April 20th 2025.
The winner of The Apprentice 2025 may be facing a hefty fine as his company is being accused of breaking a major rule. Dean Franklin, the 35-year-old entrepreneur, recently won Lord Alan Sugar's investment of £250,000 after a fierce competition with Anisa Khan on the BBC show. He revealed that he plans to use the money to expand his air conditioning company, ADL, which he started during the Covid-19 lockdowns last summer.
However, it seems that Dean's success may be short-lived as the Environment Agency has confirmed that ADL is under investigation for a potential breach. The company is accused of not having an F-Gas licence between May 2020 and October 2021, which could result in a maximum penalty of a £200,000 fine. This news has certainly put a damper on Dean's victory and has raised concerns about the legitimacy of his company.
But what exactly is an F-Gas licence? Well, it is a legal requirement for companies and individuals who handle fluorinated greenhouse gases, commonly used as refrigerants in air conditioning systems, to have this licence. And it seems that ADL may have been operating without one for several months, which is a cause for concern. When asked about the investigation, the Environment Agency stated that it is against the law to work with F-Gas without the correct qualifications and certification.
In response, Dean has stated that he was not aware of any review or investigation being conducted. He claims to have been F-Gas certified since 2014 and holds the necessary qualifications for his work. However, this statement has not been verified, and the BBC has yet to comment on the matter. According to the F-Gas register, ADL currently holds a licence, but the dates are not visible on the register.
It is worth noting that Dean created ADL during the summer of the pandemic, when the demand for AC units was at an all-time high. He saw an opportunity and took a risk by starting his own company, and it seemed to have paid off when he won The Apprentice. In an interview with Metro, Dean had previously stated that he had "manifested" winning the show. He had always believed that he would go on the show and emerge as the winner, but as he got deeper into the competition, he began to doubt himself. However, he remained focused on his goal, which was to become Lord Sugar's business partner, and he succeeded in doing so.
It is unclear how this investigation will affect Dean's partnership with Lord Sugar and his plans to expand ADL. The Apprentice is available to stream on BBC iPlayer, and it remains to be seen how this situation will unfold. If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures to share, you can contact the entertainment team at The Agency via email or by calling their hotline. They would love to hear from you.
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