Arts & Culture

The Apprentice: The Final

1 April 202231 March 2022By
The Apprentice: The Final

For the final week, Lord Sugar had summoned the two front-runners, Harpreet and Kathryn, to the British Museum to set them their final challenge. To win his £250,000 investment, each finalist had to launch a new business – and some of this year’s fired candidates were welcomed back to help them out.

The finalists had three days to create a new brand for their company, produce a digital billboard, and direct and edit a television advert. For the final time, they had to pitch the business to Lord Sugar and a room full of industry experts at London’s Pennington Street Warehouse.

Previously

The four remaining candidates were cross-examined, and proposals were picked apart. In the boardroom, it was judgement day. Brittany’s alcoholic protein drink turned sour, and Stephanie’s clothing company didn’t cut it. Now Harpreet and Kathryn go head-to-head. 

And now it is time to see, who will win Lord Sugar’s investment?

Day one

For the finalists, it was one last task, which took them to the British Museum in the heart of Bloomsbury. This iconic starting point will be the beginning of Lord Sugar’s final showdown.

“If I won the investment, this would absolutely change my life. It would honestly mean the world to me,” said Kathryn. 

“I really feel that I have been able to showcase my skills throughout this process, and I’ve been consistent since day one. I really hope Lord Sugar will see the opportunity in both me and my business,” said Harpreet.

With the help of returning candidates, the final two have three days to prove that plans can become successful start-ups.  

On Harpreet’s team (made up of Brittney, Nick, Akshay and Navid), she clearly wanted her dessert parlour to have the potential to be upscaled.

Across the hall is Kathryn’s team (made up of Stephanie, Amy, Akeem and Harry), where she wants to show Lord Sugar that her Pyjama brand is different from her competitors in that she is offering matching PJs for the whole family, including pets.

Matching her brand name with her USP, Kathryn opts for ‘Pyjamily’, which became a group favourite. On the other team, Harpreet is unsure about her group’s suggestions, ‘Scrumptious melt’ and ‘Crumble’.

At midday, half of the team headed off to create their digital screens, and the rest began to build the brand.

The first task for Navid, Nick and Akshay were to cook up a winning concept– with Akshay taking charge. 

“All Navid had to do was show an expression, eat the cake, and show it to the camera. I genuinely thought it wasn’t a hard thing to do,” said Akeem.

On the other team, they began to push pyjamas for Kathryn’s digital poster, with Amy and Akeem reenacting as a happily married couple.

Over on branding, Harpreet and Brittney decided what brand logo would suit their dessert business, ‘Oh So Yum’. 

“I think the pressure is getting to Harpreet. She’s normally very decisive, but now she’s that close to getting that £250,000 investment, and I think that’s making it difficult for her to see clearly,” said Brady.

For Kathryn and Stephanie, their brand began to look very simplistic. 

“Lord Sugar has asked Kathryn to create a brand that stands out in a very crowded market. It is basically stuck people in a heart with a dog. What has that got to do with matching pyjamas?” said Campbell.

“I think that looks fab!” said Kathryn. 

“It doesn’t feel very warm and cosy to me, like the pyjamas that we talked about,” said Amy. 

6 pm: Screens signed off… Logos locked down… For both of the teams, back to the house. 

Day two

8 am: A first look at the digital billboard. 

“My only concern is that we do only show cakes and brownies, and we aren’t just a cake shop. And also, Nick is dressed a little too smart,” said Harpreet. “I want to show that this is the place for everyone.”

Next door was the premiere of Pyjamily. 

“I understand Amy’s constructive criticism, but at the end of the day, this is Kathryn’s vision. This is what she wants. It is not about us. I think we all need to get on board with that,” said Stephanie.

The next task was for both teams to shoot TV ads to promote proposed businesses.

For team Pyjamily, Harry struggled with the task of director and battled with Amy.

“Harry is just more of a hindrance than being helpful. Everything I have told him so far, he has either made a mess of it or just didn’t get it done,” said Amy.

For Harpreet’s ad, it is over at a dessert stall, where marketing man Akshay was calling the shots.

“I mean, I am a little bit of an all-rounder. I’m acting. I’m directing with Akshay. I just can’t help it; I want to get involved,” said Nick. 

Over in the kitchen, Harpreet started to make her star dish which will be showcased to the industry experts. 

“Harpreet has decided to go for a plain cookie dough recipe as her signature dessert. Lord Sugar wants to know her USP. Well, if it is a plain cookie dough recipe, I’m not sure there is a USP?” said Brady. 

6 pm: Finishing touches to prototype products.

“The brand is complete. I’ve created a unique product that I believe is good enough. I can’t actually do anything else right now other than giving the pitch of my life, and that’s is really scary,” said Harpreet. 

‘It has been such a long journey. There’s been so many ups and so many downs. I just

 want to go out on a high and go out feeling confident that I’ve done all I can,” said, Kathryn.

Tomorrow: Pitching time!

The final day…

10 am: Half of each team headed off to gather feedback from the public. For the finalists, it was their last chance to prepare for their pitch. 

After consumer research, it was now doors opened to some of the biggest names in British business, including experts from the worlds of food and fashion.

First to pitch was Harpreet: “This is the moment I have been waiting for. This is exactly why I came here. I just need to remember to slow it down and just be confident,” said Harpreet.

Next up to pitch was Kathryn: “There is a lot of pressure on me today because what happens in the next ten minutes is potentially life-changing.”

With nothing more, the candidates could do… next up was the boardroom, for the final time. 

You’re hired!

“Harpreet, I am concerned if this business is scalable. Or whether you are trying to do too much,” said Lord Sugar. “Kathryn, I am concerned about its longevity and its popularity of it.”

“A lot of the investments I make are a start-from-scratch situation, basically what Kathryn is proposing,” said Lord Sugar. 

After 12 weeks and battling against a range of candidates, Lord Sugars’ business partner of series 16 goes to Harpreet and her dessert parlour business.

“I cannot believe Lord Sugar has chosen me to be his business partner. I have dreamt of this moment and just completely proves that if you work hard and you believe in yourself, dreams do come true,” said Harpreet.

And now Lord Sugar’s search for his next business partner is over!