The Apprentice 2023 winner Marnie Swindells opens up candidly about business, heartbreak and her dreams for the future since Sir Alan Sugar backed her boxing gym dream..
It’s been two years since Marnie Swindells won The Apprentice 2023, securing Lord Sugar’s backing and a £250,000 investment to grow her boxing gym brand, Bronx. Since then, the former barrister turned entrepreneur has faced the highs of TV success and business growth, as well as some deeply personal lows.
Here, Marnie sits down with the Mirror to reflect on her journey, how she survived an incredibly tough year, and why she’s dreaming of a villa in Greece…
Hi Marnie! Two years on from your Apprentice win, how do you look back at that moment now? It feels surreal, actually. Winning was something I’d worked towards for such a long time, and when it happened, life felt like it was finally falling into place. I came away with Lord Sugar as my business partner, £250,000 for my gym, and the belief that I could take on anything. But if I’m honest, life after the show wasn’t as smooth as it might have looked from the outside.
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What do you mean by that? You win the show and you feel invincible—but for me, everything came crashing down at the same time. I went through the breakdown of an 11-year relationship in which I was engaged. That was devastating. Suddenly I was facing life and business on my own, and it was incredibly tough. And that was all happening while you were trying to launch Bronx? Yes. The pressure was enormous—on one hand, I was Lord Sugar’s new business partner, but behind closed doors I was going through heartbreak and huge personal challenges.
I had to keep showing up, smiling, and delivering, even when I was barely holding it together. I think a lot of women—especially working mums—can relate to that idea of putting on a brave face while dealing with something difficult in private. That sounds incredibly difficult. And you had even more setbacks at the time, didn’t you? It honestly felt like life was treating me like a punchbag. The same week as our launch party, my living situation changed unexpectedly. I ended up moving into a place that didn’t have electricity or running water—I was charging my lights at the gym, then heading to glamorous events as if everything was fine. In that same week, the gym was broken into, and I even received a death threat. It was just one thing after another.
How did you cope with all of that? It was a real fight-or-flight moment. There was a huge part of me that wanted to run away from it all, but the business needed me more. I’d made a commitment to Lord Sugar and to the people in Bronx, and I had to honour that. It’s taken me time, but looking back now, I’m proud that I didn’t give up. And what’s your relationship with Lord Sugar like now? We speak weekly, and he’s been very supportive and patient. I think one reason our partnership works is because I’m completely transparent with him. I don’t just tell him the good news, I tell him the tough stuff too. He respects that. Business is never just an upwards curve—there are highs and lows, peaks and troughs—and he knows I’ll always be upfront with him. Do you and Lord Sugar WhatsApp each other? Yes, haha – I have him on WhatsApp, but he’s a very busy man. We don’t exchange holiday snaps, but maybe if I hit ten Bronx gyms I’ll finally get an invite onto his yacht. That would be nice! On the show, you were also closely watched by Baroness Karren Brady. Did she inspire you? Absolutely. Karen is the kind of woman you can’t help but admire. She walks into a room and instantly commands respect. She’s glamorous, stylish, but also fierce—you don’t mess with her. I actually said once that she was to football what I want to be to boxing: a powerful, unforgettable figure in a male-dominated world.
Speaking of boxing, who are your favourite fighters? Claressa Shields is a big inspiration. She’s bold, confident, and a real trailblazer. Then on the other side you have Katie Taylor, who’s so humble and quiet in her approach, but such a phenomenal talent.
On the men’s side, I’d probably say Oleksandr Usyk—he talks a lot about discipline, and how you can’t just rely on motivation, and that really resonates with me. Would you ever step back into the ring yourself? Maybe even for Misfits boxing? For the right opportunity—and the right money—I’d absolutely consider it! But it would take a lot to drag me away from the boardroom now. Outside of sport, which women in business inspire you? Emma Grede is a big one—I love her authenticity and her directness. Grace Beverley too; I honestly don’t know how she manages to do so much. And of course, you can’t talk about women in business without mentioning the Kardashians. They’re the ultimate success story—they’ve built an empire, reinvented themselves countless times, and everything they touch turns to gold. People can say what they like, but I think they’re geniuses when it comes to business.
We hear you don’t drink alcohol at all. Is that right? Yes, I’ve never drunk or been drunk in my life! I don’t like the idea of losing control, but I do love being around my friends when they’re drinking and then reminding them what they did the next day. The only downside is I don’t drive, so I’m not the designated driver either! Looking ahead, what are your goals for the future? With Bronx, I want to open ten more gyms and make boxing accessible to as many people as possible, especially women. Personally, my dream is to one day build my own home. I grew up in a caravan, so I’ve always longed for that stability. Long-term, I’d love a little villa in Greece, with a hot husband and some kids—that would be the ultimate dream.
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