This years intense competition to become Lord Sugar’s business partner and receive £250,000 funding for their business, has led to the first ever all-female semi-final, meaning that Lord Sugar’s next business partner will be a woman! Brittany Carter, Harpreet Kaur, Kathryn Burn and Stephanie Affleck were grilled by business experts on their business plans in the latest episode, which led to a double firing ready for this weeks final!
Brittany with her high protein alcoholic drink company, and Stephanie with her childrens-wear business, both failed to convince Lord Sugar that themselves and their businesses were worth his investment and were consequently fired. Stephanie told BANG Showbiz and other media outlets: “I feel so so proud that I’ve come on this series, not only as the final four but it’s a final four of all women. To have made history in a programme is absolutely unbelievable to me.”
The Finalists
Kathryn Burn comes from a working class background, and previously worked as a mortgage advisor before realising she wanted to work for herself. Kathryn has an online pyjama business that she created after being unable to find matching pyjamas for her and her family at Christmas. The business began in her parents house, and became extremely profitable which led her to The Apprentice. Kathryn wrote on her instagram that she isn’t surprised by the all-female final, as “the girls were hungry for it.”
Harpreet Kaur was described by her parent’s and sister as a very quiet child, however she always had a great work ethic and drive. Harpreet worked full-time in a bank alongside her university degree, which she secured a first class honours in, and by the age of 22 she was the bank manager. However Harpreet quickly decided she would prefer to put her drive and skills into her own business, and opened a dessert parlour, which began in her mother’s kitchen. This business is doing well with dine-in stores in Huddersfield and Leeds, however Harpreet wants to expand and grow the business UK-wide, which is why she came to Lord Sugar.
Both finalists, and both semi-finalists are extremely inspiring business women. This years The Apprentice is definitely one for the history books!
The final of The Apprentice will air on BBC One on Thursday, March 24.
