Midlands Apprentice star Kate Walsh loses out
Development manager Kate Walsh lost out to restaurant owner Yasmina Siadatan to win a job with Sir Alan Sugar in the final of The Apprentice.
Staffordshire woman Ms Walsh, from Hednesford, near Cannock, appeared to be in a good position to win but Sir Alan hired the 27-year-old Londoner on what she described as the businessman’s “gut instinct”.
Ms Siadatan - said her achievements combined with her mistakes during the series may have given her the edge over Ms Walsh.
In the final episode last night, the finalists were given a task to create a new brand of chocolates which they had to pitch to a roomful of industry experts, including Waitrose’s chief buyer.
Ms Walsh and her team, which was made up of former contestants Debra Barr, Ben Clarke, Kimberley Davis and Rocky Andrews, designed a box of chocolates for couples.
Their box was made up of three ‘shelves’ - one for her, one for him, and one to share. The concept was praised by Sir Alan but he said charging £13 for a box was not commercially viable.
Ms Siadatan’s team, made up of Howard Ebison, Philip Taylor, James McQuillan and Lorraine Tighe, created a brand called ‘Cocoa Electric’ which was designed to ‘shock’ with flavours such as basil and strawberry, and popping candy chilli.
Sir Alan told her the branding and pricing were excellent but the taste - which even caused one model to spit out a chocolate after filming the advert - needed work.
Asked how she felt to have won the coveted job, Ms Siadatan said: “I can’t believe it, I am in shock. All those months ago you first apply to try to get on, and here I am, it’s amazing.”
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