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‘I’m a selling machine!’ North Yorkshire man stars in new series of The Apprentice

Tue 23 Jan

Lord Sugar and The Apprentice class of 2024. Photograph: BBC / Naked

Tue 23 Jan 2024  @ 6:11pm
Rachel Rogers
News

The Apprentice is back for a new series – and among the tycoon hopefuls is a contestant from North Yorkshire.

Lord Sugar, alongside his trusted advisors Karren Brady and Tim Campbell, will again put 18 candidates to the test.

And among those battling it out for the opportunity for Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment and mentorship is is Oliver Medforth, from Malton.

Oliver Medforth. Photograph: BBC

Oliver is the sales executive of Yorkshire Tonics, part of food and drinks company Raisthorpe Manor, which is based at Wharram, south of Malton.

The business was founded by his mother, Julia Medforth, in 2008. Together they created their first bottle of gin from the kitchen table at the family farm in Thixendale.

To celebrate Oliver’s appearance on The Apprentice, the canny Raisthorpe is offering 10% off all products on its website with the promotional code APPRENTICE10.

Ahead of the new series, Oliver told the BBC that his biggest business success so far is “running five retail shops for our family run distillery – from Newcastle to Swindon, and setting up a soft drink that pairs perfectly with our range of gins.”

In 2021 he opened a Raisthorpe Manor shop at York Designer Outlet.

He’s hopeful to “dominate” in the selling tasks in the TV show, saying: “I am a selling machine. I work the markets selling gin and tonic, and there aren’t many customers that leave without buying.”

Oliver opening the Raisthorpe Manor store at York Designer Outlet in 2021.

“I’m not afraid to admit to making mistakes as I find it’s the best opportunity to learn from them, and shows a willingness to try different experiences,” Oliver added.

“Not being afraid to be slightly alternative is one of my biggest advantages.

“I’m hard working and determined to achieve anything I set a goal to do. I fully enjoy what I do, and this will be applied to Lord Sugar if I manage to get the investment.”

After breaking the news of his imminent TV stardom on his LinkedIn profile, he got a lot of support from fellow North Yorkshire businessfolk.

Chief executive of the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, James Mason, said simply: “Brilliant, brilliant news!”

And Matty Lewis of York RLFC said: “Congrats mate, looking forward to watching!”

The new series will kick off in the Scottish Highlands, where the contestants are tasked with a corporate hospitality challenge where the men’s and women’s teams will compete to put on high-end away days for corporate clients in the hope of impressing Lord Sugar.

Other tasks in the series will include a virtual escape room, creating children’s cereal and a tourism challenge.

Tune into The Apprentice on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from Thursday 1 February.


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