Marnie Swindell has won The Apprentice 2023 as Lord Sugar invests £250,000 in her boxing gym.
The 28-year-old entrepreneur beat 18 ambitious candidates to receive the life-changing investment and become Lord Sugar's next business partner. Marnie was in the final with hair salon and academy owner Rochelle Ray Anthony, but ultimately it was the London based boxer who took home the investment.
She won the show with her boxing gym business plan for Bronx, and last week she said: "My business is in boxing gyms, the name’s Bronx, the idea is to create a middle-market option between the high-end boutique gyms and the low-end spit and sawdust gyms."
It was tense in the boardroom as Lord Sugar sat with his trusted aides, Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell MBE, as they discussed the two final business ideas on the table.
About Marnie, Baroness Brady said: “Marnie, she has never run a business before, and she’s chosen a business that’s very competitive - can she stand out in this very competitive market?”
Tim added: “That being said, for an ambassador for a boxing facility, there is no one better I would think than Marnie and what she stands for.”
Making the announcement of his decision, Lord Sugar said: "Marnie, it is such a crowded and competitive market. I'm thinking, 'Is this £250,000 down the drain?' Rochelle, what worries me about you is why would your second and third branch be popular and make me and you money?
“It’s a tough one, but Marnie, you’re asking me to invest in something which is completely alien to me to be honest and you’ve never run a business before.
"Rochelle, it’s opening the second one and it really is a difficult decision as to what industry I should be in. Two very excellent candidates."
Lord Sugar went on: "But I’ve always been known to be a gambler, I’ve always been known to try new horizons so I’m going to try a new horizon… Marnie, you are going to be my business partner.”
A delighted Marnie said: “What an incredible opportunity and moment for a girl like me to get to a place like this and have become Lord Sugar’s business partner. It feels strange to even say that, but I’m not going to stop saying it because I am so happy.”
All episodes of The Apprentice series 17 are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
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