0:00:02 > 0:00:03I'm not here to make friends.
0:00:03 > 0:00:05It's business.
0:00:05 > 0:00:09Lord Sugar is on the lookout for a brand-new business partner.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13I need to see who's got a good business brain.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18At stake, £250,000...
0:00:18 > 0:00:20I feel so angry.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22There's no winner here.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26..and a 50-50 deal with a business heavyweight.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28That's a massive, massive win.
0:00:28 > 0:00:29Action!
0:00:29 > 0:00:32It's an investment worth fighting for.
0:00:32 > 0:00:33Hang on a minute. Let me finish.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35- You've got to tell her!- I said it to her there!- No, you didn't!
0:00:35 > 0:00:37I'm fuming.
0:00:37 > 0:00:3912 testing weeks...
0:00:39 > 0:00:41Thought that was a bit of a car crash, to be honest.
0:00:41 > 0:00:42That was brutal.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44..one life-changing opportunity.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46You're fired. You're fired.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48You are a loose cannon.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50You're fired.
0:00:58 > 0:00:59Previously on The Apprentice...
0:00:59 > 0:01:01I want you to create your own gin.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04I can honestly put my hands up and say I've tried a lot of gin.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07..Grainne took a second shot as product manager.
0:01:07 > 0:01:08I have to stop drinking this.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10But the task went to her head.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12And...I keep forgetting, I don't want...
0:01:12 > 0:01:14I want it to be... But...
0:01:14 > 0:01:16Trishna's bold colouring...
0:01:16 > 0:01:18Orange, quite a dark-ish orange.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21..meant they were hammered in their pitches.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24- The colour of the liquid is somewhat different.- Yeah.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26And team relations turned sour.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28If you don't think what's going to happen is effective,
0:01:28 > 0:01:29you've got to tell her!
0:01:29 > 0:01:31- You've got to be able to direct the room.- What?!
0:01:31 > 0:01:34- On Courtney's team... - I feel like it's a bit lame.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36..creativity dried up.
0:01:36 > 0:01:37Choose your concept - which one?
0:01:37 > 0:01:39Trouble was brewing...
0:01:39 > 0:01:42- What name have you gone for? - Giin. G-I-I-N.
0:01:42 > 0:01:43I think you've made the wrong call.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45The correct way of pronouncing it is "zhin".
0:01:45 > 0:01:47..and he almost lost his bottle.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49Er, erm... Where are we on this one?
0:01:49 > 0:01:51In the boardroom,
0:01:51 > 0:01:53Giin hit the spot...
0:01:53 > 0:01:54Final five, final five!
0:01:54 > 0:01:57..while Colony was confined to history.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59The product has got so many faults with it.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02For Grainne, a sobering experience.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05Every time there's an opportunity for you to excel, you haven't.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08But for Trishna, last orders.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10Bad moods, having the hump -
0:02:10 > 0:02:14that's not the calibre of person that I could work with.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16She became the 12th casualty of the boardroom.
0:02:16 > 0:02:17You're fired.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21Now five remain to fight for the chance to become
0:02:21 > 0:02:23Lord Sugar's business partner.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37One week till Lord Sugar makes his final choice.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39PHONE RINGS
0:02:39 > 0:02:41- Hello, good morning. - 'Good morning.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43'Lord Sugar would like you to meet him tomorrow morning
0:02:43 > 0:02:45'at 122 Leadenhall Street,
0:02:45 > 0:02:47'and please bring your business plans with you.'
0:02:47 > 0:02:49Cheers, thank you. Bye-bye.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53So...tasks are over.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55We're going to be doing interviews.
0:02:55 > 0:02:56- Wow.- This is serious now.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59- One of us is going to be his business partner.- Argh!
0:03:03 > 0:03:04For the final five...
0:03:06 > 0:03:10..a last chance to go over their business plans.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13I think Lord Sugar is quite intrigued by me.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15Despite losing eight tasks,
0:03:15 > 0:03:18kids' clothing retailer Frances Bishop
0:03:18 > 0:03:20still has her eye on the prize.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25What I'm proud most of is that I've stuck to being myself.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27And whether people like that or not,
0:03:27 > 0:03:28I couldn't really give a monkey's arse,
0:03:28 > 0:03:31because I'm here and they're probably gone now.
0:03:31 > 0:03:32Year one...
0:03:32 > 0:03:37Grainne McCoy has 15 years' experience in the beauty industry.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40I think everybody thought, "Oh, she's just a make-up artist."
0:03:40 > 0:03:43But I'm a make-up artist who wants to think outside the box.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45I want the agency, I want the recruitment side, the training,
0:03:45 > 0:03:49and I need to really show them that I will work hard to create it.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51It's business time.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53Novelty gift designer Courtney Wood
0:03:53 > 0:03:56set up his own business three years ago.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59They're going to go through every fine detail,
0:03:59 > 0:04:02but I entered this process cos I knew I could win it.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04These interviews are just another hurdle,
0:04:04 > 0:04:07one final step to actually showing Lord Sugar what I'm made of.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11If you'd asked me week one or two if I'd be in the final five, no way.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13But I'm here! And that's all that matters.
0:04:15 > 0:04:1824-year-old cake manufacturer Alana Spencer...
0:04:18 > 0:04:20I think it's really important that the interviewers
0:04:20 > 0:04:21are able to try the cakes.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25..has been running her business since the age of 17.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27I've been doing it for a long time,
0:04:27 > 0:04:32so there's no doubt in my mind this business will work.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34I just hope none of them have got a nut allergy -
0:04:34 > 0:04:36finish one of them off.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39128 grand. Oh, that's a lot, isn't it?
0:04:39 > 0:04:42Internet fashion entrepreneur Jessica Cunningham
0:04:42 > 0:04:46was top salesperson in multiple tasks.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48I've just been reading through my business plan,
0:04:48 > 0:04:50and there's a few grammatical errors.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53However, the numbers all seem to add up, so...
0:04:53 > 0:04:54Delete.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56I've had businesses in the past.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58I am a credible businesswoman.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01I'm confident in my ability, and I know what I'm talking about.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03Fingers crossed!
0:05:11 > 0:05:13I'm going to need a lot of deodorant.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19I definitely think Claude's going to make me perspirate.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21- Really nice.- Lucky dress!
0:05:35 > 0:05:38- Nervous?- Never.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41I am going to be cool, calm and collected today,
0:05:41 > 0:05:42and I'm going to nail this.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48They want to know every aspect of you. Every aspect.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50What makes you tick, what makes you crumble.
0:05:50 > 0:05:51It's exciting.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57The Leadenhall Building.
0:05:57 > 0:06:0318,000 tonnes of steel in the heart of London's financial district.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33- Good morning. - ALL:- Good morning, Lord Sugar.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35Well, as you know,
0:06:35 > 0:06:39I've already invested over £1 million with previous winners,
0:06:39 > 0:06:44and I'm about to invest another £250,000 with one of you.
0:06:44 > 0:06:48Today is all about your business plans,
0:06:48 > 0:06:53and you are going to present them to some of my trusted advisers.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56And trust me when I tell you that
0:06:56 > 0:07:00they will probe every inch of your plans, and your CVs.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02And if there are any holes,
0:07:02 > 0:07:05I guarantee you they will be asking questions.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09And you'd better have some answers.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13Hand your business plans over to Claude and Karren.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20So, I look forward to seeing you in the boardroom
0:07:20 > 0:07:24where I'll be deciding which two of you will be going through
0:07:24 > 0:07:26to the final task.
0:07:26 > 0:07:27Off you go.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36I'm genuinely cacking myself now.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40It's like a sense of anticipation of what's going to come.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48Upstairs, ready to put the candidates through their paces,
0:07:48 > 0:07:49four business heavyweights.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54After ten weeks tracking their every move,
0:07:54 > 0:07:57there's nowhere to hide from Claude Littner.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59Frankly, I'm finding it quite hard
0:07:59 > 0:08:02to find anything good about your performance.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04What... You know, got any answer for that?
0:08:04 > 0:08:06Um, I think if you broke the tasks down...
0:08:06 > 0:08:09Yeah, I broke the tasks down, and you lost eight out of ten.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11Losing eight out of the ten tasks was horrific.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14- It was horrific.- It was, and... - I don't know what you're doing here.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19Uncovering the personality behind the plan...
0:08:19 > 0:08:21Pleased to meet you. Take a seat.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24..managing director of a billion-pound media agency,
0:08:24 > 0:08:26Claudine Collins.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28Have a look at what you wrote here.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32"Describe something you would do if you knew you wouldn't get caught."
0:08:32 > 0:08:34"Fart in a lift full of supermodels."
0:08:34 > 0:08:35Why would you...?
0:08:35 > 0:08:38I mean, I just don't understand
0:08:38 > 0:08:39why you'd want to do that,
0:08:39 > 0:08:42or do you think that's something that Lord Sugar would look at
0:08:42 > 0:08:45and think, "Yeah, this is my potential business partner"?
0:08:45 > 0:08:46Er...
0:08:49 > 0:08:53Distinguishing hot air from cold hard fact...
0:08:53 > 0:08:56You've done research showing that 90% of beauty hall managers
0:08:56 > 0:08:59- are unhappy with their temporary staff.- Yes.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02..publishing magnate Mike Soutar.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06- How many managers did you actually speak to?- Six.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08So, what's 90% of six people?
0:09:09 > 0:09:1090% of six people?
0:09:11 > 0:09:13So, there was only one person that was happy with
0:09:13 > 0:09:15what they were getting, you know, so...
0:09:15 > 0:09:18So, is five out of six 90%?
0:09:20 > 0:09:21I'm on the spot now.
0:09:23 > 0:09:24I don't know.
0:09:26 > 0:09:32Finally, assessing their plans with a sharp eye and even sharper tongue,
0:09:32 > 0:09:36founder of a global design company, Linda Plant.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40How much profit did you make in that company?
0:09:40 > 0:09:42It was a massive loss.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45Wait, you made a massive loss in that company?
0:09:45 > 0:09:48Not a loss, but there was no... I think...
0:09:48 > 0:09:50When the money was in the bank, it seemed to just dwindle.
0:09:50 > 0:09:51So, you made a loss,
0:09:51 > 0:09:53you don't know how much the loss was, it was massive.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56You had money in the bank, it dwindled away...
0:09:56 > 0:09:58Do you know what you're talking about here?
0:09:58 > 0:10:01Um... Basically... No, I don't think I do, actually.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03No. That's what I think.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09This is Claude's favourite day of the year.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11- This is like Christmas for Claude. - Yeah.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13Five young idiots with a business plan
0:10:13 > 0:10:16- that he can completely rip apart. - OK, speak for yourself, Courtney.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19We have one idiot and four successful people.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22- Oh, God.- Go on, Alana.- Good luck.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27Confidence, confidence, confidence, confidence, confidence...
0:10:27 > 0:10:29I think Alana will be brilliant.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31She has changed so much.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35When she first started, she was crying, she'd no confidence.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38I wish I was in one of the interviews, getting all the cake.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41What's that?
0:10:41 > 0:10:44I thought, as my business is in cake manufacturing,
0:10:44 > 0:10:46I would let you have them to try.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48Right, we'll leave that alone, then, shall we?
0:10:48 > 0:10:49Can you just sit back a bit?
0:10:49 > 0:10:53So, what is the business that you are proposing to Lord Sugar?
0:10:53 > 0:10:58It's a wholesale cake manufacturing business, and they are traybakes.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00You've got a small business.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02- Lord Sugar, he's going to want to see some growth.- Yeah.
0:11:02 > 0:11:03Real growth.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05I will be the driving force.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07You're going to be the driving force?
0:11:07 > 0:11:09It's going to be interesting if someone chips away at Alana.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12Is she going to crumble, or is she going to build herself back up?
0:11:12 > 0:11:14That's the million-dollar question.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18I mean, clearly, you're not exactly a forceful character.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20If you're going to be running a large business,
0:11:20 > 0:11:22- you've got to be strong.- Yeah.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24And I worry whether you're really tough.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26I, I... The first...
0:11:27 > 0:11:28Um...
0:11:30 > 0:11:33The first two weeks of this process,
0:11:33 > 0:11:35I wanted to walk. I really did.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39But there was no way I was going to be weak, so I stuck it out,
0:11:39 > 0:11:41and I think that has shown that I'm tough.
0:11:41 > 0:11:42I know that I can do it.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45It's a business plan that is going to work.
0:11:45 > 0:11:46OK.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51Right, then, Jessica. Tell me about the business
0:11:51 > 0:11:55that you would like Lord Sugar to invest £250,000 in.
0:11:55 > 0:12:00OK, so, it's a fashion website stocking casual wear.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02It's going to be driven through social media influences
0:12:02 > 0:12:05such as reality stars, fashion bloggers, people like that.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09- So, your celebrity contacts - you're handing money over to them...- Yeah.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11- ..and they wear one of your dresses...- Yeah.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13..and they've got three million followers,
0:12:13 > 0:12:15- then you'll sell lots of dresses. - Yeah.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19- Marketing seems to be one of your strong points.- Yeah.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22So, you started up a fashion retail business with no money,
0:12:22 > 0:12:24just a social media account,
0:12:24 > 0:12:28and within a year it was turning over £250,000.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30- Yes, that's right.- And you were bought out.- Correct, yeah.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33- OK. How much money did you make? - Not a lot.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36- About £4,000. - What went wrong with this business?
0:12:36 > 0:12:39The operational side, it wasn't running like clockwork.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42I mean, it's still running now, but it's not doing anything now.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45Do you realise you are still a director of Famous Frocks?
0:12:45 > 0:12:47No, I didn't.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49So if you go to Companies House,
0:12:49 > 0:12:52you are actually listed as the only director.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55- No, I'm not aware of that. - That's very amateurish.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58- You're also the director of another company...- Yeah.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01..that you own with your sister.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03Yes, and a gentleman called Rick as well.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05Who's resigned, according to Companies House.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07- Oh, has he?- Yes.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13Let me come onto something that has troubled me enormously.
0:13:13 > 0:13:15- I can see you've saved a lot of money over the years.- Yeah.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17Bloody good for you.
0:13:17 > 0:13:19My problem is that, if you want to grow,
0:13:19 > 0:13:23I don't know why you don't reinvest that money in your business.
0:13:23 > 0:13:28It's a choice between investing it in my business or a house.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31So, you're asking a third party to invest in your business
0:13:31 > 0:13:34when you haven't got the confidence to reinvest it yourself.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36I feel like I've worked really hard for my whole life, and...
0:13:36 > 0:13:39And so has Lord Sugar, and that's where the £250,000 comes.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41Yes, but... I know what you're saying.
0:13:41 > 0:13:42- It's a commitment.- Yeah.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44- And it's got to be your commitment. - Yeah.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55Be confident, Courtney. You can do it.
0:13:55 > 0:13:56Bloody hell, this is fast, isn't it?
0:14:01 > 0:14:03So, you're the last man standing.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06- Yeah! I'm quite proud of that, actually.- OK.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08Going through your application,
0:14:08 > 0:14:11when you were asked to describe yourself in one sentence, you said,
0:14:11 > 0:14:14"I'll give you one word - awesome."
0:14:14 > 0:14:16- Well, yeah, I think I've been pretty awesome.- Do you?
0:14:16 > 0:14:18I've won the most tasks out of everyone.
0:14:18 > 0:14:22Well, let's talk about an area that you're not so awesome in - sales.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25You've never been the top seller, and, as a business owner,
0:14:25 > 0:14:28you should absolutely be able to sell.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30So, you pitch yourself to me.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32OK.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35Three years ago, I decided to give up everything -
0:14:35 > 0:14:40my job, live with my friends, and create my own brand of gifts.
0:14:40 > 0:14:45Uh, this business is ready for an investor to put some money in.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48- I'm trying to get a bit of something out of you, Courtney.- Sure.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51Because charisma is important in business.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54Yeah, but I think sometimes I've maybe found that difficult,
0:14:54 > 0:14:59to be, yeah, charismatic with my words, or be eloquent with it...
0:14:59 > 0:15:01That's not very good, going into business with Lord Sugar.
0:15:01 > 0:15:03Yeah, but, uh...
0:15:11 > 0:15:13Right. Grainne.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17You've kind of bombarded me with about 80 pages' worth of stuff.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20Briefly, explain what the main concept is.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22To open a make-up training and recruitment agency
0:15:22 > 0:15:24in Northern Ireland.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26Also in the premises there's going to be what I have now,
0:15:26 > 0:15:27which is the studio and...
0:15:27 > 0:15:29- I'm going to stop you.- ..the store.
0:15:29 > 0:15:30I've got a problem with this
0:15:30 > 0:15:34- because you've been, up until now, a sole trader.- Yes.- Basically.- Yes.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36So it's a bit of a jump, isn't it?
0:15:36 > 0:15:39No, I don't think it's a bit of a jump. I think it's the next step.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42No, no, no. It's a huge, huge jump.
0:15:42 > 0:15:44Do you not think it has to start somewhere, though?
0:15:44 > 0:15:46Yes, it does, but you start small and grow.
0:15:46 > 0:15:47I thought that was small.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51Genuinely, Grainne, it's just too much in one go.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54It does put into question the whole proposition.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56I've never put a business plan together before so, you know...
0:15:56 > 0:15:58- Is this your sole work? - This is mine.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00- Nobody else?- Not a sinner, nope.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02There are some things you need to pass on to somebody else.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04I didn't want anyone seeing it.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06- Why? They're not going to steal the idea.- Well...
0:16:06 > 0:16:09SHE CHUCKLES
0:16:09 > 0:16:10- LAUGHING:- Oh, God.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19- I had Claude.- How was that?
0:16:19 > 0:16:20Interesting!
0:16:20 > 0:16:22So, I knew it was never going to be perfect.
0:16:22 > 0:16:23You know, I need to grow from this,
0:16:23 > 0:16:25I need to learn what they're telling me.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27I'm going to take everything on board
0:16:27 > 0:16:30because I still believe in, you know, having that agency.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32Game on.
0:16:32 > 0:16:33- Good luck, Frances.- Good luck. - Thank you.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35Knock 'em dead.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42- Hello. I'm Frances. - Hello there.- Lovely to meet you.
0:16:42 > 0:16:44Hi. Please take a seat.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49So, Frances, tell me about the business.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53OK, so, I've found a gap in the market for past-season stock
0:16:53 > 0:16:56to be sold in a boutique environment
0:16:56 > 0:16:58and nobody's doing it in childrenswear yet.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01- So you buy stock that's now out of season...- We do.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04- ..and then you sell that at rock-bottom prices?- We do, yes.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08Much larger chains do children's clothing at discount rates,
0:17:08 > 0:17:09so what makes you different?
0:17:09 > 0:17:11Because the second you walk into our store,
0:17:11 > 0:17:14it's the customer service element in our shops.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16There's breast-feeding rooms, there's colouring tables.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20My staff, they just... There's a heart in this business.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23- Your business plan says you've got two stores.- Yes.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25Now, I've heard differently.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28You've actually had three.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31Yes. So we had one in Nottingham.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34It was just unprofitable, and it just kind of cancelled itself out.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36And there was another store as well,
0:17:36 > 0:17:39and you haven't mentioned that in your business plan either.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41No, because that was kind of an experimental store, and...
0:17:41 > 0:17:43This business plan is trying to pretend
0:17:43 > 0:17:46that the mistakes that you've made, they don't matter.
0:17:46 > 0:17:47Well, they do matter.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49It just undermines trust.
0:17:51 > 0:17:55They know everything!
0:17:55 > 0:17:57How many more of these have we got to do today?
0:17:57 > 0:17:59Three more.
0:17:59 > 0:18:00- It can't get any worse.- Can't it?!
0:18:04 > 0:18:05Jessica.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08You've had quite a lot of businesses, haven't you?
0:18:08 > 0:18:12But let's talk about the new business with Lord Sugar.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14What are you going to be selling?
0:18:14 > 0:18:18Jeans, T-shirts, jumpers, jackets, casual dresses.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20Quite a vast product range, isn't it?
0:18:20 > 0:18:23How many styles, then, do you plan in that range?
0:18:23 > 0:18:25So we'd have...
0:18:25 > 0:18:29Sorry, we'd have... Um... We'd have ten...
0:18:29 > 0:18:32Sorry. Oh, sorry, I'm not 100% certain on that point.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37You're asking Lord Sugar for £250,000 investment,
0:18:37 > 0:18:40but when I've asked you just the simplest question,
0:18:40 > 0:18:42you don't know.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47I don't think that you can produce all those items,
0:18:47 > 0:18:50and I do have experience because my career was in the fashion business.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52Oh, really? OK.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55But just say you could, how have you planned the production?
0:18:55 > 0:18:57The production, I'd like to make a small manufacturing process
0:18:57 > 0:18:59within the UK. For a jacket, you have a seamstress
0:18:59 > 0:19:02who's focusing on the arms and the final details...
0:19:02 > 0:19:03No, you don't.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05First of all, who's going to cut your patterns?
0:19:05 > 0:19:07- How many pattern-cutters are you having?- Erm...
0:19:07 > 0:19:10A jacket is an entirely different process
0:19:10 > 0:19:11to producing a dress,
0:19:11 > 0:19:13- and a T-shirt is yet another process...- Another process.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15..and a jean is yet another process.
0:19:17 > 0:19:18I think you're dreaming.
0:19:20 > 0:19:21Wow!
0:19:25 > 0:19:28She ripped me to absolute shreds.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31I've lost my dignity up on the 42nd floor.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33Oh, my God, that was just horrific.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35Is taking cakes to this woman a bad idea?
0:19:35 > 0:19:37She could have it for afternoon tea or something.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40I don't think she's an afternoon tea kind of woman, I'll be honest.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42- Is she not?- Oh, my God, no!
0:19:42 > 0:19:43Go on, Alana.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46- Good luck.- I wonder how that cake will go down.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52- Alana. Nice to meet you. - Nice to meet you, Alana.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56They are samples of my products, you can take them home
0:19:56 > 0:19:59- or you can try them now.- Well, I think you should unwrap them.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03- Mmm.- Plain chocolate brownie. Super-rich.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05- Super-rich.- Yeah.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07They are 19p a slice to make.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09Rocky roads, 18p.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12Um, they sell for £3 at food festivals.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14It is a very profitable business.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17You've certainly got something here that's profitable,
0:20:17 > 0:20:19but you have to have realistic expectations.
0:20:19 > 0:20:23- Currently, you turn over 75,000. - Mm-hmm.
0:20:23 > 0:20:28But in the new business, projected in the first year, 465,000.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30It's very, very ambitious.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33But I AM ambitious and I know that... I absolutely know...
0:20:33 > 0:20:36Can you tell me one of your competitors
0:20:36 > 0:20:39- that's making anything like these profits?- There is...
0:20:39 > 0:20:42- I know a lot of brand producers. - Who?
0:20:42 > 0:20:44- How much are they making? - I don't know.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48Are there any competitors making the profits that you are projecting?
0:20:48 > 0:20:50- Brown & Blond.- How much are they making?- I don't know exactly.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52- Thank you, that's enough. - But I know...
0:20:52 > 0:20:53That's enough - you don't know.
0:21:03 > 0:21:04Hello, Claude.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10Well, Courtney, I've been watching you for the last 11 weeks and,
0:21:10 > 0:21:11frankly, for most of that time,
0:21:11 > 0:21:13I've wanted to kind of smack you over the face to wake you up.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18Seriously, I look in your eyes and I think, "Where's the energy?
0:21:18 > 0:21:20- "Where's the passion?" - What makes you think that?
0:21:20 > 0:21:22"What makes you think that?"
0:21:22 > 0:21:24Your demeanour. Come on!
0:21:24 > 0:21:27- OK.- You are a young man and you've got no vitality about you.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29You haven't got that killer drive.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32Lord Sugar doesn't want to invest in a deadbeat.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35Well, I believe I've done well in the tasks and I believe that...
0:21:35 > 0:21:37Well, I've won eight of the ten tasks.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39Uhhh...
0:21:39 > 0:21:42And I believe I've been a good part of winning them tasks.
0:21:42 > 0:21:43Well, I'm not sure about that.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48So, your current business, how many staff do you have?
0:21:48 > 0:21:50- One.- Who is that other one?
0:21:50 > 0:21:52- That's my partner.- Your boyfriend?
0:21:52 > 0:21:54- Yes.- Your boyfriend and your partner.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58- Boyfriend...- Boyfriend and partner in the business?
0:21:58 > 0:22:02- No, no, absolutely not.- So your boyfriend is also your employee.
0:22:02 > 0:22:03- Correct.- So we're clear.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06What's his current role in the company?
0:22:06 > 0:22:09He does the same as me, essentially.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11So if you fall out with him, can he be replaced?
0:22:13 > 0:22:15I mean, that's a very cold thing to have to say.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17- It's not about emotions.- Yep. - It's about facts.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19Those are the things Lord Sugar will want to know.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22Cold, hard facts. Yes, then. He could be replaced.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33Just tell me a bit about how this business evolved and where
0:22:33 > 0:22:36- we are now with it.- I've created a product design company that
0:22:36 > 0:22:39- specialises in making novelty gifts. - Who's the target market, then?
0:22:39 > 0:22:44It would be from the age of around 12 years old to, say, 35.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46Come on, Courtney.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49- You want more...? - It's like pulling out teeth.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53OK. I personally do feel that my company is underperforming.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55- Why is it underperforming? - It's not due to my demeanour,
0:22:55 > 0:22:59I can tell you that. I work my bollocks off, to be honest with you.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02I haven't paid myself a proper wage, I've given up everything.
0:23:02 > 0:23:03I could have a nice house -
0:23:03 > 0:23:06I didn't, I wanted to spend my money on setting up my own business.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08Come on, Courtney, yes!
0:23:08 > 0:23:10I've worked for everything that I've got,
0:23:10 > 0:23:11where I've built the foundations
0:23:11 > 0:23:13and I feel like I'm on the cusp of something good.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15Yes! Yes!
0:23:19 > 0:23:21'Second floor.'
0:23:24 > 0:23:27- Isn't this the toughest day ever? - It has got to be up there
0:23:27 > 0:23:29with one of the most difficult days of my life.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32- This is actually worse than childbirth.- Really?- Absolutely.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35This is contractions times 20.
0:23:36 > 0:23:37Onto the next one.
0:23:43 > 0:23:44So, Grainne,
0:23:44 > 0:23:47the numbers in your business plan are flimsy.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50The cash flow numbers don't add up.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54Yeah. I think I've a lot more outgoings than ingoings because
0:23:54 > 0:23:57I was going a little bit spendy-happy on that, but...
0:23:57 > 0:24:00You can't be running a business and be "spendy-happy".
0:24:03 > 0:24:06My really big concern is your business plan lacks focus.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09You want to be an agency for beauty counter staff...
0:24:09 > 0:24:12- Yeah.- ..you want to be an agency for make-up artists...
0:24:12 > 0:24:15- OK.- ..you want to run a physical AND online store.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18But, you know, I want to open something really big and get a brand
0:24:18 > 0:24:20for myself in Northern Ireland.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23You said in here, as managing director, you will be liaising
0:24:23 > 0:24:25- with clients, training...- Yep.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28..managing staff and doing make-up.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32- Yeah.- The managing director can't be doing makeovers.
0:24:32 > 0:24:33Mm-hmm.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36Just focus on one thing, is that what you're saying?
0:24:36 > 0:24:38What do YOU think you should be doing?
0:24:38 > 0:24:39Do you know what? I don't know.
0:24:45 > 0:24:46How have you been?
0:24:46 > 0:24:47I think this is the toughest day,
0:24:47 > 0:24:50but it's exciting and I'm learning a lot from it.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52I can tell from two minutes of sitting here,
0:24:52 > 0:24:55but throughout this process you've been really energetic.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58But sometimes you've been bordering on a bit hyper.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01- Why is that?- I think just because I have high energy levels.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04Everything I do I deliver with passion,
0:25:04 > 0:25:06and I think sometimes that comes...
0:25:06 > 0:25:08that can come across a bit too much.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11You're very emotional, you've been very emotional in this process,
0:25:11 > 0:25:12- haven't you?- Yeah.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14Do you worry that it affects the way that people view you
0:25:14 > 0:25:17- in a business setting? - Of course I worry.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20I want to be shrewd and I want to be able to control that,
0:25:20 > 0:25:23because in the outside world I'm not emotional,
0:25:23 > 0:25:25I run two businesses and I've got three children
0:25:25 > 0:25:27that I raise single-handed and...
0:25:27 > 0:25:29I'd say I'm a very strong person indeed.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39Right. How did you get to this idea that what you wanted to do was
0:25:39 > 0:25:42- childrenswear?- At the start of the business, we started with...
0:25:42 > 0:25:46- We? Who is the "we"?- So, I previously had a business partner.
0:25:46 > 0:25:48She did the accounts and the figures side.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50Good, well, I can see you miss her.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54She's a very smart girl.
0:25:54 > 0:25:55Little fireball Frances.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58Is it really wrong that I'd quite like her to come unstuck?
0:26:00 > 0:26:02Let's move on.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04Let's just get into the meat of this business plan.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07It looks like it's been thrown together, it's appalling.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09When I come to the appendix,
0:26:09 > 0:26:11which is the real interesting thing for me,
0:26:11 > 0:26:13who is responsible for these pages?
0:26:13 > 0:26:15- That's me. - There's supposed to be four pages.
0:26:15 > 0:26:16- Yes.- I've got two.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19Yeah, there was another page, the milestones and the sales forecast.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23That was unfortunately left off.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26How could you possibly put this to Lord Sugar?
0:26:26 > 0:26:27This is beneath you.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30When I did this, this all didn't seem very real.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32If I had my time again, I would absolutely...
0:26:32 > 0:26:35God. Look, you've got one time, this is your one shot.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40Claude defo hates me!
0:26:40 > 0:26:42- What?- That was brutal.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45Literally tore me a new one.
0:26:48 > 0:26:49Good luck!
0:26:52 > 0:26:54Show passion, Courtney. You can do this.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57'42nd floor.'
0:26:57 > 0:27:00So, Courtney, you claim on your CV that when you worked for
0:27:00 > 0:27:03a telecoms company, you were the top salesman in Britain.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06That's a typo, it's meant to say "county", not "country".
0:27:06 > 0:27:09OK, that's a really BIG typo.
0:27:09 > 0:27:13Moving on. You worked for a design company,
0:27:13 > 0:27:17they quickly made you head designer, is that correct?
0:27:17 > 0:27:18I was the most senior designer.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20I've spoken to ex-colleagues,
0:27:20 > 0:27:23they say that you were the ONLY designer there.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25Have you got a habit of exaggerating?
0:27:25 > 0:27:27No, I don't think I do.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31OK. It says in your business plan that you are one of
0:27:31 > 0:27:35the leading designers in the novelty gift industry.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38What facts is that claim based on?
0:27:38 > 0:27:41Yeah, that is a self-proclaimed...
0:27:41 > 0:27:43OK, well, look, I've got a sketchbook here.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46Sketch me something completely brilliant.
0:27:46 > 0:27:47That's a lot of pressure, isn't it?
0:27:47 > 0:27:51Well, you are one of the leading novelty gift designers in the UK.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54I don't think it's an unfair thing to ask somebody like that.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02This would be the Lord Sugar Dispenser.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07You could pull his head back and out of his mouth pops some sugar cubes.
0:28:07 > 0:28:08Thank you very much for that.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13Yeah, I may have inflated a few things in my CV.
0:28:13 > 0:28:17- Inflated?- Just said I was head designer at my old company.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19I was the only designer, really. I had a placement student.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22What? You've got to give yourself a good job title, haven't you?
0:28:22 > 0:28:25Did you give yourself, like, employee of the month?
0:28:25 > 0:28:26Every month. Yeah.
0:28:26 > 0:28:31Frances, tell me, there is no doubting that you're a hard worker,
0:28:31 > 0:28:34but you put in your application that you're really disorganised
0:28:34 > 0:28:36and that your filing is in your handbag.
0:28:36 > 0:28:38- That terrifies me.- Yep.
0:28:38 > 0:28:42Ask anyone in this process, they will tell you how organised,
0:28:42 > 0:28:43on the ball I have been.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46I did write that as a very, very flippant comment,
0:28:46 > 0:28:48and if I could take it back, I would.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50Do you think Lord Sugar wants someone
0:28:50 > 0:28:52- that writes flippant comments? - Absolutely not.
0:28:54 > 0:28:56'Doors opening.'
0:29:00 > 0:29:01- Hello.- Hello there.
0:29:01 > 0:29:04- Pleasure to meet you. - How are you feeling?
0:29:04 > 0:29:06- I'm OK.- Hello, Claude.
0:29:06 > 0:29:09Just tell me a bit about your background. This is a quick...
0:29:09 > 0:29:11- This is quick, OK? - Short and precise.
0:29:11 > 0:29:14So, I'm from Burnley, left school at 16.
0:29:14 > 0:29:18I had six Cs, a D, E, F and a U for GCSE level.
0:29:18 > 0:29:21Then I started working in little nightclubs selling shots
0:29:21 > 0:29:24- and from that I started working abroad, I came back... - SPEECH FADES OUT
0:29:28 > 0:29:31You said in your business plan that you're going to train
0:29:31 > 0:29:34the make-up artists to have all the knowledge of all the brands.
0:29:34 > 0:29:37- Yes.- Right, so if I go into my make-up bag,
0:29:37 > 0:29:42would you tell me the USP of, say, that and that product?
0:29:42 > 0:29:44Now, this is a test.
0:29:45 > 0:29:50So, Courtney, tell me about this product.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52This is the Cheers Baby Bottle.
0:29:52 > 0:29:55It's designed to be filled with milk and kids can go "cheers"
0:29:55 > 0:29:56at, like, their parents' wedding with it.
0:29:56 > 0:29:59It looks like a champagne flute. Is that appropriate for children?
0:29:59 > 0:30:00Erm...
0:30:01 > 0:30:04So that is liquid blush, isn't it?
0:30:04 > 0:30:06- It's not liquid.- Oh, it isn't?
0:30:06 > 0:30:10So, Alana, you describe the main market for the business
0:30:10 > 0:30:12as independent delicatessens.
0:30:12 > 0:30:16- Yes.- So how did you work out that there are 7,000 in the UK?
0:30:16 > 0:30:19Based on an average of how many there are in my town
0:30:19 > 0:30:21and how many people there are in my town.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24Do you think that's a robust and scientific enough way to do it?
0:30:24 > 0:30:26That's, you know...
0:30:26 > 0:30:30You have no idea how many there are in the UK, do you?
0:30:30 > 0:30:32Erm...
0:30:32 > 0:30:36Do you know what the main selling point is of this brand's lipsticks?
0:30:36 > 0:30:37Erm...
0:30:40 > 0:30:41I then started a clothing brand
0:30:41 > 0:30:45which was successful on the outside, but the operation side wasn't great.
0:30:45 > 0:30:48OK, let's move on because I want to get to the end.
0:30:51 > 0:30:55So, Courtney, I see that you live on £8,000 a year, is that correct?
0:30:55 > 0:30:57Yeah, I live my life on a shoestring.
0:30:57 > 0:31:00I made the decision two years ago to move back home into my parents',
0:31:00 > 0:31:03in the spare room, cos I wanted to put everything into the business.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08Your catalogue has got 140 products in - 33 are yours.
0:31:08 > 0:31:13So the majority of what you're selling is not your own designs.
0:31:13 > 0:31:16Moving forward, that's what I'd actually like to phase out
0:31:16 > 0:31:18- and sell all my own product range. - Well, if you're on your own,
0:31:18 > 0:31:21you won't have a catalogue with 140 products, will you?
0:31:21 > 0:31:23You'll have a catalogue with 33 products.
0:31:23 > 0:31:25The point I'm getting at here, Courtney,
0:31:25 > 0:31:29is there isn't really a lot of foundation to your design business.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32With that investment, I want to make new products.
0:31:32 > 0:31:34I'll then have more than the 33 products.
0:31:34 > 0:31:36You have not convinced me that you've designed enough.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39I believe 33 products is rather impressive to create in three years.
0:31:39 > 0:31:41It's nothing in this market.
0:31:41 > 0:31:44This market is huge volumes.
0:31:44 > 0:31:47By your own words, you are operating from a bedroom.
0:31:49 > 0:31:51"Lust And Lies."
0:31:51 > 0:31:54- Yes.- All I can see is a huge amount of problems.
0:31:54 > 0:31:56You've got all these celebrities,
0:31:56 > 0:31:58you're paying them, like, 3,000, 2,000, 1000...
0:31:58 > 0:32:00- You're paying a whole load of money...- Yeah.
0:32:00 > 0:32:01..and no money coming in.
0:32:01 > 0:32:04Yes, we are having to pay out the initial outlay of marketing,
0:32:04 > 0:32:06but it's a marketing-led business.
0:32:06 > 0:32:09But it's a marketing-led business which is very, very uncertain.
0:32:09 > 0:32:13It's all front-end risk. You haven't got a certainty of actually selling
0:32:13 > 0:32:16that particular line. Plus the fact you've got to buy the fabric,
0:32:16 > 0:32:17you have a machinist to make it...
0:32:17 > 0:32:19- Yeah.- ..there could be returns,
0:32:19 > 0:32:21- there's the admin work, refunds. - Yeah.
0:32:21 > 0:32:23I can see the money escaping.
0:32:23 > 0:32:26You're almost dead before you start the business going.
0:32:26 > 0:32:28'Second floor.'
0:32:35 > 0:32:36That's me done for the day.
0:32:36 > 0:32:38That's been gruelling.
0:32:38 > 0:32:39It's like a verbal beating-up.
0:32:39 > 0:32:42I thought it'd be more like a meeting of minds and they'd all be
0:32:42 > 0:32:44like, "Oh, yeah, what you've done is really impressive."
0:32:44 > 0:32:46Oh, God. I've still got Linda.
0:32:46 > 0:32:47Good luck!
0:32:53 > 0:32:57- Hi. Lovely to meet you.- Hi.
0:32:57 > 0:33:00All right, let's go into your business a little bit.
0:33:00 > 0:33:02- OK.- You've got four staff.
0:33:02 > 0:33:03Four in total, including me.
0:33:03 > 0:33:06It's good you've got a business
0:33:06 > 0:33:10that CAN generate profits, but there are a couple of areas that worry me.
0:33:10 > 0:33:13You're showing £121,000 worth of stock.
0:33:13 > 0:33:16- Yes.- How have you valued that stock?
0:33:16 > 0:33:18So I've worked it back...
0:33:18 > 0:33:21I'm not good at figures and I'm sure it shows in there,
0:33:21 > 0:33:23I'm horrific at figures.
0:33:23 > 0:33:24So, if you're horrific at figures,
0:33:24 > 0:33:26what's Lord Sugar going to say to that?
0:33:26 > 0:33:29Well, that's why I have... You know, my bank manager is fantastic.
0:33:29 > 0:33:31Well, your bank manager is not going to run your business.
0:33:31 > 0:33:33No, no, let me finish.
0:33:34 > 0:33:36I learn from everyone that is talking to me,
0:33:36 > 0:33:38from the market traders to the wholesalers,
0:33:38 > 0:33:40and I would be a fool not to listen to it.
0:33:40 > 0:33:43- Yeah, but what are you learning? - Constantly.
0:33:43 > 0:33:46What are you learning? I happen to understand that business and I know
0:33:46 > 0:33:50how difficult it is, and you tell me you're rubbish at figures,
0:33:50 > 0:33:53- you know, that's quite serious.- No, I haven't said "rubbish at figures",
0:33:53 > 0:33:55I have said figures are my weakness.
0:33:55 > 0:33:59I'm worried how much weight there is behind this talk.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02Can Lord Sugar invest and feel secure that he is going to
0:34:02 > 0:34:03build something, you know?
0:34:03 > 0:34:06You have to take it on what I have done
0:34:06 > 0:34:08and I have done an absolute lot.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11I'm not sure at all.
0:34:16 > 0:34:18I am strong, I am invincible...
0:34:18 > 0:34:19- BOTH:- I am woman.
0:34:20 > 0:34:22I am tired.
0:34:26 > 0:34:27What a day that's been.
0:34:27 > 0:34:30I would never fear having an interview ever again.
0:34:30 > 0:34:32- I could do with a large brandy. - Let's go.
0:34:50 > 0:34:54- ALANA:- Yesterday was the most intense thing I've ever experienced.
0:34:54 > 0:34:56There's nothing in life that can prepare you for the interviews.
0:34:58 > 0:35:00It would be the worst thing to get this far
0:35:00 > 0:35:02and then fall at the final hurdle.
0:35:05 > 0:35:07- FRANCES:- If I didn't agree with something,
0:35:07 > 0:35:10I challenged the interviewers, and I will do the same today.
0:35:10 > 0:35:12I'll never surrender.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18- COURTNEY:- Claude said I lacked passion and I lacked drive.
0:35:18 > 0:35:22That worries me. I'm going to show Lord Sugar my business means
0:35:22 > 0:35:25everything to me. I'm not ready to go home yet.
0:35:25 > 0:35:28- GRAINNE:- I feel really positive after them meetings yesterday.
0:35:28 > 0:35:31I'm going to take all that criticism on board
0:35:31 > 0:35:32and show Lord Sugar that I CAN have a business
0:35:32 > 0:35:34and it IS worth investing into.
0:35:35 > 0:35:38- JESSICA:- I genuinely do believe I do deserve this
0:35:38 > 0:35:39more than the other candidates.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42I'm not here to be in the final five - I'm here to win it.
0:36:00 > 0:36:02Well, welcome back to the boardroom.
0:36:02 > 0:36:05You've had a look at the five last candidates in this process.
0:36:05 > 0:36:08Would you like to suggest one that we should start off with?
0:36:08 > 0:36:09- Courtney.- OK, Courtney.
0:36:09 > 0:36:12I asked him to pitch himself to me,
0:36:12 > 0:36:16but I didn't find him very engaging, and when you put that together
0:36:16 > 0:36:18with sales, it's a bit of a concern.
0:36:18 > 0:36:21He was never very good at pitching. In fact, before he starts the pitch,
0:36:21 > 0:36:24he should start off with a warning that it may cause drowsiness.
0:36:24 > 0:36:27It's a shame because people do business with people.
0:36:27 > 0:36:29- Yeah.- And if he had a bit more personality...
0:36:29 > 0:36:30Cos he's clearly bright.
0:36:30 > 0:36:33- Yeah.- Let's get down to the products, shall we, now?
0:36:33 > 0:36:36When I drilled into his current business,
0:36:36 > 0:36:41he's actually only invented 33 products in the last three years.
0:36:41 > 0:36:45So, actually, he is an inventor, but it's a small business.
0:36:45 > 0:36:48But I'm looking for something that's going to be big.
0:36:48 > 0:36:49Could this be a big business?
0:36:49 > 0:36:53The novelty gift sector is all about catching a wave.
0:36:53 > 0:36:56If you back him, then what you're doing is you're backing his instinct
0:36:56 > 0:36:58to be able to anticipate what a big-hit product will be
0:36:58 > 0:37:00before it's a big hit.
0:37:00 > 0:37:03When you look at his business plan, when you look at what he's achieved,
0:37:03 > 0:37:04I certainly wouldn't write him off.
0:37:04 > 0:37:07Jessica, her business idea, I understand,
0:37:07 > 0:37:09is all to do with online fashion.
0:37:09 > 0:37:13That's right, so they'll pay minor television celebrities to wear
0:37:13 > 0:37:18the outfits and promote them on social media in order to drive sales
0:37:18 > 0:37:20- for those dresses.- I had a quick look at her business plan
0:37:20 > 0:37:23and it looked to me that one of the biggest costs
0:37:23 > 0:37:26was what she was going to be shelling out to these celebrities.
0:37:26 > 0:37:28It's high-risk because if they do wear it,
0:37:28 > 0:37:31it may or may not catch on, and if it DOES catch on,
0:37:31 > 0:37:32can she capture the market?
0:37:32 > 0:37:35And I think you could easily lose your money very, very quickly.
0:37:35 > 0:37:37As she did with her first business.
0:37:37 > 0:37:40On a positive, reality TV stars on social media
0:37:40 > 0:37:44- have a huge following of people... - Right.- ..of young people that want
0:37:44 > 0:37:46to emulate them, want to look like them.
0:37:46 > 0:37:50She is incredibly engaging, incredibly warm.
0:37:50 > 0:37:53I think she could persuade celebrities
0:37:53 > 0:37:55to actually wear her dresses.
0:37:55 > 0:37:57Her new business is called Lust And Lies.
0:37:57 > 0:38:00- Called what, sorry?- Lust And Lies.
0:38:00 > 0:38:03That's what she wants me to invest in, a company called Lust And Lies?
0:38:03 > 0:38:06- Yes, yes.- Less H&M and more S&M, it sounds like to me!
0:38:08 > 0:38:11Moving on to Grainne.
0:38:11 > 0:38:13Her idea is to do two things -
0:38:13 > 0:38:17train make-up artists and also become an agency also.
0:38:17 > 0:38:20- Is that right?- There are three things. She actually wants to have
0:38:20 > 0:38:22a shop where she can also sell to make-up artists.
0:38:22 > 0:38:24Actually, there are four things,
0:38:24 > 0:38:28because she also wants to run this as a recruitment agency for
0:38:28 > 0:38:31big department stores in Northern Ireland.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34I think by the time I had finished speaking to Grainne,
0:38:34 > 0:38:35I think she appreciated that actually
0:38:35 > 0:38:38she really had bitten off more than she could chew.
0:38:38 > 0:38:41Yes, she may have to concentrate on one particular thing.
0:38:41 > 0:38:45Yes, but also, one of the things she says in her business plan
0:38:45 > 0:38:47is that "our staff are going to know everything
0:38:47 > 0:38:50"about different brands," and I actually said to her,
0:38:50 > 0:38:52"I'm going to take a couple of products out of my make-up bag
0:38:52 > 0:38:55"and, because you are going to be training them, you tell me
0:38:55 > 0:38:57"what the USP is." And she couldn't.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00- No, so she's maybe shooting too high there, yeah?- Yeah.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03It's a shame, because actually she's been a really strong candidate.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06She's very logical, she makes decisions well,
0:39:06 > 0:39:08she was a good team player.
0:39:08 > 0:39:09And her make-up was fantastic,
0:39:09 > 0:39:11so she's obviously good at what she does.
0:39:11 > 0:39:12Now, Frances.
0:39:12 > 0:39:15She has a business which is
0:39:15 > 0:39:17a discount children's clothes retailer.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20So what will she do with Alan's 250,000?
0:39:20 > 0:39:23Her plan is to expand out.
0:39:23 > 0:39:25She has two physical stores at the moment.
0:39:25 > 0:39:29I found out that there were previously two full-time stores
0:39:29 > 0:39:32- which have since dissolved. - Oh, that's news.
0:39:32 > 0:39:35She talked about her staff, their loyalty to her.
0:39:35 > 0:39:37- How many staff has she got?- Four.
0:39:37 > 0:39:40- Oh, right. - She's buying ends of lines,
0:39:40 > 0:39:43bankrupt stocks, and she's making a nice profit,
0:39:43 > 0:39:46but how scalable is that business going to be?
0:39:46 > 0:39:49She did have a partner who did all the accounts,
0:39:49 > 0:39:51all the kind of boring stuff,
0:39:51 > 0:39:53and now it's all come onto Frances' shoulders.
0:39:53 > 0:39:57Yes, her filing system in her office is all run out of a handbag.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59We've watched her over the past 11 weeks,
0:39:59 > 0:40:02she's been very focused, very, very determined, so for me,
0:40:02 > 0:40:05to read her business plan, it was extremely disappointing.
0:40:05 > 0:40:07I think Frances has been a great candidate
0:40:07 > 0:40:09but I think she's surprised herself
0:40:09 > 0:40:11in how far she's gone in this process.
0:40:11 > 0:40:14So I think if she could do her business plan now,
0:40:14 > 0:40:16it would be so much better.
0:40:16 > 0:40:19Yeah. OK, shall we talk about Alana now?
0:40:19 > 0:40:22- Her business is cakes, right? - Her business is making cakes.
0:40:22 > 0:40:25What I'm trying to understand is, how does it get from knocking up
0:40:25 > 0:40:29a few cakes in your kitchen and flogging them to the local deli
0:40:29 > 0:40:32to something where you can start targeting
0:40:32 > 0:40:34someone in Glasgow, for example?
0:40:34 > 0:40:38Exactly. So, Alana's plan was to scale her business
0:40:38 > 0:40:42in delicatessens around the UK. Now, the only problem with that is
0:40:42 > 0:40:44there's no data on how many
0:40:44 > 0:40:46independent delicatessens exist in the UK.
0:40:46 > 0:40:48So how can you estimate your revenues
0:40:48 > 0:40:50when you don't know how many customers you might have?
0:40:50 > 0:40:52And why would they buy them from her, anyway?
0:40:52 > 0:40:54Unless she gets a real great brand of cakes, if you like,
0:40:54 > 0:40:57how are they going to know about it to buy it?
0:40:57 > 0:40:58And then she's got to get them to them.
0:40:58 > 0:41:00You're going to need distribution.
0:41:00 > 0:41:03We've got things like sell-by dates coming into play now, right?
0:41:03 > 0:41:07This is stuff that has to be made, delivered and eaten.
0:41:07 > 0:41:12It's small now, but it's got huge profit margins
0:41:12 > 0:41:13and the product is delicious.
0:41:13 > 0:41:16She has made money over the past few years.
0:41:16 > 0:41:18I said to her, "Why haven't you reinvested that in your business?
0:41:18 > 0:41:20"After all, if you haven't got the confidence,
0:41:20 > 0:41:22"why would Lord Sugar have the confidence?"
0:41:22 > 0:41:25Mm! Well, that has been very, very useful, as ever.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28Thank you very much for your assistance.
0:41:28 > 0:41:29- ALL:- Thank you.
0:41:40 > 0:41:42PHONE RINGS
0:41:42 > 0:41:45- Yes, Lord Sugar?- Could you send the five of them in, please?
0:41:45 > 0:41:47- Yes, Lord Sugar.- Thank you.
0:41:47 > 0:41:49Lord Sugar will see you now.
0:42:01 > 0:42:04- Good morning. - ALL:- Good morning, Lord Sugar.
0:42:04 > 0:42:07I want to make clear that there is nothing wrong with businesses
0:42:07 > 0:42:09that employ one or two people,
0:42:09 > 0:42:12it is the backbone of the British economy,
0:42:12 > 0:42:17but I'm only interested in how the business that I'm going to invest in
0:42:17 > 0:42:21ends up being a BIG business and I'm going to decide today
0:42:21 > 0:42:24which two of you will be going through to the final.
0:42:24 > 0:42:28So, Jessica, online women's fashion.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31Your name for this business is...
0:42:31 > 0:42:32Lust And Lies.
0:42:32 > 0:42:35That sounds like a Jilly Cooper novel to me.
0:42:35 > 0:42:38But anyway, one of your biggest costs, £10,000 per month,
0:42:38 > 0:42:41which you want to spend with the so-called "celebrities",
0:42:41 > 0:42:44whoever they are - don't you think it's a bit of a risk?
0:42:44 > 0:42:46I don't, because it is a business model that works.
0:42:46 > 0:42:48I've used it in my previous business...
0:42:48 > 0:42:49But that business didn't work.
0:42:49 > 0:42:52It did. The sales were there, but the returns were quite high
0:42:52 > 0:42:55and the returns were chipping away at the money in the bank, and...
0:42:55 > 0:42:57OK, so, what's different now, then?
0:42:57 > 0:43:01The way I was thinking to reduce returns are by having videos
0:43:01 > 0:43:04of how the item flows. You can have measurements of how
0:43:04 > 0:43:07an item the consumer has got at home will...
0:43:07 > 0:43:10Hold on, hold on, look, it doesn't instil confidence in me.
0:43:10 > 0:43:12OK. I mean, I'm open to adapt it.
0:43:12 > 0:43:14If there's something that could be better,
0:43:14 > 0:43:15I'm completely open to doing that.
0:43:15 > 0:43:18However, I know, by using celebrity endorsements and social influences,
0:43:18 > 0:43:21that we can and will sell them items.
0:43:21 > 0:43:25Hmm. Grainne, I'm a little confused about your idea,
0:43:25 > 0:43:28because talking to my advisers,
0:43:28 > 0:43:31one can interpret it as about five different things.
0:43:31 > 0:43:33I was throwing a lot of eggs into one basket.
0:43:33 > 0:43:36So I should've homed in more on the make-up, the application,
0:43:36 > 0:43:38the training, the academy and that side of it.
0:43:38 > 0:43:40The make-up, what do you mean by the make-up?
0:43:40 > 0:43:43I'm also creating a brand as myself as an ambassador for...
0:43:43 > 0:43:45- A brand of what?- Make-up.
0:43:45 > 0:43:48- Of make-up?- Yeah, this is what it... - What, your own brand of make-up?
0:43:48 > 0:43:50- This is what... - So you're going to compete with
0:43:50 > 0:43:51the likes of Mac, for example?
0:43:51 > 0:43:54Well, I think, you know, everyone has to start somewhere,
0:43:54 > 0:43:57and I am very experienced in the make-up industry and the teaching.
0:43:57 > 0:43:59- Teaching people how to do it? - Yeah, teaching.
0:43:59 > 0:44:01People are going to pay you to train them, are they?
0:44:01 > 0:44:02Yes, pay to train with me.
0:44:02 > 0:44:06It'll be a worldwide-certified certificate for make-up artists.
0:44:06 > 0:44:07How much are you going to charge them?
0:44:07 > 0:44:09Well, that certificate will be costing 7,000 per course.
0:44:09 > 0:44:12- Right, OK.- And you're qualified to teach that course, are you?
0:44:12 > 0:44:14I am half-qualified, I'm in the middle of doing it.
0:44:14 > 0:44:17- Half-qualified? - Yeah, I'm nearly finished.
0:44:17 > 0:44:19- Oh, you're not even qualified yet? - No.
0:44:19 > 0:44:21Not certified yet.
0:44:22 > 0:44:26Sounds like I might need certifying to actually invest in this, then.
0:44:26 > 0:44:28Lord Sugar, I want to open an academy, create a make-up brand.
0:44:28 > 0:44:30- All right.- I want to have both.
0:44:30 > 0:44:31I'm not just playing it safe,
0:44:31 > 0:44:33I want to start a brand and get it out there...
0:44:33 > 0:44:35Look, look, Grainne...
0:44:38 > 0:44:41You know, I'm going to be bluntly honest with you.
0:44:41 > 0:44:43I just can't see this.
0:44:44 > 0:44:47- That's OK.- It's been nice to be associated with you,
0:44:47 > 0:44:49but it is with regret that you're fired.
0:44:49 > 0:44:51Thank you so much, I really appreciated everything.
0:44:51 > 0:44:53Girls, good luck, OK?
0:44:53 > 0:44:55Best of luck, all of yous.
0:45:08 > 0:45:11Alana, you want me to invest in your cake business,
0:45:11 > 0:45:13want me to provide the hundreds and thousands.
0:45:13 > 0:45:14SHE CHUCKLES
0:45:14 > 0:45:17Cupcakes was a great fad, wasn't it, three, four years ago?
0:45:17 > 0:45:20- Yeah.- And people made a bit of money flogging them to friends,
0:45:20 > 0:45:23then they go to the local deli and they sell a few to them also,
0:45:23 > 0:45:25and then they kind of hit a brick wall.
0:45:25 > 0:45:28My business is so far away from the cupcake.
0:45:28 > 0:45:30OK, who do see your target customer?
0:45:30 > 0:45:35The food service industry, so anywhere that sells coffee,
0:45:35 > 0:45:36- and then I see it going nationwide. - Really?
0:45:36 > 0:45:39- There's a huge market for them. - How do you get to them all?
0:45:39 > 0:45:41I mean, his products, for example, you look at a picture of it...
0:45:41 > 0:45:43It would be sample-based, it would be...
0:45:43 > 0:45:46- So they have to taste it?- They would absolutely have to taste it.
0:45:46 > 0:45:48So you find some bloke in Gloucester, for example,
0:45:48 > 0:45:50that's running a coffee shop,
0:45:50 > 0:45:52and you've spent a couple of hours driving to him,
0:45:52 > 0:45:55and they may or may not give you an order. Yeah?
0:45:55 > 0:45:58But the main source of my current business is food festivals,
0:45:58 > 0:46:02country shows, and I will also still be going to the events, so...
0:46:02 > 0:46:04Well, you can't be everywhere, can you?
0:46:04 > 0:46:06Yes, but whilst there's staff on my stand,
0:46:06 > 0:46:08I can be going and building relationships...
0:46:08 > 0:46:10- Business calls.- Exactly, yes.
0:46:10 > 0:46:12Claude tells me that you've accumulated
0:46:12 > 0:46:14quite a lot of money from this already.
0:46:14 > 0:46:17I've been saving towards a house since the age of 16.
0:46:17 > 0:46:19When I started my business, as I was making money,
0:46:19 > 0:46:21I ploughed it back in to get it bigger and bigger and bigger.
0:46:21 > 0:46:23So why haven't you reinvested it?
0:46:23 > 0:46:26I have been reinvesting... small amounts.
0:46:26 > 0:46:28You need to be a bit more ambitious, really.
0:46:28 > 0:46:30I do invest in my business...
0:46:30 > 0:46:32You're talking to me about more staff and all that stuff -
0:46:32 > 0:46:34doesn't seem like you want to put your own money into that.
0:46:34 > 0:46:36No, I do invest in my own business,
0:46:36 > 0:46:39but the reason I'm here is because I want more than just the money.
0:46:39 > 0:46:43I want Lord Sugar and Lord Sugar's advisers and his team on board.
0:46:43 > 0:46:47Now, Courtney, you've got this gift-design thing, yeah?
0:46:47 > 0:46:51What worries me about your business is that you just go online and you
0:46:51 > 0:46:56type in "novelties" and 20,000 things come up there straight away.
0:46:56 > 0:46:58So, why are your products special?
0:46:58 > 0:47:00I personally feel that my industry,
0:47:00 > 0:47:02it's not really up to date with the current trends,
0:47:02 > 0:47:04and that's something that I'd bring.
0:47:04 > 0:47:06I look at future trends, I look at current trends,
0:47:06 > 0:47:08and I try and create products for gifts...
0:47:08 > 0:47:10- Every single item of yours could be knocked off.- Yeah.
0:47:10 > 0:47:14If it becomes popular, just by changing the dimension, the shape,
0:47:14 > 0:47:16another company would be knocking it off just like that.
0:47:16 > 0:47:18It's all about getting it out there cheaply and quickly,
0:47:18 > 0:47:21so I can get a product from idea to market in under three months.
0:47:21 > 0:47:25That's true, it's speed, and then as soon as you're being copied,
0:47:25 > 0:47:27you're out, on the next thing.
0:47:27 > 0:47:31I want the £250,000 to increase my sales distribution network in the UK
0:47:31 > 0:47:34to supermarkets, high-street retailers.
0:47:34 > 0:47:36That's the key of what I want to get my products into.
0:47:36 > 0:47:38- I know my kind of product... - Hold on, hold on.
0:47:38 > 0:47:40Knowing the retail market as I do,
0:47:40 > 0:47:45I'm trying to see why they would buy this type of stuff from you.
0:47:45 > 0:47:48And that's why I want you on board, because I believe having your name
0:47:48 > 0:47:50associated with my business will help me...
0:47:50 > 0:47:52Yeah, I mean, you know, let me tell you that I've heard
0:47:52 > 0:47:55that story before from a couple of previous winners
0:47:55 > 0:47:57who said, "Right, now you're behind me,
0:47:57 > 0:48:00"when I pick up the phone to Mr Supermarket..."
0:48:00 > 0:48:03And they say, "I'm Lord Sugar's partner." You know what it comes to?
0:48:03 > 0:48:05Jack shit. Nothing. Don't mean anything.
0:48:05 > 0:48:07The product's got to stand on its own two feet.
0:48:09 > 0:48:11Now, Frances, you've got these two shops.
0:48:11 > 0:48:13- Yeah.- One of my advisers, Linda,
0:48:13 > 0:48:16she says one of the weaknesses of your business
0:48:16 > 0:48:18is the scalability of it.
0:48:18 > 0:48:21Because it relies upon end of lines,
0:48:21 > 0:48:23when you've bought a range of kiddies' shoes
0:48:23 > 0:48:26and they sell like hot cakes, what do you do?
0:48:26 > 0:48:29Can't get any more, so you've got to go and try and find something else.
0:48:29 > 0:48:31You don't know what's coming next, really.
0:48:31 > 0:48:34We do not know what's coming but the stock is there available.
0:48:34 > 0:48:37I've been in this industry now for two years and I know it inside out.
0:48:37 > 0:48:38I have made good contacts.
0:48:38 > 0:48:41In terms of scalability, it is a case of we have only
0:48:41 > 0:48:44scratched the surface with the brands that we are speaking to...
0:48:44 > 0:48:46But I'm talking about scaling up, you know,
0:48:46 > 0:48:48shop number four, shop number five.
0:48:48 > 0:48:51You've got to think about inventory, the staff that you employ,
0:48:51 > 0:48:54- and you've got to start putting in systems, right?- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:48:54 > 0:48:58But you're not very good on systems, from what I can understand.
0:48:58 > 0:49:00All your invoices and bills and everything
0:49:00 > 0:49:02go into your handbag at the moment.
0:49:02 > 0:49:04That was a very, very naive comment I made, and...
0:49:04 > 0:49:07Well, do they or don't they?
0:49:07 > 0:49:09Six months ago, yes, but coming into this process I've...
0:49:09 > 0:49:12- These two stores...- Can you do it, though? That's the point.
0:49:12 > 0:49:15I genuinely, genuinely believe that I can and I think that it is
0:49:15 > 0:49:19genuinely a very strong business investment.
0:49:24 > 0:49:28Jessica, you have been in business before.
0:49:28 > 0:49:30That didn't work out too well.
0:49:30 > 0:49:33- No, it didn't.- I do believe that you have got the personality and you're
0:49:33 > 0:49:36good at sales and I get the marketing side of it.
0:49:36 > 0:49:39Nevertheless, what you want to do is exactly the same thing again.
0:49:39 > 0:49:41Yeah, that's correct.
0:49:42 > 0:49:47I have concerns, Courtney, about your business, I really do.
0:49:47 > 0:49:50You're in the unfortunate position of your business being
0:49:50 > 0:49:52the closest thing that I've been doing all of my life,
0:49:52 > 0:49:54manufacturing stuff,
0:49:54 > 0:49:57and I know of the sensitive things that can go wrong. Erm...
0:49:57 > 0:50:01Frances, my concern with you is your lack of understanding
0:50:01 > 0:50:04of the finances, and it may have been a throwaway line
0:50:04 > 0:50:07about this handbag which had all the paperwork in it,
0:50:07 > 0:50:10but many a true word spoken in jest sometimes.
0:50:14 > 0:50:16Yes, this is very difficult at this stage.
0:50:18 > 0:50:20But, Jessica...
0:50:20 > 0:50:23Lord Sugar, I know that we'd turn a profit a lot quicker
0:50:23 > 0:50:26than any of the four businesses here. A large profit.
0:50:26 > 0:50:28Well, she's making good profits at the moment.
0:50:28 > 0:50:30But our margins would be unbelievable as well.
0:50:30 > 0:50:33The business model is a tried and tested business model and it works.
0:50:33 > 0:50:35HE SIGHS
0:50:35 > 0:50:38I think you've got great sales ability
0:50:38 > 0:50:41but it's a very, very risky idea.
0:50:41 > 0:50:44Jessica, it is with regret that you are fired.
0:50:44 > 0:50:47Thank you so much. It's been absolutely incredible.
0:50:47 > 0:50:48Good luck, everybody.
0:51:00 > 0:51:02Erm, look, I've got three good businesses
0:51:02 > 0:51:06that have been explained to me and I've got two good people here
0:51:06 > 0:51:09also that have been around in this past 11 weeks.
0:51:09 > 0:51:10If you don't mind,
0:51:10 > 0:51:14I'm going to ask you to step outside for a few moments while I talk
0:51:14 > 0:51:15to them and I'll call you back in.
0:51:19 > 0:51:23Now, we've got young Courtney. I find him still a bit lacklustre.
0:51:23 > 0:51:25He needs a firework somewhere.
0:51:25 > 0:51:28I have to say, I've seen him in pitches, Alan, and trust me,
0:51:28 > 0:51:29there's little or no charisma.
0:51:29 > 0:51:31We know what his weaknesses are,
0:51:31 > 0:51:34but look what he's achieved over a limited period of time.
0:51:34 > 0:51:36You've got to actually admire the guy.
0:51:36 > 0:51:38Right, now, Frances,
0:51:38 > 0:51:42she can talk up for herself and she's employing three other people.
0:51:42 > 0:51:44I think it would just be her organisational skills,
0:51:44 > 0:51:45that's what I would query.
0:51:45 > 0:51:48I can't ignore about her business in her handbag.
0:51:48 > 0:51:51It's a sort of sole trader mentality, that, isn't it?
0:51:51 > 0:51:53Yeah. Alana has come out of her shell.
0:51:53 > 0:51:55She's been very quiet throughout the process
0:51:55 > 0:51:57but it's not for a lack of knowing her business.
0:51:57 > 0:52:01The problem is whether she can find some more trade customers
0:52:01 > 0:52:05to take volume off of her. Let's get them back in.
0:52:05 > 0:52:07PHONE RINGS
0:52:07 > 0:52:10- Yes, Lord Sugar?- OK, can you send the three of them in, please?
0:52:10 > 0:52:11Yes, Lord Sugar.
0:52:12 > 0:52:14Lord Sugar will see you now.
0:52:21 > 0:52:25You've done very well, you three, and you're good people.
0:52:25 > 0:52:27The business is one thing,
0:52:27 > 0:52:29but the nature of the people is another thing,
0:52:29 > 0:52:32and so, Alana, for example, you've lacked a bit of confidence.
0:52:32 > 0:52:37I can guarantee you 100% I do not have a lack of confidence.
0:52:37 > 0:52:40No, I mean, I have seen an improvement.
0:52:40 > 0:52:43My concern is whether you've got that confidence to go forward.
0:52:43 > 0:52:45- I wouldn't have stuck... - Ambition is another thing.
0:52:45 > 0:52:47I've got so much ambition.
0:52:47 > 0:52:49When I was in school I was doing my business,
0:52:49 > 0:52:51- because this is what I have ambition in.- Mm-hmm.
0:52:51 > 0:52:54Courtney, you've always looked like you have a lack of energy
0:52:54 > 0:52:58and I wonder whether you are going to be able to talk to retailers,
0:52:58 > 0:53:00to break through to that next level.
0:53:00 > 0:53:03I think I've suffered with maybe some nerves
0:53:03 > 0:53:07and I believe I can work on that. All I would say is that...
0:53:07 > 0:53:11I want this so badly and I've given absolutely everything for this.
0:53:11 > 0:53:12Like Alana, I had savings,
0:53:12 > 0:53:15I could've gone and got a flat but I didn't want that.
0:53:15 > 0:53:18I wanted to put all my money into my business and risk everything
0:53:18 > 0:53:20that I've got to build up this company and be a success.
0:53:20 > 0:53:22I mean, my business plan is absolutely superior.
0:53:22 > 0:53:26I think the fact that I'm turning over just £70,000,
0:53:26 > 0:53:31£75,000 with a £39,000 profit shows how good my business is.
0:53:31 > 0:53:33You've done very well but you've never employed anybody, have you?
0:53:33 > 0:53:36- I think you have one... - I currently employ one employee.
0:53:36 > 0:53:37You've got one employee.
0:53:37 > 0:53:39To scale this business up, you've got to employ staff,
0:53:39 > 0:53:41you've got to build your kitchens,
0:53:41 > 0:53:43you've got to get around the country and all that.
0:53:43 > 0:53:46- You've never done it before, have you?- I have never done...
0:53:46 > 0:53:48I've not organised a large team, no.
0:53:48 > 0:53:53I genuinely feel that I am confident leading my staff and managing teams
0:53:53 > 0:53:57and I genuinely think it is difficult to come up with
0:53:57 > 0:54:00a business model that makes good profits and good margins.
0:54:00 > 0:54:03That is what I have shown I can do.
0:54:03 > 0:54:04As nice as they are at the moment,
0:54:04 > 0:54:07two shops is not really of any interest to me.
0:54:07 > 0:54:09But I feel that it does have the scalability,
0:54:09 > 0:54:11- it does have the potential.- Hmm.
0:54:11 > 0:54:14I believe that I'm the only person sitting here that actually has
0:54:14 > 0:54:16the platform to build a big business.
0:54:16 > 0:54:17You are a one-man band, right?
0:54:17 > 0:54:19She employs four people, including herself.
0:54:19 > 0:54:22But with Frances' business plan,
0:54:22 > 0:54:24she wants to set up five more shops in the North of England.
0:54:24 > 0:54:26Alana wants to sell cakes nationwide,
0:54:26 > 0:54:28but I think that's going to be very difficult for her to do.
0:54:28 > 0:54:30I believe that my business...
0:54:30 > 0:54:32Why should big stores buy your merchandise
0:54:32 > 0:54:34- when they can buy it themselves? - My products are unique.
0:54:34 > 0:54:35If I get them in the right shops,
0:54:35 > 0:54:37I think we will have big success together.
0:54:37 > 0:54:38If you get them in the right shops.
0:54:38 > 0:54:40I've got them in multiple high-street shops already.
0:54:40 > 0:54:42OK, look. Erm...
0:54:44 > 0:54:46I have to consider who's going to be in my final.
0:54:49 > 0:54:50Frances, I think that...
0:54:51 > 0:54:55..your business is a bit risky, as far as I am concerned.
0:54:55 > 0:54:57Alana...
0:54:57 > 0:55:00I like the margins of your product.
0:55:00 > 0:55:04I like the improvement I've seen in the person that I met 11 weeks ago.
0:55:05 > 0:55:10Erm... But I've got to say, to scale this business up,
0:55:10 > 0:55:13you've got to employ staff, build your kitchens -
0:55:13 > 0:55:16how many cakes have you got to sell just to cover them alone?
0:55:16 > 0:55:18You know...
0:55:20 > 0:55:25Courtney, you may be at a disadvantage that your business,
0:55:25 > 0:55:28I can understand every detail, every nut and bolt.
0:55:33 > 0:55:35Alana...
0:55:35 > 0:55:36erm...
0:55:36 > 0:55:39I'll be seeing you in a couple of days' time.
0:55:39 > 0:55:41You are going to be in the final.
0:55:41 > 0:55:43Oh, my gosh. OK, thank you very much.
0:55:45 > 0:55:46Well done.
0:55:54 > 0:55:57Frances and Courtney, it's a tough one.
0:55:59 > 0:56:00Yeah.
0:56:04 > 0:56:07Frances, this idea...
0:56:07 > 0:56:09is not scalable.
0:56:09 > 0:56:11I want a big business.
0:56:11 > 0:56:13So I wish you the best of luck,
0:56:13 > 0:56:16but I'm not going to be investing in you.
0:56:16 > 0:56:18So, Frances,
0:56:18 > 0:56:21- you're fired.- Thank you. Good luck, guys. All the best.
0:56:26 > 0:56:27And there was two.
0:56:28 > 0:56:31Congratulations, you two.
0:56:31 > 0:56:35You've battled your way through 11 weeks of gruelling tasks.
0:56:35 > 0:56:37You're now going to go into the final.
0:56:37 > 0:56:39If you think what you've done so far is tough,
0:56:39 > 0:56:41the final is going to be even tougher still.
0:56:41 > 0:56:43But in the meantime, take a little rest
0:56:43 > 0:56:45and I'll see you in a couple of days' time.
0:56:45 > 0:56:47- Thank you so much.- Cheers.
0:56:50 > 0:56:52We've done it.
0:56:52 > 0:56:53All the best, yeah?
0:56:57 > 0:57:00I am a more charismatic person than Courtney.
0:57:00 > 0:57:04I genuinely, genuinely thought I could be in that final,
0:57:04 > 0:57:06but I'm not, you know, I'm sat here instead.
0:57:06 > 0:57:09But I've got such a bright, brilliant future.
0:57:13 > 0:57:15- We did it. Well done, Alana.- Yeah!
0:57:15 > 0:57:18- Oh, God, that was right in my ear. - Sorry!
0:57:18 > 0:57:21It's all smiles now but you're the one person
0:57:21 > 0:57:23standing in my way of £250,000.
0:57:23 > 0:57:25Yeah. This investment is mine.
0:57:25 > 0:57:28My heels are firmly in the ground, Courtney.
0:57:28 > 0:57:31Maybe you could use that money you've saved up for a house.
0:57:32 > 0:57:34Just saying.
0:57:36 > 0:57:39Now only two remain.
0:57:40 > 0:57:46The search for Lord Sugar's next business partner is nearly over.
0:57:48 > 0:57:49Next time...
0:57:49 > 0:57:52For your final task, I want you to launch your businesses.
0:57:52 > 0:57:53Hello, ladies and gentlemen.
0:57:53 > 0:57:55Three, two, one, action!
0:57:55 > 0:57:56Familiar faces...
0:57:56 > 0:57:59- I look at that and I'm bored.- You're really missing the point, Sofiane.
0:57:59 > 0:58:01No, I think you're missing the point.
0:58:01 > 0:58:02..brand-new businesses.
0:58:02 > 0:58:06Brand change, logo's changed, I've put my name in it.
0:58:06 > 0:58:07Cakes...
0:58:07 > 0:58:09Do I scream luxury?
0:58:09 > 0:58:10..or gifts?
0:58:10 > 0:58:13What we have here is a trophy baby beaker.
0:58:13 > 0:58:15Only one can win.
0:58:15 > 0:58:18You're going to be my business partner.