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22
Jan
Former Harrogate Grammar student to appear on The Apprentice
A former Harrogate Grammar School student will appear on the newest season of BBC One’s The Apprentice.
The nineteenth series of the show airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 9pm on January 30.
Keir Shave will be among the hopefuls battling it out for Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment and mentorship.
Keir, who is now based in Leeds, founded sales and telemarketing firm Parallel Partnership Ltd in March 2023.
He told the BBC he set up his company in just three working days after his previous employer went bust. He says his business now has a strong turnover and employs 40 staff.
His business plan included creating an online tool designed to help sales staff by providing "little but constant support in the form of a chatbot".
Users can input their issue, and the tool responds with ideas around sales objections, he added.
Keir told the BBC he has proven he can set up a successful business in a short timeframe, adding drive, skill and passion are imperative to a business working well, which he claims he has "proven he has in abundance".
He said he would find living in a house with 17 strangers one of the most challenging aspects of the competition.
Rachel Woolford. BBC Pictures
Keir will hope to follow in the footsteps of reigning champion, Rachel Woolford, owner of Harrogate’s North Studio.
Rachel, who also lives in Leeds, started North Studio in Roundhay. It offers small group fitness classes including running, boxing, HIIT and reformer pilates.
In the final episode of series 18, she went head-to-head with Bognor Regis pie shop owner Phil Turner. Both candidates were tasked with bringing their businesses to life and pitching them to Lord Sugar, aides Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell, as well as industry experts.
But it was Rachel who came out triumphant with her plan to expand North Studio’s offering.
Insidermedia recently reported Rachel is set to open a dedicated reformer pilates studio in a neighbouring commercial unit at her Roundhay site.
The article said Lord Sugar has partnered with her to buy the unit, which will facilitate an additional 120 classes each month.
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