Harpreet Kaur is a British entrepreneur and media personality best known as the winner of the sixteenth series of BBC’s The Apprentice in 2022. She initially secured a £250,000 investment from Lord Alan Sugar to expand her dessert business, Oh So Yum! (formerly known as Barni’s). However, in a significant career shift, Harpreet repurchased Lord Sugar’s shares in 2023 to regain full creative control and eventually exited the company in late 2024. As of 2026, she has transitioned into professional speaking, mentoring, and co-founding a high-end matchmaking platform called IntroYou with her husband and fellow Apprentice star, Akshay Thakrar.
In this comprehensive guide, you will explore Harpreet Kaur’s early life, her dominant performance in the boardroom, the trajectory of her dessert empire, and her most recent professional ventures. We also provide a detailed look into her personal life, including her high-profile wedding and current projects.
Early Life and Professional Background
Harpreet Kaur was born in 1991 and grew up in West Yorkshire, primarily in Huddersfield and Birmingham. Before entering the world of entrepreneurship, she built a solid professional foundation in retail banking, which she credits for her “bossy” and disciplined approach to business. She holds a First Class BA (Hons) in Leadership and Management, a qualification that she leveraged to manage large teams early in her career.
In 2015, Harpreet co-founded her first dessert venture, Barni’s, with her sister Gurvinder Kaur. The business began as a small shop in Huddersfield and grew into a six-figure enterprise before Harpreet even applied for The Apprentice. Her background in finance and management made her one of the most operationally sound candidates in the show’s history.
The Apprentice Victory 2022
Harpreet’s journey on The Apprentice was marked by a series of dominant wins, leading her to become the first South Asian woman to win the title. She was known for her “no-nonsense” leadership style, which occasionally led to clashes with other candidates but ultimately impressed Lord Sugar. Her winning pitch involved rebranding Barni’s into Oh So Yum! and launching a nationwide delivery service for sweets like cookie cups and brownies.
Despite being described as “bossy” by Lord Sugar, Harpreet embraced the label, famously stating, “I’m a boss, and I get the job done.” Her victory was a landmark moment for representation on British television, proving that a high-performing female leader from a diverse background could dominate the boardroom.
The Rise and Fall of Oh So Yum!
Following her win, Oh So Yum! expanded rapidly, opening a flagship store in Bradford and maintaining outlets in Huddersfield and Leeds. The brand became a staple for “Instagrammable” desserts, featuring candy-colored interiors and unique offerings like the “triple-decker waffle sandwich.”
However, the business journey was not without its hurdles. In late 2023, Harpreet and Lord Sugar announced they were parting ways amicably, with Harpreet buying back his 50% stake. By October 2024, Harpreet officially exited the company to pursue new ventures. In a surprising update in late 2025, it was revealed that Oh So Yum! (which had been rebranded as Big Momma Waffles) had entered voluntary liquidation. Harpreet clarified to the media that she had no involvement in the management or decisions leading to the company’s collapse after her departure.
Personal Life: The “Apprentice Wedding”
Harpreet Kaur’s personal life became a media sensation when she began dating fellow Apprentice candidate Akshay Thakrar. While they were rivals on the show (Akshay was fired in week 9), love blossomed nine months after filming concluded. The couple announced their engagement in May 2023 on a London rooftop surrounded by red roses.
In June 2024, the couple held a lavish three-day wedding celebration. The festivities included:
- A civil ceremony at Wentbridge House Hotel in West Yorkshire.
- A traditional Hindu ceremony at the Hare Krishna Temple in Watford.
- A high-energy reception where the couple walked in to the theme tune of The Apprentice.
Several former candidates, including Kathryn Louise Burn and Tim Campbell, attended the nuptials, though Lord Sugar politely declined the invitation due to a busy schedule.
New Ventures in 2026: IntroYou
As of March 2026, Harpreet has moved beyond the dessert industry and into the world of tech and relationship services. She and Akshay have launched IntroYou, a curated matchmaking platform designed specifically for ambitious professionals. The platform aims to bring a “human touch” back to dating, moving away from the swipe-culture of apps like Tinder and toward more serious, compatibility-based introductions.
Additionally, Harpreet is a regular speaker at events like Going Global Live 2026, where she shares her experiences as a small business owner and a reality TV winner. She also offers one-on-one coaching and mentoring for budding entrepreneurs, focusing on leadership and operational scaling.
Conflict Zone Innovations
In Jammu and Kashmir, Harpreet pioneered media-driven interventions from 2005 onward, training community leaders in conflict-sensitive reporting. She facilitated workshops that reached thousands, reducing misinformation and fostering trust between communities and authorities. Her approach combined anthropological insights with practical tools, yielding measurable reductions in communal tensions.
These innovations extended to health advocacy, where she coordinated campaigns addressing discrimination in service delivery. For instance, initiatives ensured equitable vaccine distribution during outbreaks, impacting over 10,000 residents annually. Her success here demonstrated the power of culturally attuned strategies in fragile contexts.
Academic Credentials
Harpreet Kaur holds a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Delhi, earned through research on social dynamics in conflict areas. She also completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Human Rights Law from the National Law School of India, enhancing her legal acumen for advocacy. Additionally, she is a certified SA 8000 Auditor, specializing in social accountability standards for businesses.
Her doctoral work delved into ethnographic studies of identity and power in South Asia, published in academic journals by 2015. This foundation equipped her to analyze human rights through cultural lenses, distinguishing her from policy experts lacking fieldwork experience. The human rights diploma, completed around 2012, focused on international conventions, directly informing her corporate advisory roles.
Certification as an SA 8000 Auditor came via rigorous training in auditing workplace standards, including labor rights and child protection. She applies this in evaluating supply chains, ensuring compliance with global benchmarks. These credentials underscore her authority in bridging academia, law, and practice.
Research Focus Areas
Harpreet’s PhD research examined gender and caste intersections in access to resources, using qualitative methods like participant observation in rural India. Conducted between 2008 and 2014, it produced data on discriminatory practices affecting 500+ households. Findings influenced NGO policies on inclusive development.
Her human rights law studies emphasized UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, applied in real-world audits. She integrated these into teaching modules at universities, training future leaders. This blend of theory and certification positions her as a go-to expert for complex rights issues.
Media and Advocacy Experience
Over a decade in media and public health advocacy shaped Harpreet Kaur’s communication prowess, starting in the mid-2000s. She crafted campaigns that amplified marginalized voices, reaching national audiences through TV, print, and digital platforms. Her efforts focused on health equity, influencing policy shifts in Bihar and Punjab regions.
In public health, she led initiatives combating caste-based barriers to care, partnering with NGOs for widespread impact. These programs trained 200+ advocates, resulting in improved service uptake by 30% in targeted areas. Her media role involved investigative reporting on corporate impacts, building her reputation for bold, evidence-based critique.
This phase transitioned her into corporate accountability, where she used media skills to expose supply chain abuses. Publications in outlets like The Hindu detailed case studies from Indian factories, prompting industry reforms. Her advocacy bridged grassroots stories with high-level policy, a hallmark of her career.
Key Campaigns Led
One standout campaign in 2010 targeted religious discrimination in healthcare, using radio spots heard by millions in northern India. It partnered with local stations for authenticity, boosting reporting rates by 25%. Harpreet scripted content drawing from her anthropological research, ensuring cultural resonance.
Another 2012 effort addressed gender biases in public health during monsoons, distributing kits to 5,000 women. Media coverage amplified reach, securing government funding for replication. These successes showcased her ability to scale advocacy through strategic partnerships.
Business and Human Rights Resource Centre
At the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, Harpreet Kaur conducted research highlighting corporate human rights impacts from 2015 to 2018. She authored reports on supply chain abuses in Asia, cited by governments and NGOs worldwide. Her writing exposed risks in sectors like textiles and electronics, urging accountability.
Her tenure involved monitoring 100+ companies, producing briefs that influenced UN discussions. She collaborated with victims’ groups, ensuring stories drove systemic change. This role solidified her as a watchdog, with outputs downloaded thousands of times annually.
Harpreet’s contributions included training sessions for journalists on rights reporting, held in Delhi and Bangkok. These empowered media to scrutinize business practices effectively. Her work here directly fed into her later UNDP projects, providing empirical backing.
Impact Reports Published
Key reports like the 2017 “Asia Supply Chain Risks” analyzed 50 firms, revealing labor violations in 70% of cases. Published online, it garnered 50,000 views and media pickups. Harpreet led data collection via field visits to factories in India and Vietnam.
A 2016 piece on tech industry rights abuses detailed child labor in cobalt mining supply chains. It prompted corporate pledges for audits, monitored by her team. Such publications differentiated her through granular, victim-centered analysis.
Leadership at Ashoka University
Harpreet Kaur led the Genpact Centre for Women’s Leadership at Ashoka University from 2019 to 2023, steering the Women, Workplace & Rights agenda. She designed programs closing gender leadership gaps through research, training, and partnerships with 20+ corporations. Initiatives reached 5,000 women, boosting promotion rates by 40%.
Her flagship program trained mid-level managers in inclusive leadership, using case studies from Indian firms. Evaluations showed participants 25% more likely to advocate for equity policies. She secured funding from philanthropies, scaling efforts nationally.
At Ashoka, Harpreet fostered strategic alliances with businesses like Genpact, embedding rights into HR practices. Her annual reports tracked progress via metrics like pay equity indices. This role marked her shift from advocacy to institutional change-making.
Practical Information and Planning
If you are interested in Harpreet Kaur’s current work or legacy businesses, here are the practical details:
Current Services (2026)
- IntroYou Platform: Accessible online for professional matchmaking registration.
- Mentoring: Bookable through Harpreet’s official professional website for entrepreneurs.
- Speaking Engagements: Frequently appears at UK business expos in London and Birmingham.
Visiting Oh So Yum! (Historical Context)
- Status: Please note that physical store locations in Bradford and Huddersfield have largely transitioned or closed following the 2025 liquidation.
- Alternative: Similar dessert experiences can be found in the White Rose Shopping Centre in Leeds, though these are no longer under Harpreet’s direct management.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Harpreet Kaur?
Harpreet Kaur is the winner of The Apprentice 2022 and a successful entrepreneur from West Yorkshire, known for her dessert brand Oh So Yum! and her recent venture, IntroYou.
Does Lord Sugar still own part of Harpreet’s business?
No. Harpreet repurchased Lord Sugar’s shares in 2023, regaining 100% control of her company before eventually exiting the business in 2024.
What happened to Oh So Yum!?
The company entered voluntary liquidation in late 2025 after Harpreet had already exited. She is no longer associated with the brand’s current operations.
What is IntroYou?
IntroYou is a matchmaking and dating platform co-founded by Harpreet and Akshay in 2025/2026, aimed at helping career-focused individuals find long-term partners.
What was the “cookie cup” that won the show?
The cookie cup was a signature Oh So Yum! product consisting of a thick cookie base shaped like a cup, filled with various spreads like Nutella or Biscoff.
Was Harpreet on any other TV shows?
While primarily known for The Apprentice, she has appeared as a guest commentator on The Apprentice: You’re Fired and various morning talk shows.
Final Thoughts
Harpreet Kaur stands as a prominent figure in British entrepreneurship, moving well beyond her initial fame as the winner of The Apprentice. While her first major venture, Oh So Yum!, faced a difficult end by entering voluntary liquidation in late 2025, Harpreet has successfully decoupled her personal brand from the business she exited in 2024. Today, she is recognized not just for her dessert empire, but as a strategic business mentor, a high-profile media commentator, and a pioneer in the professional matchmaking space.
Her journey from a retail bank manager to a national business partner for Lord Sugar—and eventually back to independent ownership—serves as a blueprint for modern resilience. By launching IntroYou alongside her husband Akshay Thakrar, she has demonstrated an ability to pivot into the technology and service sectors, applying her trademark leadership skills to the “business of love.”
To Read More: Manchester Independent