Apprentice winner Dean Franklin 'not conscious' of licence breach

Jodie Halford

BBC Information, Essex

Lewis Adams/BBC Dean Franklin, wearing a white T-shirt, smiles at the camera while standing in front of a purple background where the words BBC Essex can be seen — Father-of-two Dean Franklin mentioned he was unaware of any ongoing Setting Company investigation

The winner of The Apprentice 2025 mentioned he was “not conscious of any ongoing investigation” after experiences his air con agency had been working with out the right licence.

Dean Franklin, 35, from Hornchurch, east London, was topped the newest winner of the long-running BBC actuality present on 17 April by Lord Alan Sugar.

The Solar newspaper reported he was at “the centre of a rogue dealer probe” for failing to offer an F-gas certificates for his enterprise for 17 months, which is required by the Setting Company.

Mr Franklin advised BBC Essex: “I am not conscious of any ongoing investigation. I’m F-gas registered and have been since 2014.”

“I would not all the time consider what you learn within the newspapers,” he added.

F-gases, or fluorinated greenhouse gases, are regulated by the Setting Company and firms or people working with them should be certified to take action.

Lord Sugar declared air con enterprise proprietor Dean Franklin because the winner of The Apprentice on 17 April

PA Media Lord Alan Sugar, wearing a grey suit and blue patterned tie, is holding a champagne flute. Dean Franklin, wearing a navy suit, light blue patterned waistcoat and a blue spotted tie is also holding a champagne flute. Both men are smiling at the camera. — Lord Sugar declared air con enterprise proprietor Dean Franklin because the winner of The Apprentice on 17 April

Protection within the nationwide media mentioned Mr Franklin’s agency, ADL, may very well be chargeable for a £200,000 superb if a breach of rules was to be discovered.

In a press release, an Setting Company spokesperson mentioned: “We’re clear that it’s towards the regulation to work with F-gas with out the right {qualifications} and certification.

“We’re investigating experiences of a possible breach of those rules.”

Mr Franklin gave his response to the allegations whereas collaborating in BBC Essex’s behind-the-scenes have a look at this yr’s run of The Apprentice, that includes candidates from the county together with Chisola Chitambala, Liam Snellin and Emma Rothwell.