Fitness studio owner Rachel Woolford has become Alan Sugar's latest business partner after winning this year's series of The Apprentice on BBC One.
Woolford, who launched her boutique gym business North Studio during Covid, went head-to-head with pie company owner Phil Turner to secure Sugar's £250,000 investment and form a partnership with the business mogul.
After she was declared the winner during Thursday's finale, Woolford said landing the investment was "something beyond my wildest dreams".
After the two finalists presented their final pitches to Sugar, the business magnate came to his decision.
He said: "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."
Sugar continued: "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 series started with 18 hopeful candidates, including Irish contestant Maura Rath, and a first task that saw them sent to the Scottish Highlands, to host a corporate retreat.
Over the course of 12 weeks, the candidates were whittled down to the final two through competing in tense challenges, including one that saw them tasked with launching a new team for Formula-E, a motorsport championship for electric cars.
Team Nexus secured a record-breaking £38.7 million in sponsorship from the event, smashing the show's previously held largest winning sales record of £1.2 million after Woolford spearheaded negotiations.
Source: Press Association
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