THE Apprentice 2024 was filled with high drama and boardroom action.
After weeks of gruelling tasks and plenty of “firings”, Lord Alan Sugar turned to one lucky finalist and said, “You’re hired!”
Who won The Apprentice 2024?
On April 18, 2024, boutique fitness studio owner Rachel Woolford was crowned the winner of The Apprentice 2024.
She went up against pie maker Phil Turner in the show’s nail-biting grand final.
After a last impassioned pitch from each of the two finalists about why they should become his business partner, Lord Sugar said: ““Let me conclude here.
“This is a very tough decision, I’ve got to say because I’ve got two very, very credible people in front of me.”
He went on: “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.”
Finally turning to Rachel he said: “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.”
What does Rachel Woolford do now?
After learning of her win, Rachel told the BBC: “To take part in the process has been incredible and to come out a winner is just something beyond my wildest dreams.
“I was twenty-four years old when I started North Studio.
“I was just a girl from Leeds and now I cannot believe it, I’m going into business with Lord Sugar and he’s investing in me.”
Rachel has used the investment to open up a second North Studio gym in Harrogate.
She also continues to run her original studio in Leeds.
I wanted to prove you don’t need to be the loudest voice and screaming at the others. For that, people saw me as a bit of an underdog.
Rachel Woolford
Speaking exclusively to The Sun after her big win, Rachel said: “To come out a winner is beyond my wildest dreams.
“I was just a girl from Leeds, and now I’m going into business with Lord Sugar.
“I went into The Apprentice promising I would just be myself, and not turn it on in any way in front of the cameras, throw anyone else under the bus or be bitchy.
“I wanted to prove you don’t need to be the loudest voice and screaming at the others.
“For that, people saw me as a bit of an underdog.
“But my main value in business, and in life, is that you don’t have to shout to get your point across.”
What does the winner of The Apprentice get?
The Apprentice offers one of the biggest prizes on television.
Every year the lucky winner gets a £250K investment into their business idea and a 50/50 partnership with Lord Sugar.
The deal has resulted in Lord Sugar handing out over £3M to a string of successful businesses.
When the show first started the prize was a £100K salaried job within Lord Sugar’s company.
Who is the most successful winner of The Apprentice?
Season 8 winner Ricky Martin is deemed the most successful winner ever of the Apprentice so far.
He was crowned champion in June 2012 and has since successfully set up and expanded his own specialist recruitment consultancy using the investment from Lord Sugar.
Hyper Recruitment Solutions focuses on mid-level to senior appointments for the science and technology industry worldwide and was recently reported to have assets of £2.26m.
The Apprentice biggest moments
THE Apprentice has been a fan favourite ever since it burst onto the box in 2005.
Here we take a look at five of the biggest moments over the years on the hit BBC One show.
Tim Campbell– Former London Underground transport manager Tim Campbell won the first series of the reality show in 2005. He is now one of Lord Sugar’s aides on the show.
Sarah Lynn and James White– For the first and only time in the show’s history, both finalists were crowned winners in 2017.
Amy Anzel– Season 16’s fired candidate Amy Anzel was BANNED from the final celebration show, after a tit-for-tat exchange over Lord Sugar’s mocking tweets.
Michelle Dewberry– Telecoms consultant Michelle Dewberry won the second series of the show in 2006. However, after winning a six-figure job with Lord Sugar she lasted just four months before she sensationally quit.
Selena Waterman-Smith – We’re used to tensions running high in the boardroom, but in 2015 a disagreement between two candidates spilled over – for the first time – into a physical bust-up. Events manager Selina Waterman-Smith was given a verbal warning by show bosses for her role in an off-camera scrap with Charleine Wain.