Former BBC "The Apprentice" winner and outstanding businesswoman Harpreet Kaur visited Harrow, Richmond, and Uxbridge Colleges (HRUC) for its first-ever Immersive Talk on 3 March 2025, where she shared her journey and insights with students.
Harpreet, who won The Apprentice in 2022 and was "hired" by Lord Sugar, is the owner of a thriving dessert parlour in West Yorkshire. She used the prize money to expand her already successful six-figure coffee and cakes business, turning it into an even greater success story.
During the event which coincided with Colleges Week (3 – 7 March), Harpreet spoke to students across several campuses through the college’s new Immersive Room technology. Harpreet, who has recently relocated to West London, shared her experiences as a South Asian woman in business and highlighted the challenges faced by women from similar backgrounds who aspire to set up their own enterprises or break away from traditional family expectations.
Her inspirational talk encouraged the students, predominantly from the College’s business courses, to pursue their ambitions and overcome barriers - while reinforcing the importance of resilience and determination in entrepreneurship.
Harpreet said: "I want to encourage all young people, like the students at HRUC, to create their own path in life and seek out a future career they are inspired and excited by- not just to follow a traditional route based on expectations."
Clive Hodge, Principal at Harrow College said: "We were thrilled to welcome Harpreet to the College as the first guest in our Immersive Talk series. Her story and advice certainly resonated with me, and I know it inspired our students to think big and continue to work smart.”
The event marked the first in a series of Immersive Talks aimed at providing students with valuable insights from industry leaders and role models.
Further Information
Harrow, Richmond, and Uxbridge College (HRUC) is one of the largest further education colleges in England. Each of our vibrant colleges has its own distinguished history and is serving local communities and employers across west and south London with distinction. HRUC is proud to be one of London’s best performing colleges, and was recently recognised as ‘Strong for Skills’ by Ofsted.