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The Apprentice 2022 winner Harpreet Kaur has shared what it’s really like to work with Lord Sugar and issued advice to this year’s hopefuls wanting to be his next best business partner. The 32-year-old won the businessman’s £250,000 investment after impressing him and his aides with the dessert company she set up with her sister eight years ago, Oh So Yum.
Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Harpreet revealed that while she and Lord Sugar, 76, are no longer in business together, she is thankful for the opportunity he gave her and insists there’s no hard feelings. She shared: “We bought back our shares from Lord Sugar last year, a mutual decision, no hard feelings, it was just in the best interests of the company.
“Any business person will take up that opportunity to gain control of their company back. While we were together the investment and partnership worked really well, you gain so much exposure from the Apprentice and I’ve learned so much.”
On what the big boss is really like in person, Harpeet added: “Lord Sugar is exactly who he is on television, there’s no persona or acting involved. Just as he comes across on TV, in that board room, across the table, it’s the same way he is in reality. He’s harsh, he’s to the point, but you know what you’re going to get.”
To those hoping to work with the business mogul, Harpreet warned they must “have a thick skin” as “if you’re a softie, you’re not going to work very well together”. She added: “That’s no different to what you’re going to have in business anyway. You need to be able to handle pressure, criticism, rejection, all of these different things.”
The new series of The Apprentice kicked off last week and saw Oliver Medforth become the first contestant in the firing line after the male team’s loss.
As he tried to defend his right to stay in the competition, Lord Sugar brutally told him: “Ollie, it’s funny that you’re amongst eight colleagues and quite a few of them didn’t know what you did, and so I say no smoke without fire.
“It’s a tough one, Ollie I’m sorry to say mate, you’re fired.”
Harpreet knows all too well about the “brutal” process and tasks, but says nothing was more difficult than the 4am wake-up calls.
Viewers of the show will be familiar with contestants being woken up at such an hour with a phone call urging them to be ready in 20 minutes.
Addressing the lengthy filming days on limited sleep, Harpreet says: “You’re so exhausted, you just feel shattered and miserable when you’re filming, they’re very long days.
“You’re stressed, nervous, the early starts, lack of sleep, lack of rest really tests you.”
As the show has grown more and more popular over the years, many have questioned whether some of the candidates are legitimately looking for an investment from the big boss or just fame.
Lord Sugar himself previously admitted he found some contestants were on the show “for the wrong reasons” and even had one ask him if he knew of Cheryl Tweedy’s agent.
Former 2016 semi-finalist also previously claimed some wanted the camera time, but simply had no brains for business.
Expressing her thoughts, Harpreet said: “Truthful answer, I don’t think everybody goes on it for the business.
“I feel like often those candidates get wheeled out quite early on. I think people think they can go on it and maybe become famous but that’s just not how it works.
“I have always grown up and seen The Apprentice as a business show and that’s why I went on it and I think as you get further on in the process, you can see which candidates are serious about it.”
The Apprentice airs Thursdays at 9pm on BBC One.
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Source: NewsFinale
