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Feb

Last Updated: 02/02/2024

‘I didn’t go on The Apprentice to be an influencer, I’m a serious businesswoman’

by Flora Grafton

| 02 Feb, 2024

Some readers may have recognised one of the candidates on last night's episode of The Apprentice on BBC One.

Rachel Woolford, who is originally from Leeds, owns Harrogate’s North Studio and was one of 18 hopefuls on the latest series.

The Cold Bath Road site, which opened in January 2023, offers small group fitness classes, including running, reformer pilates, boxing and HIIT workouts.

You might be wondering why Rachel applied to be on the show, on which the lucky winner receives a £250,000 investment from Lord Alan Sugar.

The Stray Ferret found out today when we spoke to Rachel. She said:

“I was originally asked to go on a similar show a few years ago, but I turned it down at the time.

“As a fan of The Apprentice, it led me to applying for it – I felt it aligned with my plans better.”

Rachel, who made her debut on the show’s first episode last night, said she “wanted to prove to herself she could do something like the show” when applying.

The 28-year-old set up her first North Studio site in Roundhay near Leeds in 2020, after which she opened the second premises in Harrogate. She added:

“I do have a successful business, but there was something in me that wanted to prove I could do something like that.

“It’s easy for people to say what people should do on the show when they’re watching it, but going on it is harder than it looks.”

She told the Stray Ferret, if she won, she’d use the investment to “expand across the north” and hoped to roll out more sites in York or Manchester. Rachel said:

“My business plan going in was to promote and expand North Studio.

“It’s about making sure we provide a consistent service to roll out in the new locations.

“North provides a very personal group workout, the whole point is for it to give clients a setting of being remembered and known.

“It’s not an intimidating or competitive environment. It’s fun and I want fitness to be something people look forward to – a social thing – rather than dread. Inclusivity is my biggest thing; anyone is welcome.”

Rachel attended four interviews, which included profit and loss tasks, working with others and proving why she should be chosen out of tens-of-thousands of applicants. She said:

“I personally think it was quite a rigorous interview process, but I think that’s necessary looking back now.

“They basically ask about your business, like why you’re different and why you should be picked. I know there were tens of thousands of applicants and people are all going to say the same thing.

“You’ve got to show your personality, but also that you’re a serious person in business.

“I didn’t go on to be a reality TV star or an influencer, I went on because I’m a serious businesswoman.”

Filming took place at the beginning of 2023. The only thing standing in her way of winning was 17 other people, all hungry for the same prize.

Boardroom is ‘the craziest thing ever’

Those readers who have watched the show will have a good idea of what Lord Sugar’s boardroom looks like.

When asked if it is really like it seems on screen, Rachel said:

“The boardroom is as tense as it seems. The first time we went in, you could hear each other’s hearts beating.

“It’s also the first time you all see each other, including Karen, Tim and Lord Sugar.

“I’ve never done TV before, so not only are you thrown into the boardroom and all individually asked about your business – which wasn’t actually shown last night – you’ve also got five cameras on your face. It’s the craziest thing ever.

“The cameras just keep rolling.”

Rachel said candidates are not allowed to discuss the process outside of filming, meaning they “genuinely don’t know who has won each task”.

It’s so nerve-wracking going in there, she said, adding “but it’s just an amazing feeling hearing you’ve won the task”.

Show myths

Some readers assume parts of the programme are staged. But Rachel said:

“The corporate clients really do exist in those tasks! I don’t know who the boys had, but ours was a hotel company that took their staff on a company away day.

“Honestly, you’re told what the task is and then thrown straight into it. You film for around two to three days and then it’s straight into the boardroom.”

Candidates don’t have phones, there’s no access to the internet and they are forced to use their initiative on the spot, she added.

Traditionally, candidates are woken up by a phone call at ungodly hours of the morning and given around 20 minutes to get ready before leaving for a task.

Asked if it’s really such a time crunch, Rachel said:

“We live in the house the whole time – eat, sleep etc.

“You really do have so little time to get ready, you have around 20 minutes.

“The girls learned to get your dress out the night before, curl your hair the night before and get your make up on as quick as possible in the morning before leaving.

“Let’s just say it got to points where 5am was a lie in.”

The truth about Lord Sugar

The 76-year-old billionaire, who has been the face of the programme for 19 years, is known for his no-nonsense attitude and, at times, ruthless honesty towards the candidates.

We asked Rachel what he is really like:

"We only interacted with him when filming, but he’s just like what you see on camera.

"He’s very honest, which I really respect and like. He is so sharp and can easily pick up if you’ve said something that’s not true.”

Baroness Karren Brady, who has been an aide for Lord Sugar since 2010, follows candidates on their tasks, alongside Tim Campbell, who won the first series of the show.

Rachel said they’re “both really great and very fair”, adding they’re not on the tasks to help, but simply to “watch and give feedback”.

“They also give credit when it’s due if you’ve done something good, but they’ll also tell Lord Sugar straight away if someone tries to say something that’s not true.”

‘It’s changed my life’

Rachel said the biggest challenge she faced during the process was being away from her business and her friends and family. However, she said it has had a huge impact on her life since:

“It’s changed my life. It’s not even about it airing – even if it hadn’t been on TV it would still have changed my life.

“It made me step away from my business, which no one could ever usually make me do. It made me think about what I wanted to change in the business, where I wanted to take it and majorly took me out of my comfort zone.

“It takes serious balls to do.”

Although Rachel could not reveal much about what is to come on the series, she said it “certainly takes some turns”.

Viewers should take it with a pinch of salt, she said, adding candidates “should not be defined by the first take – there’s more to come”.

We also asked Rachel what advice she’d give to anyone wanting to apply:

“Make sure you’re applying for the right reasons, and make sure you prepare for the interviews because it is a lot more challenging than it appears on TV.”

Following the girls' team success last night, you can watch Rachel again on The Apprentice next week.

It airs every Thursday at 9pm on BBC One.

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