What Happens After Winning The Apprentice?

Following her success in the popular TV show, what came next for Dr Leah Totton? What was it like being Lord Sugar’s business partner? And how did she use the £250,000 investment? Speaking at the recent Travelers Institute® Small Business - Big Opportunity symposium, she delivered an interesting and inspiring story.

The Odd Thing About The Apprentice Is That It Concludes Just as the Real Story Begins

Completing random tasks for the cameras is one thing; creating a real business from scratch, quite another – even with Lord Sugar’s support. But Dr Leah Totton always looked composed, even as the teams and her rival contest-ants competed frantically to outdo each other.

She also rode her luck; heading straight into the opening show’s all-nighter task after working nights as a physician and staying sharp while the others wilted. The impression stuck.

Now Her Success in the Show Is Manifesting in the Real World

Her practice specialises in non-invasive cosmetic enhancement and her vision was to bring ‘Harley Street quality to the high street’ using qualified medical practitioners.

She appeared on The Apprentice to raise her profile and spread the word about her ambitions. However, as she admits, “That first year in business was the toughest of my life.”

She faced sharp practice from competitors, open hostility from within the industry (before eventually winning an industry prize) and spent most of the investment on premises.

It Turns Out That a Media Profile Will Only Get You So Far

Regarding her brief TV stardom, she admitted, “It doesn’t mean much in terms of getting customers through the door.” She eventually resorted to marketing her business through leafleting, knocking on doors and appearing on the speaker circuit. It was basic, but it worked.

She has now established two salons, which are proving, “very profitable”, and she is about to open a third. She is also launching her own skincare line. It’s a success story far more impressive than winning a TV show.