “They couldn’t resist getting to know each other that bit better during their time in the house.”
Both James and Sarah left partners after the scandal emerged.
In 2018, James’ firm hit the headlines for hiring an 18st stripper to mark a new recruit’s birthday.
James claimed he had no knowledge of the event, that he was not present at the party and that it was away from his company’s premises in Birmingham.
Three years after he won the show, Lord Sugar left the company, but reportedly let him keep the £250,00 investment.
At the time, James said: “I am very grateful for everything Lord Sugar has done for me. The knowledge and advice gained… has been invaluable.”
Lord Sugar had similarly kind words, wishing him “all the very best for the future” and vowing to “follow his progress with interest”.
Poor reviews & literally ‘couldn’t get the staff’
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She might have managed to impress Lord Sugar, but the 2016 winner of The Apprentice has been less successful at winning over locals to her cafe.
Alana Spencer’s Ridiculously Rich, which serves cakes and sweet treats, was ranked bottom out of 132 restaurants in Llandudno, Wales, on Tripadvisor, just six months after opening.
Residents ranted over having to pay £4 for a hot chocolate and one reviewer described it as “nothing more than a posh Gregg’s”.
The 30-year-old, from Aberystwyth, also battled staff shortages at her other Welsh cafe branches.
Addressing the bad reviews, Alana wrote: “I think what we’ve learnt is that when you get a bad comment you need to act on it and that’s something we probably haven’t been the best at dealing with.”
Alana received a £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar for her luxury cake and chocolate business, Ridiculously Rich by Alana, when she won the BBC One reality show six years ago.
She has since launched ambassador and “cakepreneur” schemes to attract other cake enthusiasts to come on-board and run Ridiculously Rich franchises. There are now around 50 across the UK.
Alana bought back all of Lord Sugar’s shares in Ridiculously Rich in 2019, with the tycoon insisting he will follow his protege’s progress “with much affection”.
In January, Alana said she was “so upset” after her coffee van had its windows smashed.
The blue vehicle had been parked outside the Ridiculously Rich café, since November, with the council warning that she could face legal action for leaving it in the same spot.
Quit after four months
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A true Apprentice success story, telecoms consultant Michelle Dewberry appeared in the second series of the show in 2006.
After impressing Lord Sugar, Michelle Dewberry was duly hired by the business supremo – back in the day when the prize was a six-figure job rather than an investment.
But Michelle lasted just four months before she sensationally quit her lucrative new role, which she’d beaten over 15,000 applicants to win.
It followed her having a Relationship with fellow contestant Syed Ahmed, which ended around the same time she parted ways with Lord Alan.
She went on to launch a number of money-saving websites, and stood as an MP before becoming a familiar face on TV as a pundit and presenter.
Company sold off after Sugar split
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Plumbing businessman Joseph Valente and Lord Sugar’s tag team lasted a short two years after he won the show in 2015.
The Peterborough-born star, now 33, decided to take full control of ImpraGas and apparently the pair parted on good terms.
Lord Sugar said he would “still be on hand to offer any help and advice” after the split and wished him the best.
Joseph claimed he “could not have asked for a better partner in the early stages” of his career and felt he “owed him a great deal”.
“I am confident that with the winning business model we created together, I can continue to grow the business successfully,” he added.
In 2020, Joseph sold the company because it owed nearly £2million, according to The Mirror.
The entrepreneur later said he “sold the brand” on Twitter but did not appear to go into further detail.
Previously, it was reported that Joseph ignored Lord Sugar’s advice and bought back his shares for £1.
According to his social media accounts, he is now the CEO of a construction business training company.
He recently told The Mirror: “My aim for 2023 is to work with some production companies – I’ve got a Couple of TV shows that I’ve got lined up conceptually that I want to pitch to production companies so I want to have my own business show.
“I think there’s room for a new business show.
“The Apprentice is a little outdated now – format’s gone a bit stale, Lord Sugar’s getting on a bit, it’s time for a new king.”
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