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'FLOODS OF TEARS'
I was youngest ever The Apprentice winner but bosses ‘broke’ me in week two & I could’ve lost millions
Alana tells of her 'highest highs and lowest lows'
THE Apprentice's youngest ever winner says she almost threw in the towel on her second week on the show - but is so thankful she didn't.
Alana Spencer, 32, took out the top spot in 2016 and with her cake business Ridiculously Rich.
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She partnered up with Lord Alan Sugar and worked with him for three years before buying his shares and going out on her own.
But the 32-year-old almost didn't get to that point - or running her £1.2milliion business - as she was ready to quit The Apprentice just two weeks in.
Alana said she was in floods of tears, questioning whether she could make it through the show.
She wasn't doing well in competitions, says she was shy and struggled with how the other competitors were "out for blood".
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Plus, this meant the entrepreneur kept coming face-to-face with the bosses.
Recalling the difficulties, Alana told The Sun: “My journey on there really was like very tough at the beginning, and then by the end, I was kind of like reborn this new woman with confidence.
“And it it really felt like that when I was in there I nearly quit on week two. I really struggled.
“You don't get to talk to your family apart from like 10-minute phone call a week. And I spoke to them on the second week, and I was in floods of tears, and didn't know if I could carry on.
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“But it's all broke me down and then rebuilt me.”
Alana said, explaining why she almost walked out: “I had been in the boardroom twice in a row, and I was quite timid. I was readjusting to living with people working with people.
Alan Sugar chooses his latest business partner in the Apprentice
“Everyone is just out for blood on that show, you know, like that everyone just desperately wants to win. And so they're throwing them under the bus anywhere they can.
“I just couldn't take the pressure at the start. It was like, I wasn't really sleeping very much. And it really got to me."
But, she managed to surpass it.
Alana said with a smile: "Then I won a challenge in week three, and I started to be able to build myself back up.”
Eight years on her sweet firm is soaring, employs 22 staff and looking to turn over £2m through TikTok shop alone.
But, getting to the point where she's been able to run a £1.2m business hasn't all been easy.
The 32-year-old said one of her lowest points came when she had to shut down all the cafes she’d opened as an extension of her business.
The Apprentice biggest moments
THE Apprentice has been a fan favourite ever since it burst onto the box in 2005.
Here we take a look at five of the biggest moments over the years on the hit BBC One show.
Tim Campbell - Former London Underground transport manager Tim Campbell won the first series of the reality show in 2005. He is now one of Lord Sugar's aides on the show.
Sarah Lynn and James White - For the first and only time in the show's history, both finalists were crowned winners in 2017.
Amy Anzel - Season 16's fired candidate Amy Anzel was BANNED from the final celebration show, after a tit-for-tat exchange over Lord Sugar’s mocking tweets.
Michelle Dewberry - Telecoms consultant Michelle Dewberry won the second series of the show in 2006. However, after winning a six-figure job with Lord Sugar she lasted just four months before she sensationally quit.
Selena Waterman-Smith - We’re used to tensions running high in the boardroom, but in 2015 a disagreement between two candidates spilled over – for the first time - into a physical bust-up. Events manager Selina Waterman-Smith was given a verbal warning by show bosses for her role in an off-camera scrap with Charleine Wain.
The star said she’d first applied to get on The Apprentice as a 16-year-old - and again at 19.
She said she’d always loved the idea of working alongside Lord Sugar.
But, it wasn’t until she was 24 that she actually got onto the show - and ended up becoming the youngest person to ever win.
The star said: “Being on the apprentice for me was very tough.
“It was an emotional roller coaster."
Alana ended up taking out the top spot and working alongside Lord Sugar for three years - until she bought him out in 2019.
The star got a £250,000 cash injection for her business.
I just couldn't take the pressure at the start. It was like, I wasn't really sleeping very much. And it really got to me.
Alana Spencer
She continued: “The end goal for me was to always have sole control of the business.”
But, it’s always been a rollercoaster.
The 32-year-old said: “We had some crazy lows, some big highs from crazy highs.
“We opened loads of cafes. That was a failure for us.”
So, when she got back to basics - everything started moving nicely again.
Alana said with a smile: “We were like ‘right, let's do what we do best, and let's just get back in the bakery, focus on the cakes. Focus on selling.’
“We went on TikTok shop and started selling our cakes on there.
How to apply for The Apprentice
THE Apprentice is taking applications for the upcoming series 20 following season 18’s exhilarating finale.
Do you have what it takes to be Lord Alan Sugar’s next big investment?
Throughout the 18 seasons of The Apprentice, Lord Sugar has already invested close to £3,000,000 in business start-ups.
The show started nearly two decades ago in 2005 and recently concluded its 18th series.
Fitness guru Rachel Woolford was crowned the latest winner during the final on Thursday, April 18th, 2024.
While fans enjoyed the last season at the beginning of the year, bosses opened up applications for the 19th series.
And now applications for series 20 - which is expected to broadcast in 2026 -are open.
The application process states: “Could you be his next investment? If you think you've got the talent and confidence to impress Britain's toughest backer, the process starts here.
“The winning candidate will receive an investment and go into a 50:50 business with Lord Sugar.
“Fighting it out for his investment, candidates will take part in twelve tough tasks to win one life-changing opportunity.”
The deadline for series 20 applications closes at 23.59 on Sunday, December 1 2024.
“In the first 12 months on the app, we turned over just under £1million.”
She said it had got to the point where she was going to go back to where she started out.
Alana continued: “I was considering bringing the production back into my home kitchen and going out and doing events again.
“TikTok was kind of like the last ‘let's just give this a go’ and it's just rocketed. It's bonkers.”
The cake maker says she's always worked to inspire others.
Offering advice to others wanting to successfully run a business, Alana said: "Just start, because when you start but in terms of like actual practical advice, you really do need to make sure that you've got a feasible business.
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"And make sure that you know your numbers. That is key. It's boring, but it's key.
“But just make sure that before you start you've got a good ground for a business, because there is no point in being a busy fool, I've learned that.”
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