It's time for the final! Just two candidates remain in The Apprentice 2025 as they pitch one last time to a room of industry experts and Lord Sugar himself in a bid to take him his £250,000 cash injection and mentorship.

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Alongside Anisa Khan in the final is Dean Franklin, who hopes Lord Sugar will want a hand in expanding his air conditioning business.

Speaking of making it to the final, Dean said: "I mean, it’s a dream, you sign up to this process and you think, 'I've got a one-in-80,000 chance of actually getting on the show'. To get on the show is a massive achievement in itself, you've already defied the odds, and you've already got to a good point.

"But for me, the goal was to make the final five. I thought if I get to the final five, I'm happy. And then to go on further and further and you think, ‘Can I win it?’, to make the final was massive for me."

So, will Dean be able to prove he has what it takes to win the competition? While we wait to find out, read on to find out more about The Apprentice candidate.

Who is Dean Franklin?

Dean wearing a black suit, looking seriously ahead.
Dean Franklin. BBC/Naked/Ray Burmiston

Occupation: Air conditioning company owner

Location: Essex

Dean set up his air conditioning business during the pandemic, which saw him go on to win the Best Tradesperson of the Year award in 2022-23.

"We have an incredible reputation within the industry and outstanding reviews on our platforms," he said.

Likening himself to Lord Sugar, Dean can relate to "a lot of things he has said and done in the past".

Dean continued: "He is very passionate about science and electronics and that’s pretty much what air conditioning is – this is what he has done in his businesses and it’s what he knows. This is right up his street. I’m just hoping he can show me the ropes and together we can get to the next level."

What is Dean Franklin's business plan?

Dean is keen to grow and expand his current business.

He explained: "It's an air conditioning company that supplies and installs air conditioning units in homes or commercial properties."

Does Dean Franklin have social media?

He does! Dean can be followed via the Instagram handle @deanfranklin__, however most of the action of his business goes down on its own account.

His air conditioning company, ADL Air Conditioning has over 10,000 followers on Instagram and shares the latest works on homes and buildings.

The business can be followed on Instagram @adl_airconditioning.

Read more on The Apprentice 2025 contestants:

The Apprentice continues on Thursdays at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.

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Authors

Katelyn MensahSenior Entertainment Writer

Katelyn Mensah is the Senior Entertainment Writer for Radio Times, covering all major entertainment programmes, reality TV shows and the latest hard-hitting documentaries. She previously worked at The Tab, with a focus on reality TV and showbiz news and has obtained a BA (Hons) in Journalism.

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