Harpreet Kaur, winner of The Apprentice in 2022, has spoken about how planning her week-long wedding was like a task on the show. She and her fiancé, fellow contestant Akshay Thakrar, are set to marry in June, becoming the first Apprentice couple to wed. They purchased their dream home in Bradford less than two years after being on the show, and are planning a civil ceremony in Pontefract, a traditional Indian wedding in London, and a large reception.
Harpreet runs dessert parlour Oh So Yum, which has shops in Huddersfield, Leeds, and Bradford. Lord Sugar invested £250,000 in the venture when she won The Apprentice, but she has since bought back the shares to retain creative control. However, she stated there were no hard feelings, and Sugar received an invitation to the wedding, which he had to decline as he is too busy.
Both Harpreet and Akshay grew up watching The Apprentice, and Harpreet noted that it was surreal to find love on the programme when they had initially been competitors. She also spoke of the difficulties South Asian women face if they want to set up a business or deviate from the traditional role of raising a family. Harpreet hopes to be a role model for women, especially in the South Asian community, and to inspire them to be confident and pursue their dreams.
Harpreet’s father had initially not been pleased when she told him she planned to set up her own business, as it was seen as a risk. However, he became immensely proud of her, especially after she won the show. Harpreet hopes that her story can help break down some of the barriers that exist for women entrepreneurs and encourage people to be more accepting of their ambitions. Harpreet and Akshay said they will stay in West Yorkshire, as it was an ideal place to raise a family, and are planning to concentrate on their careers and wedding for the immediate future – although Karpreet did not rule out the possibility of an Apprentice baby in the future
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