- 5 months ago
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00:00Lord Sugar's on the search for a brand new business partner.
00:06This is a business proposition from heaven.
00:10On offer, a quarter of a million pound investment.
00:14We need to go now. Run.
00:16Oh my God.
00:1818 candidates have been whittled down to a final five.
00:23To infinity and beyond!
00:25Your behaviour is ridiculous.
00:27Can you actually physically do it?
00:29No.
00:30With a life-changing prize.
00:32You've done extremely well to get here.
00:34Who will reach the final?
00:36You're fired. You're fired.
00:38You will not be my business partner. You're fired.
00:50Previously.
00:51You're going to act as fashion agents at your very own catwalk show.
00:57Cash in on clothing.
00:59I won't be putting myself for a project manager.
01:01I think you're probably best placed.
01:02In the spotlight, team leader Jade.
01:05Maybe she could be like this.
01:08Took a punt on premium pieces.
01:10Like a gold ghost.
01:12But with a branding boo-boo.
01:14She goes by another name.
01:15And luxury prices.
01:17Is there any flexibility with the price?
01:19We haven't got any movement.
01:20Orders were slim.
01:21It's just far too high.
01:24On the other team.
01:25I would love to be a project manager.
01:27Joanna picked affordable clothing.
01:29The one that we're going for is cheaper than the other designers.
01:32Despite supermodel size strops.
01:35We need to just start running through it.
01:37You want me to direct it?
01:38Or do you want me to make a mess of it?
01:39Their collection sold well.
01:41You might as well just take the whole one.
01:43I'll give you 10% off.
01:44Go for it.
01:45Yeah?
01:46In the boardroom.
01:47Joanna had it all sewn up.
01:49The orders were £25,663.50.
01:54Very good.
01:55On the losing team.
01:56Sarah got shirty.
01:58You're going into business with Lord Sugar.
02:00You have to be capable.
02:01You have to be competent.
02:02But Harrison got clobbered.
02:04Harrison, you're fired.
02:06And Jade was hung out to dry.
02:08This was a big mess up.
02:10You're fired.
02:11Now the final five remain.
02:14To fight for the chance to become.
02:17Lord Sugar's business partner.
02:30One week till Lord Sugar makes his final choice.
02:35You got through that boardroom.
02:37How did you do it?
02:38It was the worst by far.
02:40Five.
02:41All right, Newad.
02:43Down to five now.
02:44We've got to carry on.
02:46Here we go.
02:47Hello?
02:48Good morning.
02:49Lord Sugar would like you to meet him tomorrow morning at 34 to 37 Liverpool Street.
03:05Please bring your business plans with you.
03:07Right.
03:08Joanna?
03:09James?
03:10Michaela?
03:11Right.
03:12We have to be in Liverpool Street tomorrow morning with our business plans.
03:23I'm absolutely bricking it.
03:24I'm not going to lie.
03:25Who is going to be Lord Sugar's next business partner?
03:27Me and I'll give you all the job.
03:29Well thanks mate.
03:30Not you.
03:31No.
03:32No.
03:33For the final five, one last chance to go over their business plans.
03:42Except it's almost 70%.
03:43It's hard to remember everything.
03:46I think I've got a natural awe of infectiousness.
03:51James White has three years experience as an IT recruitment consultant with a major company.
03:57I know that I'm a credible candidate.
03:59I know that my experiences speak for itself.
04:01This would generate more than 100,000 gross profit.
04:04I can't sleep properly.
04:05Like I just wake up and I'm thinking, I'm going to win this.
04:10Yeah.
04:11Michaela Wayne already owns several companies and boasts a turnover of 2.7 million pounds.
04:21I know it's a start a business.
04:23I just don't know how to take it to that next level and that's why I come into this.
04:27But I've not had an interview for 13 years and I just say inappropriate things.
04:33Oh God, I'm just going to embarrass myself.
04:36Okay, let's hope Lord Sugar's got a sweet tooth.
04:39Confectionary gift company owner Sarah Lynn has spent the past seven years building up her business.
04:47I'm a rounded full package.
04:49I'm doing the business that I'm talking about.
04:51The investment from Lord Sugar would allow me to scale the business up and really see it soar.
04:55So I'm excited, feel fully credible and yeah, raring to go.
05:00I've really missed you guys, I really have.
05:03Florist Elizabeth McKenna has been singled out by Lord Sugar
05:07for both praise and criticism.
05:10God, you're as big as I am and that's saying something.
05:13My wildest dreams had me in the final five.
05:17Lord Sugar could have sacked me at various different occasions and I think he saw something to keep me in.
05:22He gave me a cheeky smile the last time he sent me back to this house and I'm going to take that cheeky smile back to him and say,
05:28come on, let's take it a bit further.
05:30Oh my God, I can't say that!
05:34Right, what says winner's outfit?
05:37Despite being the youngest candidate.
05:39The legendary power shoulder blazer.
05:43Politics graduate Joanna Jarju has the best track record in the process.
05:48I've won eight out of ten tasks.
05:51I've also won both project management tasks that I've run.
05:54Some people might have thought I was the underdog but I've come back fighting every week.
05:58Literally, my eye is on the ball and the ball has £250,000 written on it.
06:03So James, how are you feeling on your final day?
06:18Because it's going to be an all-girl final, as you know.
06:20Ooh, that's fighting talk.
06:22It won't be back, I'm in bed.
06:33Just trying to get into the zone now, just get focused, yeah.
06:44I haven't got butterflies in my stomach but something's flapping in there.
06:52In the heart of London's financial district.
06:57Their destination...
07:00The Crosspoint Building.
07:03Good morning.
07:24Good morning, Lord Sugar.
07:26Now, this building represents one of my company's most recent investments.
07:32And in order to develop this building, every square inch has been gone over with a fine tooth comb.
07:39And that is exactly what's going to happen to your business plans today.
07:43I've asked four of my most trusted business advisors, including Claude, to go over your plans in minute detail.
07:53And they won't miss a trick, so you better hope everything is in order.
07:58So, I'd like you to hand over your business plans now to Claude and Karen.
08:04Well, good luck, and when I see you in the boardroom tomorrow, I'm going to decide which two of you are going to go through to the final.
08:19Off you go.
08:21Off you go.
08:26Lying in wait.
08:27Four merciless interviewers.
08:30Getting to the heart of matters.
08:32Managing director of a billion pound media agency.
08:36You know there's an expression that someone's too nice.
08:39I have had that in this process.
08:41Claudine Collins.
08:42But I don't feel anyone on the outside world would describe me as not tough enough.
08:46And yet, in your application form, you said there have been many times when you've not been tough enough.
08:52Did I?
08:53You did.
08:57Publishing supremo Mike Souter.
09:00You went straight from university into recruitment.
09:03I did.
09:04And you've done pretty well, is that right?
09:06Reading between the lines.
09:07Yeah, I did do pretty well in the company, that was him.
09:10You said in your application you left under a cloud.
09:13That is correct, yes.
09:14Did they thank you?
09:16They did, yeah.
09:21Having scrutinised the candidates for ten weeks, Claude Littner.
09:26Michaela, throughout this process, you kind of go into disinterested mode or playful mode.
09:32In absolutely everything I've done, I've tried a hundred percent.
09:35There's some things that I'm just not good at and nobody's perfect, so I'm sure there's things that you're not good at, Claude.
09:39Really?
09:44Also unleashed on the business plans, founder of a global design company.
09:50We have a face, we show it.
09:52Linda Plant.
09:53What does that mean?
09:54You can ring me, speak to me, I'll talk to you about what I've got and I'll make you something to send to one of your clients and show that I care about you as much as you care about them.
10:03Sounds rubbish.
10:04What's your motto?
10:05No guts, no glory.
10:06No guts, no glory.
10:07That suits me.
10:08Good luck, Elizabeth.
10:09I wish that was a bourbon, I'll tell you.
10:10I'm scared of throwing my guts up though and then losing all the glory.
10:12You are the master of your own destiny.
10:13It's all about you now.
10:14Let's do this.
10:15Let's do this.
10:16Let's do it.
10:17Let's do it.
10:18Let's do it.
10:20So Elizabeth, describe the business that you want Lord Sugar to invest 250,000 pounds in.
10:21Ok, well I currently run a business with a business that you want Lord Sugar to invest 250,000 pounds in.
10:22I also wanted to let you know what I've been doing.
10:24I'm scared of throwing my guts up though and then losing all the glory.
10:27You're the master of your own destiny.
10:32It's all about you now.
10:33Let's do this.
10:34So Elizabeth, describe the business that you want Lord Sugar to invest 250,000 pounds in.
10:48Okay, well, I currently run a business that is three florists that are linked together. My business structure is very very
10:56What's the word I want?
11:00No, I'm lost my word. Let me find it
11:04Efficient I have a very very efficient way that I run my business and my plan is to extend the corporate gifting side of the business
11:11Dramatically offering a service that can be made up centrally and be sent around the country
11:16You're describing an online florist. You're doing nothing different so far as I can see
11:33Joanna task one there was a flare-up with Bushra
11:37Task two you fell out with Jade task three you created tension because you thought your views were not being listened to
11:44You've always got an argument one inch away from where we are so I'm
11:50Astounded that you've got to this stage, but you're here
11:54So can you just explain exactly what this business is?
11:59Basically the business is like a sauce for work where it's to provide
12:03Appropriate and stylish and clothing for women in office-based scenarios. So well, I think the idea is
12:09Not a bad one. Okay, but I have some knowledge of the fashion industry
12:13So won't you explain to me how you go about it?
12:15I would call wholesalers and see if they can send me some catalogs of the kind of things that they actually stocked
12:20Yeah, there's not gonna send you a catalog because it just doesn't work that way
12:23It's a fast-moving pace of product. Anyway, let's just assume you've got the stock the customer buys it and then she tries it on
12:30Doesn't really like it. So you've got a return when it comes back. It's frankly unsaleable the outsourced service that I've picked
12:36They're going to go for all the clothing retag it clean it do everything like that. No one's going to do that
12:44Basically, you've got a passion for it. That's the tick in the box. You've got no other ticks in the box
12:49You don't know how much you don't know because you don't know
12:53Yeah
12:55Definitely cannot get any worse than that
13:00What was it like? I was just like
13:02Was it was it tough? Yeah, so do you think you you came over well now?
13:08How do you think Elizabeth Thorpe and she's been in their ages?
13:12How would you describe your temperament my temperament can be mixed?
13:17Okay, okay, that probably explains reviews, which I have read
13:22Online yeah about your business
13:27Somebody had the unfortunate experience of speaking to Elizabeth. She was angry and shouting
13:34Somebody else said avoid like the plague
13:37How does that make you feel it absolutely cuts me to the core that people would say that when somebody's work very very hard?
13:44I am the sort of person that will say no actually enough enough so you disagree you weren't you weren't rude. I disagree
13:50Oh
14:00Hello
14:05So tell me a bit about yourself. I grew up in Bolton
14:09If you can't tell by my accent
14:11I can tell and my mum was poor. She was on her own at 23 with with three kids and
14:16So we just didn't have an awful lot not that I didn't like my childhood
14:19It was amazing. I love my brothers, but I wouldn't want my son to get benefits and free school uniforms and all that
14:25So I started the business grafted and took it to where it is
14:29Okay, so tell me what is the biggest misconception about you people always think I'm confident because when I get nervous
14:38You know like I talk loud and they say
14:41inappropriate things perhaps just anything so that people don't know that inside I am
14:46Crumbling why do you have a problem with your confidence? I just don't like feeling like I'm being judged or something and that you've heard her speak like I know
14:54Obviously, I'm gonna come in London and you're like oh hello and I'm not easy. I guess it comes from an insecure place. I don't know why I
15:01Think it's concerning because little sugar wants someone that is confident in themselves
15:06Yeah, but when it comes to business back, I'm not in see I'm don't feel insecure if there's a problem
15:11I saw a day, but if it's other things like all this nice
15:16Isn't great
15:18Hello Sarah Lynn hello, can you describe me the business that you want Lord sugar to invest in so it's to build on the small business
15:29I've built and we source unusual and classic confectionery and we repack it into boxes and bags and we sell it in
15:37Retailers and online your website will presumably play quite a significant role in delivering your vision wouldn't it yes
15:44When I went on your existing website much of it simply didn't work
15:51Weddings and events didn't work treats Tuesday didn't work signature lines didn't work. That's really frustrating to hear. It was very poor
16:02I want to turn to your brand
16:07This is one of your products isn't it yes, it is can you describe what's on the table in front of you?
16:12I think it's fantastic. It's fun. It's unique. It's beautiful. So this is a unique product. That's correct
16:21Here's one of your competitors
16:25Here's another one of your competitors
16:29Now to me that just looks exactly the same
16:33I say to me they don't look the same identical
16:37It's hand-packed that won't make any difference to the consumer
16:40I think the bow on the top adds to the value of it. So it's the ball
16:53Every other situation in life that you can imagine James smooth-talking or get him somewhere
16:58Claude just doesn't care
17:01All right, James
17:03Let's just talk a little bit about this business plan. It's an IT recruitment business
17:07We're coming looking at digital technology and the cyber security industry the clients. I'm actually targeting that these are clients
17:13I had when I was with my previous company
17:16Okay, so it is a fresh start. Yeah, I know you are being completely crazy with the numbers
17:22You know year three for example where allegedly you're making nine million pounds. Yeah, but that's absolutely ridiculous
17:27ridiculous
17:29They're very very ambitious numbers all these three million six million nine million in twelve minute they just scream ludicrous
17:37I mean I was earning like two hundred thousand a year. Just myself. It's like different. It's a different thing
17:43Your plan relies on some major companies becoming your client when you are with a substantial
17:49Established company and you you make a phone call to that big company over there. Yeah, they'll take your call
17:54You're going to get a great opportunity. Yeah when you phone up the small business and say it's James here
18:00You know get the time of day, but I know how it works, and I'm here to achieve it, but it's not achievable
18:06It's not gonna happen
18:13Linda get through it don't be sick
18:16In your executive summary you say your business will effectively provide a comprehensive database of all
18:28Construction projects being undertaken throughout the UK. Yeah, it's a website that will tell you about all the planning permissions and
18:35plumbers roofers builders and whatnot and will subscribe to this to find jobs and
18:41And how are you getting the planning applications the majority of it would come from councils?
18:46And then it'd be the researchers job to then go into it and get the finer details
18:50So how many researchers when you have in year one 10 and how many planning applications do you anticipate per month it'd be thousands
19:00Doesn't that require a really substantial amount of manpower?
19:03No, it's the systems right then no no that you know how many researchers your main competitor has
19:09Over 70 yeah, but we're charging much cheaper rates than what they but this kind of business is
19:16Much more about the quality of the information than the price
19:21Why would I come to you well? I mean and let me say something else you want to set up a business that you have no experience in?
19:29What's your experience of that business is that I've used both competitors for the last 20 years
19:34I see the flaws in their system. I'm creating a better system. I don't buy it. Yeah, I don't I don't buy it
19:39Well, it's unfortunate if you don't buy it
19:41But if you chose to go to my competitor, then I'll see you in two years time when that contract runs out
19:46And you come back to me because my information is better
19:48I would choose to go to your competitor and then you come back to me after two years
19:52You there add that guy yeah, yeah, she was all right, man
19:58It wasn't the way you know, it's just like a glamorous on there
20:01Do you know you like you want to go in your eyes? Do you know she's gonna give you pure biscuits and some spending money?
20:06That makes me feel so much better. You'll be fine. Good old
20:10Good luck
20:13So was that a motivational speech for Joanna or she actually really nice
20:16So you mentioned blouses dresses shirts trousers where are you going to get these products from so that will be ad-hoc from wholesalers ad-hoc from wholesalers
20:29You can't just walk into a wholesaler and get a range of merchandise
20:34I could just I think it have enough stuff
20:36Are they going to have the size ratio that you need?
20:38What about when you sell something and you want repeats are they going to have it?
20:42If I could just shift the focus you want to shift the focus from the products the very core of the business
20:50But that is what your work. Well, what what what is the core of the business?
20:53The products that I actually have the products. Have you got a business have you got a business without the product?
21:00Have you just answer me yes or no
21:02That's an obvious no, but what I'm okay what I'm trying to got no business without the product and actually
21:08So if you know my career was the fashion business, so I know I absolutely know
21:14If I could just blame products
21:20We're gonna hear that lift ping and then Joanna just come out holding ahead
21:28Thought you said she was nice fucking out
21:33Sa-vige savage, I don't know what else to say but good luck
21:38James
21:42I'm I was looking at your website on my phone and
21:48You know your website looks very established actually already
21:53I'm down at the bottom here. Yeah, it says you are a member of
21:59Apps Co
21:59That's the leading trade body for the recruitment industry isn't it? Yeah, and I think it's really impressive that you've achieved their recognition so quickly
22:06Yeah, but I've checked and your company isn't registered
22:12So I haven't officially joined as of yet, but it's on your official live website
22:17Yeah
22:18It's just I haven't had the money to join and the plan was you've done it the cheap way then on you
22:22Do you know why you just put the logo on there already if you paid the fee?
22:26Yeah, it would make you out to be a professional organization. Yeah, this makes you look like a rank amateur
22:33I think Elizabeth will struggle she's had a couple appetizers Liz is definitely gonna be the main course
22:47That's what you're here to do give as good as you get give as good as you care
22:57You are a multi-florist business. What is that? Well, I have three flower shops. Yeah, is that simply what it is? Yep
23:05Turnover is four hundred and eighty six thousand pounds. Yes showing a net profit of
23:12Eighteen thousand. Yes, not good is it what's wrong with it?
23:16What's wrong with it? That is after I've drawn a salary for myself paid all of my staff
23:21Well, that's part of business isn't paying your staff is part of the business
23:26So talk me through the plan. Okay, you run a business you need to send flowers to somebody. I send them for you nationally
23:32Right, so that's what law sugar's got. It's a very simple idea. I think it's a bit too simple actually
23:41Good afternoon thought
23:46Sarah in your opening quote it says women are like tea bags
23:51You don't know how strong they are until you put them in hot water and then you find out well
23:57We have found out about you and you failed that test
24:01And I say that because
24:03Throughout the tasks you've just hung back and I wonder whether that's not a trait
24:09In your business that's frustrating to hear because for me, it's all about the passion behind this brand
24:14That's why I've done all of what I've done on my own
24:16I want to make this huge and I feel like we're at a tipping point now, but you started this business February 2009
24:22That's right. I got seven years ago
24:24There's so much we had to do to get the product range right and streamlined to get everything absolutely correct
24:29I don't know how plausible all this is really
24:32You haven't done it. You've just hung back get on with it
24:35Hello there
24:45Hello there
24:50Since 2010 how many companies have you run or co-owned I don't know a few
24:56I've got the details here of them. There's a magazine and website design company
25:02There's a holdings company
25:06These are my companies now yeah
25:07There's an undisclosed business
25:10Why undisclosed?
25:12You tell me
25:13In your application form you described Lord Sugar as a lemon sherbet
25:19Bright firm and crunchy on the outside but in the middle lies a bit of bang and fizz
25:24What kind of sweet would you describe yourself as?
25:26Probably similar to Lord Sugar
25:28He doesn't like it when people compare themselves to him
25:31Okay, well I could never compare myself to him directly
25:33But I think that there's definitely fizz and bang in me
25:36According to Claude and Karen, you're not showing it
25:40There's a utilities business
25:43Yeah
25:43There's a plumbing and heating business
25:46Oh yeah, yeah
25:48Everything we produce is done with skill, love and attention
25:52Absolutely
25:53Don't all florists do the same?
25:55I mean I looked at your website
25:56Your flowers don't look that special to me
25:58Well I thank you for that
25:59And now you're telling me that you want Lord Sugar to join with you
26:05In a construction tender website business
26:08Can I just say like most of these companies are really good
26:11Doesn't that look like somebody who's going to be massively overstretched?
26:19No
26:19Would you like me to go out and restart?
26:25Because it just appears that the tone here is getting a little bit confrontational
26:29And I don't want to be a point confrontational
26:32But I do think you're asking
26:32So far I have found you exceptionally aggressive
26:35And I asked you to explain your business plan
26:38It was quite an arrogant reply
26:40I buy flowers, I sell flowers
26:41I didn't say that
26:42Do I look simple to you Elizabeth?
26:44I didn't say that
26:44Do I look simple to you?
26:46I mean this with all respect
26:47I didn't say it by yourself
26:48I don't think you're being very respectful
26:50I think you should take your tone down
26:52Oh my God
27:02What a day
27:04I hate meeting people
27:08So James
27:13I want to know where your drive and ambition comes from
27:17I want to build a business which is successful
27:19You know, I want to be a multi-millionaire
27:21Why is that?
27:24So like my dad was in business
27:26High-end fur and leather shop
27:27Like he sold a coat for £50,000
27:29Like high-end stuff
27:31And kind of went bust
27:33And he never went back into business
27:34When he failed, he lost everything
27:36And he reminisces about the times
27:38But I mean he's 70 years of age
27:40And I want him to have some kind of enjoyment in life
27:44And experience some of the stuff he used to
27:45I think that's why I come across as quite confident
27:49And I've got a lot of self-belief
27:50But that's just because I just don't want to fail
27:53Michaela
28:01You have been running multiple businesses
28:05With good turnovers and good profit
28:07You've got enough of your own money to inject into the business
28:09You don't really need this investment
28:11No, no, no, no, you're wrong
28:13It isn't just about the investment
28:15I would like to have a business partner
28:17To mentor me about how to develop a business
28:19What are you talking about?
28:21You've already built a business from zero to three million
28:23Do it again
28:24But I don't know how to take a company
28:25From a three million turnover
28:27To a thirty million turnover
28:29And although it's flattering
28:30That you think I don't need to be here, Claude
28:32If I didn't need to be here
28:33Then trust me, I wouldn't be putting myself through this
28:35I think it's flattering that you suggest
28:36That Lord Sugar can be the one
28:38Who's going to take you to this promised land
28:39You're going to be coming up with the ideas
28:41You're going to be doing the work
28:43So he's not going to be as helpful as you might expect
28:46So, Joanna
28:49I've spoken to Karen and Claude
28:54And they've told me that you are a hothead
28:56I think because I wear my heart so much on my sleeve
29:00I ended up at loggerheads with a couple of people
29:03And that kind of backfired on me quite a lot
29:05So I think the process for me has definitely been a journey
29:08OK
29:09And you've got a very distinctive
29:11Socially responsible concept
29:13At the core of your business, haven't you?
29:15Yeah
29:16Tell me about that
29:16I'd like to be able to put some of the proceeds
29:19In the developing world
29:20For another girl to maybe buy a school uniform
29:22It's a nice mirror
29:24You know, whoever's buying my clothing
29:27Is dressing for success
29:28But also they can help another girl
29:29Somewhere else in the world
29:30Kind of dress for success
29:32Joanna
29:32I think a business that has a noble purpose
29:35At the heart of it
29:36Is a brilliant thing
29:38Very impressive indeed
29:40Last one
29:44Oh
29:45Sarah
29:52It's taken you seven years
29:55To reach a turnover of 433,000
29:58But yet
30:00You expect us to believe
30:01That in four years
30:03You're going to reach
30:04A minimum turnover
30:06Of 2.6 million
30:07Yes
30:08I totally
30:08I totally believe
30:10How are you going to do it?
30:10Because everything
30:11I mean, you've done nothing for seven years
30:13And yet now you're going to zoom ahead
30:14This is our time to go
30:16Everything has been lined up
30:17Ready for this
30:18Well, you've got to say that
30:19Haven't you?
30:19The other thing that does worry me
30:22Your website
30:23Is appalling
30:24I tried
30:25And I could not order anything
30:27Off your website
30:27That's why I'm here
30:28Because our business will change
30:30With a scalable web platform
30:31And it's been something
30:32But why haven't you done that now?
30:33Because everything today
30:34Has been about groundwork
30:35Come on
30:36Seven years of groundwork
30:37That's ridiculous
30:38I feel like
30:39With just a little bit of guidance
30:41And we will be absolutely flying
30:42I love sweets
30:43But I don't buy your story
30:45I'm Joanna
30:54Nice to meet you
30:55Nice to meet you
30:56Joanna
30:59How do you feel about confrontation?
31:03Fine
31:03You've argued and clashed
31:05With quite a few of your team members
31:07Haven't you?
31:09Yeah
31:10Don't get upset
31:11Why are you getting upset?
31:13I just hate when it's brought up
31:17I kind of started off on the wrong foot
31:20In this process
31:21And I think it's because I was too vocal
31:23And I've never been able to shake it
31:25Anytime I give an opinion
31:27It's always, oh, here she goes again
31:29Do you think that you can reign it in, though?
31:31I 100% do, you know
31:33I've held my hands up for being too outspoken
31:36And I've learnt that it just wasn't coming across
31:39The way that I'm intending it
31:41I think that's being my biggest battle
31:43Kind of showing people who I really am
31:46God, it's Claude
31:52Come on, you've got this
31:55Smile
31:56How do you think Elizabeth will get on with Claude?
32:00He'll ruin her
32:00He's going to ruin her
32:02She's just done so much for her
32:04Oh, the last task
32:04That he can't not touch on that
32:06He's going to absolutely go in on Elizabeth
32:09Yeah
32:10Well, Elizabeth, I have to say that
32:13You've got a terrific work ethic
32:18A great can-do attitude
32:20Mm-hmm
32:20You've been an absolutely memorable candidate
32:23Thank you
32:24But the thing is
32:25You are absolutely impossible to work with
32:29Right
32:29You are so overbearingly bossy
32:33That, honestly, it's been a trauma
32:36To actually watch you throughout every single task
32:39Just taking over
32:41I understand what you're saying
32:42And I know that can be one of my weaknesses
32:44Anyway, Elizabeth, let's look at your business plan
32:48So, here you are
32:50You've got three small businesses
32:52You've got some staff
32:54But the thing is
32:55These three shops are barely profitable
32:57But the corporate gifting sector is massive
32:59We just need to get in those doors
33:01But it's not an investable business
33:03Are you flogging a dead horse here?
33:05Absolutely not
33:06The numbers say different
33:08Elizabeth
33:10Good luck
33:12Thank you, Claude
33:13Okay, bye
33:14Oh, my foot's gone to sleep completely
33:16Last one, James
33:23Last bit of torture for the day
33:25Yeah, wish me luck
33:26Good luck
33:26I'm pretty sure Linda's going to tip the mother's edge
33:32She just rips you apart
33:33Makes you forget all your hopes and dreams
33:35Yeah
33:36So let's talk about your new business
33:40You're predicting in 18 months
33:43You're going to be turning over 3 million
33:46Yeah
33:46Is that fantasy land?
33:48No
33:48Because it's a cutthroat business
33:50And I'm extremely good at it
33:51I'm extremely good at it
33:53I think you are just quoting numbers
33:55And if anyone could write numbers
33:57You're telling someone who's done this
33:58You are telling
33:59Well, no, you've done it under the umbrella
34:01Of a multinational company
34:03Lord Sugar doesn't want pipe dreams
34:06And pie-in-the-sky bullshit
34:07They're not pipe dreams
34:08Well, I'm not sure if FTSE 100 companies
34:11Are going to come to one-man band James
34:13Let's move on
34:15In your candidate quotes
34:18You say
34:19You got your old boss demoted
34:21I wouldn't say I was responsible
34:23They just saw an opportunity to position
34:25But you wrote that you got him demoted
34:27Well, they demoted him to put me in that position
34:29And I went from 20 contractors to 70 contractors
34:31And then you got fired, right?
34:33From your job
34:33Yes, I did
34:34Why did you get fired?
34:36Because you were meeting other recruiters on the side
34:39Is that correct?
34:40So I met with some other investors on the side
34:42To look at starting a business
34:43Or starting a new office
34:44They found out
34:45Do you think that's why they fired you?
34:47Yeah, they wanted to get rid of me
34:48And you say that that adds to your character
34:50Do you really believe that?
34:51Well, I said that the whole process added to my character
34:54I think meeting other recruiters on the side
34:57And getting fired doesn't add to your character
34:59I'll tell you what I do think it does
35:01I think it puts a shadow
35:03Over your trustworthiness
35:06With Lord Sugar's investment
35:07Are you crying?
35:17I've just got, like, bloodshot eyes
35:18So what happened?
35:20I mean, it's just quite humbling, isn't it?
35:24Come here, Gibsok
35:25Come here
35:26We've done it
35:30Let's go back to Marth
35:31We're beating up Lord Sugar as well
35:33Just to top the week off
35:34Let's get out of here
35:35Yeah, I second that
35:37Yesterday it felt like one long, drawn-out car crash
36:01But I haven't made the sacrifices that I've made
36:04Leaving my husband and son and my business
36:06To not secure Lord Sugar's investment
36:08What I said on day one was
36:10I'm here to work and I'm here to win
36:11Well, I've damn well shown I can work
36:13I've damn well shown I can win
36:15Now I've just got to complete it
36:17I've done all that I can throughout this process
36:20It's near-killed me
36:22Ultimately, it's just going to come down to
36:23Who Lord Sugar wants to invest in
36:25I can't get him in an adlock, can I?
36:27Yesterday was absolutely horrific
36:31But I've been in survival mode from the word go
36:34And I'm not going to come this far without winning
36:36I know that I've got the credentials
36:38But I've got a bit of anxiety
36:40I just want to know
36:42Am I in the final or am I not in the final?
36:57Good morning
37:05Good morning
37:06Thanks for once again evaluating the final five candidates
37:11So anyway, where should we start?
37:15Joanna
37:15And if I've understood it correctly
37:17She wants to start a fashion business
37:19The product that she wants to focus on
37:22Is women's workwear
37:23Okay
37:24But she's got a shop
37:25She's got a warehouse
37:26She's got premises
37:28She hasn't even identified the wholesalers
37:30She has zero experience of the industry in which she wants to enter
37:34I think she's also got to grow up a little bit
37:36I mean, in the tasks, you know, she was always complaining
37:40You know what?
37:41She is only 23
37:42So she's very young
37:44She got very emotional in my interview
37:48She didn't really accept that she's argumentative
37:51And she thinks she's been wrongly labelled
37:55But do you know what?
37:56She was quite tough
37:57Because I drilled quite deep
37:59And I gave her quite a tough interview
38:02And part of her business was to invest some profits in the developing world
38:06To help girls there dress for success
38:09And I thought that was a really distinctive marketing idea
38:13She certainly has style
38:14Absolutely
38:15But then so do I
38:16Right, let's move on to Elizabeth
38:20Elizabeth runs three small florists
38:23Her business plan is to expand into a Flowers for Business nationwide delivery service
38:31But when I asked her why a business couldn't just use one of the existing suppliers for Flowers online
38:37She had no real answer
38:39I think she's very, very passionate about her business
38:42But I didn't think she had a USP
38:45What do you think of her as far as a business partner for mine?
38:49She says what's on her mind
38:51And sometimes what's on her mind is a bit fighty
38:54I think she's probably brilliant working on her own
38:56But in partnership, I'd have some question marks
38:59She might try and fire me
39:00But I admire her enthusiasm
39:04Because she gets really, really stuck in
39:06She's got a real work ethic
39:07So the question really is
39:09Is she capable of actually securing these more corporate-type businesses?
39:13Let's move on to James
39:15He's a young man in a hurry
39:16He has got some advantages
39:18In that he's been in recruitment and he was successful
39:21But, you know, will it be easy
39:23Coming from a very successful company
39:25To go into a one-man band start-up
39:28I think you've hit the nail on the head
39:30The figures that he has banded around are ambitious
39:35And his ambition can sometimes lead him to making rookie errors
39:39In his new business's website, there's an accreditation from the leading trade body
39:44The big problem is he hasn't registered
39:47What do you think, Claudine?
39:49He gave me no doubt that he was incredibly serious about this business
39:52And he was actually very charming
39:54But you don't think I'm giving my £250,000 to a smile and a nice haircut?
39:59I think the really interesting thing for you, Alan, is you're investing in him
40:03Not in his business, in him
40:05Shall we talk about Sarah?
40:08She buys sweets in bulk
40:10Packages them up and then she sells them as gifts
40:14Right?
40:15OK, got it
40:16I was concerned that Sarah's products were really not very original
40:20So she's got competition then?
40:22Yes
40:22And she's had the business since 2009
40:25But she feels that with your investment
40:27She can develop a huge online business
40:31Does she have a website at the moment then?
40:33Yes, but a lot of it doesn't work
40:35You would think in this modern day in age
40:37The first thing you do is get a website, right?
40:40And she hasn't
40:40Well, she has, but it doesn't work
40:42She's a very slow operator
40:44And she hasn't invested in the website because she's too cautious to do it
40:48OK
40:49I think what we have seen is that she is somebody who has got some quality about her
40:53She's composed
40:53I think she's entirely honest and credible
40:56If I invest in this, I'd need to get a dentist nearby
40:59Let's move on to one that has confused me
41:05And that is Michaela
41:06I have to tell you, she confused me
41:08She says she really lacks confidence
41:10She couldn't look me in the eye
41:12I didn't know whether to hug her or shake her
41:14If she lacks confidence, how does she build those businesses up?
41:18What she was saying is that she's built a business from nothing to three million
41:21She doesn't know how to build a business from three million to thirty million
41:24And she thinks that that's an area that you can help her with
41:27Yeah, that rings my bells
41:28But I worry about her focusing her attention on our new business
41:33I decided to just ask her how many businesses had she launched in the last seven years
41:38And she didn't know the answer
41:40It's not good
41:41Anyway, let's focus on this new thing she's talking about
41:45I can understand why it could be worthwhile to an electrical contractor
41:49Yes
41:50Or a plumbing contractor
41:51Yeah
41:51If it is a respected database
41:54That was my point
41:55Would I want her with ten researchers
41:58Or would I want the competition with 70 or 80 researchers?
42:02I think she is a natural entrepreneur
42:05I don't think she should be underestimated
42:07Well, it's been very, very interesting
42:10Thank you very much indeed
42:12You're welcome
42:12Yes, Lord Sugar
42:23Yes, can you send the five candidates in, please?
42:25Well, first of all, let me just say that you've done extremely well to get here
42:43And I've got to choose now which two of you are actually going to go through to the final
42:48Right
42:49Sarah, you have a sweet business, right?
42:54Yes, that's right
42:54You make a modest profit at the moment, but I want something big
42:58Website will be big growth
43:00One of the reasons I'm here is technology has not been my forte at all
43:04We need a scalable, proper web platform of our own
43:07It's blatantly obvious to me, really
43:09I'm finding it quite incredible as to why you haven't had a all singing, all dancing website in the past seven years
43:17I started slow and I wanted to get everything lined up and ready so that when we do invest in web, it's really big news
43:24I've noticed in this process that you are incredibly calm, but also very cautious
43:29I think what you're saying is, Karen, she's like the bubble gum that lost its flavour, really
43:33Oh, that's so frustrating to hear
43:35Are you a bit of a steady Eddie? I mean, you know, don't take chances, you know
43:39No, absolutely not
43:40I mean, everything I've done has been building up to this point
43:43And I know that this has the potential to be a global brand and with help it's limitless
43:47But it's not without competition and you haven't really got a USP
43:50Hmm
43:51Now, Joanna, you want to go into some kind of online fashion business
43:56Yeah
43:56Targeted at businesswomen
43:59Now, the obvious question is that you have no experience whatsoever in that business
44:06So the jobs that I've had before have been mainly with search engine marketing
44:10But I do think that the experience that I've had there will also be valuable in this business as well
44:16Sorry, excuse me
44:17You can't just suddenly wake up one Monday morning and say
44:20Oh, you know what, I'm going to start an online fashion business
44:24You have no experience of knowing what is trending
44:27But I think because I'm specifically focusing on workwear
44:30There's not really much getting it wrong in that sense
44:33But you've got to have some clue about the quantities that you need to buy
44:37The after-sales, like when they send them back
44:40Have you thought of all this stuff?
44:42Yeah, I did come across a company that I could outsource to
44:45And they also have, like, a return service
44:48They even do, like, a sniff test
44:50Clean it if there's any make-up on it
44:52I thought that that section was really important for me to look at outsourcing
44:55I mean, the thing is, the fashion industry is notorious
44:57Especially women's fashion for going bust
45:00It is a minefield
45:01I won't have been the only person that's wanted to develop a business
45:04In something that they've never worked in
45:06And if that stopped everybody
45:07Then, you know, some people wouldn't build a business at all
45:10There's nothing wrong in you having this dream idea to do it
45:14But I can't go into business with somebody who has no knowledge of the market at all
45:21Honestly and sincerely
45:24You're a very intelligent young lady
45:27There's no question of that
45:28And take this as good advice for me
45:31Go and get a job in that industry
45:35Learn it inside out
45:37And then do what you want to do
45:40But at this moment in time, Joanna
45:42I have to say to you that you will not be my business partner
45:46And regretfully, you're fired
45:48Thank you
45:50Good luck, Joanna
45:51Thank you
45:51I appreciate it more than you know
45:53Don't give up your dream
45:55If you still have the passion for it, go for it
45:58Thank you very much
45:59Good luck, guys
46:00Elizabeth
46:09Sugar
46:10Now, in your application, you claim it to be slightly bonkers
46:14Well, I think that's been demonstrated
46:16I mean, actually, there's no need to be so modest
46:18You've got three florist shops
46:21I do, Lord Sugar, yes
46:22OK
46:22How are you going to scale it up?
46:24I need to get in
46:25But, you know, I'm only interested in big business
46:27Yes
46:27Although, great admiration for you having three shops
46:31If I might interject, I would hate to interrupt you, Lord Sugar
46:35But I understand your concern
46:36You're learning, Elizabeth
46:37I've learnt a lot in this process, Karen
46:40I'm sure you have
46:41And I'm pleased for you
46:42Thank you
46:42If I might explain
46:43We've identified a key market, Lord Sugar
46:46That we're currently working within
46:48And that's the corporate gifting sector
46:49We've anticipated using salespeople
46:52To get into the corporate market
46:53To get us in front of decision makers
46:55Are you saying that you expect salespeople
46:57To knock on the door of companies
46:59And say
47:00When you're thinking of sending a bunch of flowers
47:04To one of your clients
47:05Would you use us, please?
47:06There's various different ways
47:07Because I think that would be the last thing on their minds
47:10About worrying about that
47:11I managed to secure a company
47:13That's a national house builder
47:14That does 17,000 house completions per year
47:18We also work with pharmaceuticals
47:20We work with large utility companies
47:22You say we work with them
47:23And we work with them
47:24But the numbers are still relatively small
47:26And that's why I'm looking to scale it up
47:28What we need to do
47:29Is to market to these people
47:31And then we also need to sample into these companies
47:33And get them to use us
47:34And once we've done that
47:35We feel that they'll come across to us
47:37And once they've come across to us
47:38They're not going to go back
47:39I suppose it wouldn't be difficult for me
47:41To be a silent partner with you
47:43I wouldn't get a bloody word in edgeways
47:45Michaela, you want to come up with some kind of database
47:51And you expect trades to pay you a fee
47:54So that they can look at the latest planning consent
47:57For a building, is that right?
47:58Yeah, I'm going
47:59But there's already people out there doing that, aren't there?
48:03Yeah, yeah, yeah
48:03Two big companies, yeah
48:04How much do you expect to charge, say, a plumber to be a member?
48:09It'll be £4,000 a year
48:10And we'll split it monthly as well
48:13I'm kind of struggling to understand
48:15Why they will come to your new site
48:17I'm targeting smaller companies, perhaps
48:20Than who my competitors would target
48:22So I think people will come to us
48:24Mainly because we're cheaper
48:25And we're going to be better
48:26We're going to provide more information than they do
48:28Mike said you'd set up all these businesses
48:31Are you a serial entrepreneur?
48:34Or are you just bored easily?
48:36No, no, no
48:37I don't know what a serial entrepreneur is
48:39Well, you're an entrepreneur, young lady
48:41Whether you like it or not
48:42I mean, you've got all these other businesses
48:44I'm looking for a business partner
48:47That's going to be 100% concentrating on the business
48:51That we are going to be in
48:52And if they've got other businesses
48:54They may turn their attention away
48:56And that's my problem I've got
48:57The new business I intend to do better
48:59I wouldn't put myself through this
49:00You intend to do better, yeah
49:02Well, I can't say, you know
49:03I'm going to put my life on it
49:05That it's going to do better
49:06I'm not a psychic
49:06I'm saying the potential for this is massive
49:08My competitors are turning over
49:10Millions upon millions
49:11And all I can say to you is that
49:13My attention isn't needed with these other companies
49:15I don't
49:16I can't
49:16I find that very hard to believe
49:18Anyway, James
49:20Your business idea is recruitment
49:24Yeah, IT recruitment
49:25I've taken a look at some of your numbers
49:27Yeah
49:28And I don't know whether you just wet your finger
49:30And stuck your finger in the air
49:32And said, I'll do that
49:34I know that I've set myself ambitious targets
49:36But I've always been ambitious
49:37And to be honest, it's not like I've just got
49:39Are they ambitious or are they naive?
49:41Well, to be honest, in my last company
49:43I was doing 900,000 per year
49:45And that was just me by myself
49:46Because of you, you were James from the company, right?
49:51When you pick up the phone
49:52And say, hello, you remember me, don't you?
49:55And now I've got my own company
49:56Joe Soap, on my own
49:59They're going to say, er, nah
50:01We don't deal with little firms
50:03I mean, I'll give them my absolute all
50:04It is difficult, it is a challenge
50:06Because recruitment's one of the hardest things
50:07To get yourself in the door at
50:09But it's like I've done it before
50:10I know I can do it again
50:10And the reason why I'm looking for a high-profile investor
50:13Is because I'll be able to then go into these high-profile clients
50:16Yeah, yeah
50:17Well, you know, they still have these people there
50:20That decide that we can't be dealing with some small-time Charlie
50:24All right
50:26So I'm going to conclude
50:29Elizabeth
50:31Believe it or not
50:34I really, really like you as a person
50:36Thank you
50:36I really do
50:37You know, you're a hard worker
50:39You take on everything
50:41But my concern is
50:44You know, there are so many other people in the flower business
50:48There doesn't seem to be any USP there
50:50James, your numbers are optimistic
50:56Very, very optimistic
50:58Michaela
51:01I can't get my head around your other businesses
51:05And that you'll concentrate on mine
51:08It's very difficult
51:12Because you're all credible people
51:15Elizabeth
51:17You've got three florist shops
51:19You make a modest profit
51:22And the backbone of the economy of this country
51:25Is made up of people like you
51:27But you know, I'm interested in big business
51:30And at this stage, I can't see the scaling up
51:35So it is, with regret, you're fired
51:40Thank you all
51:41It's been my honour and my pleasure
51:43Best of luck
51:44Very best of luck to you
51:45Thank you
51:49Well
51:54We're down to the last three here
51:58I need some advice
52:00I'm going to ask you to step outside
52:03And I'm going to have a chat with Karen and Claude
52:06Sarah, she's the sort of person
52:13A place and each way bet on a one-horse race
52:16I do see her differently
52:19I think that perhaps she had to take it steady
52:21Couldn't take too many risks
52:22Now she's ready to go
52:24She's going to grow her business
52:26By not taking any risk
52:28Because she's going to take Alan's money and risk it
52:30And why didn't she have a website?
52:32Her products are made for selling online
52:34James
52:35He's a bit of a rookie
52:37He's clearly made some rookie mistakes
52:39His business plan talks about numbers
52:41Which are crazy in terms of progression
52:44A fine line between enthusiasm and delusion
52:47Yeah
52:47Right
52:48Now Michaela
52:49She is a smart cookie
52:54The main problem is of course
52:55She'll be 100% with you
52:56And then something will happen with one of her other businesses
52:59And I think that's a real risk
53:00Well she has built a business up from nothing
53:03To a turnover of 2.7 million
53:04And if she gets it right
53:06This could be bigger than all of these other businesses put together
53:09Okay
53:10So look
53:11We'll get them back in
53:12And then I'm going to make my mind up
53:13Which one of them is going to be leaving
53:15Yes Lord Sugar
53:18Could you send the three of them in please?
53:20Yes Lord Sugar
53:21Lord Sugar will see you now
53:23It's difficult for me
53:34Genuinely difficult
53:36Because I have three very good candidates here
53:39But at the end of the day
53:40There's got to be two finalists
53:42Okay
53:43Sarah, why should I choose you as my business partner?
53:47Lord Sugar
53:48It's just obvious that my product has huge scalability and growth
53:51That I don't feel the other two businesses have
53:53I've got a business that the foundations are there
53:55The graft has been done
53:56And I think it's at the stage that is ready to fly
53:59But you haven't done it
54:00And I can't understand that
54:01Michaela, she's got a business already going
54:05The seed is there
54:06And in your case
54:07You're talking about starting something from scratch
54:10That's even better, it's fresh start
54:12It's not something that I've tried at for so long
54:14And I'm not doing well at
54:16I'm into construction
54:17That's where the money's at
54:18I don't know about sweeties or recruitment
54:20So if you want another £3 million business
54:22Then, you know, crack on
54:23But if you want something better
54:25Then I can earn you some decent cash
54:28From my side
54:29IT recruitment makes a lot of money
54:31And it's like
54:31I've got the energy and the passion to drive it
54:34No disrespect to Sarah
54:35It's like
54:36I have the energy
54:37Please don't question my energy or my passion
54:39Because it's here
54:39It's more the fact that
54:40If she wanted to go and have an e-commerce website
54:42She could have gone out there
54:43And she could have done it
54:43And I think from Michaela's side
54:45One thing I can give you
54:46Is 100% effort into one business
54:48I've got no other business ventures
54:50This is my one passion
54:51Spoken like a true salesman
54:53OK, look, ladies and gentlemen
54:56Sarah, you've got a business already
55:03Albeit that it's not been exploited to the full
55:07I feel
55:09And I struggle in understanding that
55:11The sensitivity that I have with you, Michaela
55:15Is that our business could start going a little bit downhill
55:18And you might lose interest
55:21Because you've got interest in other businesses, you know
55:24It's human nature
55:25No, I am just a shareholder with them other companies
55:27And I'm more than willing to go into a new business
55:29One that I believe is going to make me more money
55:31Than I've ever dreamt of
55:32James, you know
55:34You haven't been in business before on your own
55:38And I've got people either side of you that have
55:41And you've got a very, very optimistic business plan
55:44Your proposition
55:47Is quite hard for me to
55:50Envisage
55:52I'll make it work
55:54But Sarah
55:58Scaling up is an issue
56:01This lady's talking about big numbers
56:04Which is what I'm interested in
56:06But having said that
56:08Michaela
56:11This business
56:12Has got to be
56:14100% with me
56:16I don't want you being defocused
56:18Somewhere else
56:20And so whether I'm right or wrong
56:22Michaela
56:25You're fired
56:26No worries, thanks very much
56:28You're very, very welcome
56:29It's really emotional
56:30I wish you the best of luck
56:34Thank you
56:34When we're building our next site
56:36We'll come on to this website of yours, okay?
56:39Four grand though
56:40No minutes
56:40Yes
56:41Fucking hell
56:47Well
56:48Congratulations, you two
56:51You're in the final
56:52And I'll see you
56:55On the next task
56:56Thank you
56:57Where one of you
56:58Will become my business partner
57:00Okay
57:01Yes
57:01Thank you very much
57:02Thank you
57:03Thank you
57:03Oh wow
57:13We need a drink
57:13Tonight I'm going to have a bath of wine
57:21And celebrate
57:22Getting through this shit storm
57:25Large sugar
57:26And she'd have invested in there
57:28And he's just lost himself
57:2915 million pound
57:30Bad business move
57:33Oh my god
57:36Oh my god
57:37They literally
57:38The most proudest moment
57:39Ever
57:39It's just unfortunately
57:40You've come up against me
57:41In the final
57:42Otherwise I would have rated your chances
57:44Sugar's going sweet
57:46Sugar wants a recruitment company
57:48Let the games
57:49Begin
57:50Now
57:52Just two candidates remain
57:54In the fight to become
57:57Lord Sugar's next business partner
58:00Next time
58:03You're going to have to present your business
58:05To over 200 people
58:06Returning faces
58:08Action
58:09I've got to ring the doorbell now
58:10You're marvelous, Siobhan
58:11You've been in R, yeah
58:12Brand new businesses
58:14Recruitment
58:16James is going to love you for this
58:18We want to be first here
58:19We want to be the best
58:20We want to stand out from the rest
58:22For confectionery
58:23You have some samples on your table
58:24That I'd love you to have a look at
58:26Sarah
58:27James
58:28It is tough
58:30Very, very tough
58:31We want to stand out from the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest of the rest
59:01You