Meet The Apprentice 2025 Final Five: Their Stories and Business Dreams

Why this matters? The stories of these finalists reflect the determination, adaptability, and resilience required in modern entrepreneurship, offering inspiration and insight into navigating business challenges.

Meet the Final Five:

Amber-Rose Badrudin (Convenience Store Owner, London)

Amber-Rose leveraged social media savvy to build her Asian convenience store, Oreemart, overcoming supplier challenges and sexism. Growing up with humble beginnings fuelled her drive. She sees social media not just as a marketing tool but as a "currency" that provides evidence of her hard work and generates a secondary income, allowing long-term business focus.

Anisa Khan (Pizza Company Owner, London)

Despite an academic background and family pressure to pursue a corporate career, Anisa followed her passion for entrepreneurship, launching her pizza business during Covid. She faced criticism but remained determined, drawing strength from past experiences where going against the grain proved successful (like playing Kabaddi for England). Her parents' immigrant background shaped her independence.

Chisola Chitambala (Virtual Assistant Company Owner, Essex)

Originally a qualified children's nurse, Chisola transitioned into business after a role in learning and development sparked her interest. She manages chronic migraine, which has shaped her resilience. Her nursing background instilled calmness under pressure and adaptability, skills she now applies to her virtual assistant business.

Dean Franklin (Air Conditioning Company Owner, Essex)

Dean pursued a trade, eventually starting his own air conditioning business during the pandemic despite having newborns at home. As the only parent in this year's process, his family is his primary motivation. He acknowledges lacking formal business training and seeks Lord Sugar's mentorship to elevate his already successful company.

Jordan Dargan (3D Animation Business Owner, Location not specified but originally from Ireland)

The youngest candidate, Jordan, is self-taught in 3D animation, learning via YouTube out of necessity after leaving a job. He overcame being underestimated and initial rejection (he was a reserve candidate) to reach the final five. He faced challenges growing up mixed-race in Ireland, which built his resilience. He values learning from Lord Sugar above all else.

The Journey to the Final

The path wasn't easy. Mia Collins, a bookie's favourite from Gloucestershire, was fired in a shock double elimination just before the final five, highlighting the intense pressure and unpredictability of the competition. Her exit followed a challenging fashion task where her design concepts, though aiming for innovation, didn't achieve commercial success in the task.

What types of businesses are represented in the final five?

The businesses include an Asian convenience store, a pizza company, a virtual assistant service, an air conditioning company, and a 3D animation business.

What is a common motivation for the finalists?

Beyond the investment, many finalists highly value the potential mentorship and guidance from Lord Sugar to help scale their businesses.

What key challenges did candidates face?

Candidates navigated personal challenges like health issues and difficult upbringings, business hurdles like securing suppliers, and the intense pressure, long hours, and competitiveness of the process itself.

These entrepreneurs have shown incredible grit. Which business idea do you think has the most potential with Lord Sugar's investment? Let us know your thoughts!

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