The Apprentice winners: who won in previous seasons - and where are they now?

The Apprentice pits a group of overly confident budding entrepreneurs against each other in a competition to win investment from one of the UK’s most successful businessmen, Lord Alan Sugar.

Under the eyes of Lord Sugar’s aides, West Ham chairman Baroness Karen Brady, and season one winner Tim Campbell, season 16’s candidates have been put through their paces.

The UK version of the show first aired in 2005 following the success of the American original where pre-presidential Donald Trump was the host (simpler times).

In the first six seasons of the UK show, each winner would be taken on by Lord Sugar and given a role in one of his many business ventures on a handsome £100,000 salary.

The prize changed in season seven, with winners receiving a £250,000 investment and a partnership in their business with Lord Sugar.

In the season 16 finale, Lord Sugar chose dessert parlour owner Harpreet Kaur to become his latest business partner.

No doubt her business will grow in scale with the twin benefits of Lord Sugar’s investment and expertise, which have helped many previous Apprentice winners

This is where all of the previous winners of the show are now:

Season 1 - Tim Campbell

The first ever winner of the UK Apprentice, Tim took on the six-figure salary job at Amstrad, working in the Health and Beauty division.

In 2012 he gained an MBE for services to Enterprise Culture and in 2016 founded a digital marketing company.

Campbell is now back on The Apprentice, taking over from Claude Littner as Sugar’s aide.

Season 2 - Michelle Dewberry

Michelle published an autobiography, Anything is Possible, after her win and became a monthly columnist for Business Matters in 2009.

She entered the world of politics in 2017, standing as an independent pro-Brexit candidate for Hull West and Hessle in the general election - taking 5.5% of the vote.

Her political failings stood her in good stead to join GB News which she did in 2021.

Season 3 - Simon Ambrose

Simon won a job at Sugar’s property company Amsprop and was tasked with developing a hotel and golf course near Stansted Airport.

He left Amsprop in 2010 and has since worked in the service industry, operating several bars and restaurants in London.

Season 4 - Lee McQueen

Lee started working at Amscreen as a development director after his win.

After leaving the company in 2010, he established Raw Talent, a company which helps organisations build internal sales.

He appeared on ITV morning show Daybreak during the GCSE and A Level results period to talk about his personal success despite not achieving highly academically.

Season 5 - Yasmina Siadatan

Yasmina went to work alongside season four winner Lee at Amscreen after her win.

After a break to have children, Yasmina was ready to get back into the business world and was eventually headhunted by Dragons’ Den star James Caan.

Her current role is as a sales and marketing director of fintech firm, Dynamic Planner.

Season 6 - Stella English

After taking on the well-paying job, Stella felt like an overpaid servant without a future and eventually left the role.

She then tried to sue Lord Sugar for constructive dismissal, though her case was dismissed.

And despite owning three homes worth roughly £1 million, Stella had to claim job seeker’s allowance because without the job she could not afford the repayments on her properties.

Season 7 - Tom Pellereau

Tom was the first contestant to win investment in his company rather than a job.

His business, Stylideas LTD, is now worth over £1 million, with his headliner product the Stylfile selling millions of units.

Over the last ten years, Tom has continued to release new popular style products including nail polish remover kits and the StylPro makeup brush cleaner.

Season 8 - Ricky Martin

Former professional wrestler Ricky Martin wowed Lord Sugar in 2012 and won the coveted £250,000 investment.

Since then he established his own firm, Hyper Recruitment Solutions, which focuses on recruiting for the global science and technology industry.

Martin said that he utilised the expertise of other contestants from his year and other seasons of The Apprentice to help build his brand.

Season 9 - Leah Totton

Leah co-founded the Dr Leah clinic, an ethical cosmetic clinics chain, with Sugar in 2014.

She has also campaigned for better standards in the cosmetics industry and spoken against treating teenagers with botox.

This year, she was featured in a story as one of the Apprentice winners to have made Lord Sugar £100 million richer.

Season 10 - Mark Wright

Mark used his winnings to launch Climb Online, a digital marketing agency which now has a turnover of £5 million.

However, Mark still has big plans for his business and wants to take it international, with plans to open offices in Ireland, the UAE, South Africa and Australia.

Climb Online’s clients have included TikTok and Emirates.

Season 11 - Joseph Valente

Joseph founded boiler installation business ImpraGas when he was 22, and used the £250,000 investment to grow the company.

It now turns over more than £10 million annually, although Joseph eventually had to sell the business during a tough economic climate.

Starting over, in 2020 he founded Trade Mastermind which helps small trade firms and businesses and now has a turnover of £3 million.

Season 12 - Alana Spencer

Alana invested her winnings in her cakes and chocolate business, Ridiculously Rich.

She bought out Lord Sugar’s shares just before the pandemic and then had to quickly change some of her plans for the business.

She opened four stores in beauty spots that she hopes Brits will continue to visit as travelling abroad is more difficult.

Season 13 - Sarah Lynn and James White

In season 13 Lord Sugar chose to invest in both finalists, prompting criticism from viewers who felt the show was anticlimactic.

Sarah invested in her confectionery business Sweets in the City, which she launched in 2010.

Innovations for her business following the investment included postal order Letterbox Treats.

Her brand is now stocked in high end stores including Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Selfridges.

James didn’t come away from his victory as well, as his IT recruitment company, Right Time Recruitment, lost an estimated £30,000 within six months.

In 2020, it was revealed that Lord Sugar and James are no longer in business together, however James was able to keep the £250,000 investment.

Season 14 - Sian Gabbidon

Sian launched her own swimwear company, Sian Marie, in 2016 and Lord Sugar came on board as an equal partner after her success on the show.

During the pandemic, which saw less demand for swimwear due to lockdowns, Sian launched a successful loungewear collection.

Her collection has proven popular with celebrities including Love Island’s Molly-Mae Hague and Maura Higgins.

Season 15 - Carina Lepore

Carina partnered with Lord Sugar with her bakery business Dough Artisan Bakehouse after her win.

She opened a second bakery in Beckenham, south-east London in 2020.

Despite the pandemic, Carina’s bakeries have continued to do good business, and a third store was opened in Bromley.

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