Sugar’s 2 for 1 deal
You’re BOTH hired!
THE Apprentice served up a shock twist last night as Lord Sugar hired both the series finalists as his new business partners.
It is the first double win in the show’s 13-year history, as confectionery firm founder Sarah Lynn and IT recruitment consultant James White both scooped a £250,000 investment and a 50/50 partnership with the business guru. They impressed Lord Sugar as the final remaining candidates at the end of the 12-week process. He said: “I was torn, I just couldn’t choose between one or the other. The only fair thing to do was to choose them both. Thing is, it’s now going to cost me half a million pounds.” He said it was a “historic moment”, adding: “It had to be both of them. They were genuinely great experts in their field. I’m looking forward to going into business with them.” Praising Sarah, he said: “She’s a very steady business person who’s already got a business going, has successfully run it and I think it’s ready to go like that. That’s the point, to scale it up. I’ve no idea about sweets, other than they break my teeth. “But she’s the boss and all I’m going to do is make sure we have the correct mentoring from a business point of view to make sure she stays on the right tracks.” And he said James knew his business “inside out”, saying: “He knew all the nooks and crannies, all the speciality skills required in that business. I want to give him the opportunity now of becoming the boss.”
In the final boardroom, Lord Sugar appeared undecided as he grilled both candidates on their business plans before asking for final guidance from his advisors Karren Brady and Claude Littner, saying: “It’s quite obvious there are two fantastically skilled people there.”
James said becoming Lord Sugar’s business partner is “a dream come true”, adding: “It’s just very, very humbling.”
Sarah said: “I’m just shocked and amazed and so proud that Lord Sugar found enough in both of us to make a double investment.
“The future is definitely sweet, and it’s going to be a great adventure.”
I couldn’t choose between them... The only fair thing was to choose both