He recently became Lord Sugar‘s new business partner after winning The Apprentice 2025.
However, air conditioning business owner Dean Franklin, 34, is now reportedly at the centre of a rogue trader investigation linked to his show-winning firm.
Essex-based Dean, who runs ADL, has allegedly operated without a key industry licence for 17 months – potentially leaving him on the hook for a massive fine, which could eat into his £250,000 prize from the BBC series.
The married father-of-two has been accused of failing to obtain an F-Gas certificate for ADL during that period, though Dean denied the claims and said he has all necessary documentation.
The certificate is a legal requirement for companies handling fluorinated gases, commonly used in air-con units.
According to The Sun, the firm faces possible civil prosecution by regulator the Environment Agency which can impose fines of up to £200,000 per breach.
He recently became Lord Sugar’s new business partner after winning The Apprentice 2025 (Lord Sugar left, Dean Franklin right)
However, air conditioning business owner Dean Franklin, 34, is now reportedly at the centre of a rogue trader investigation linked to his show-winning firm
Conservative MP Alec Shelbrooke, 49, has also questioned how Dean’s licensing issues were missed during the show’s vetting process.
He told the publication: ‘This is an embarrassment for the BBC.
‘Their reality shows seem to be lacking in carrying out due diligence, leaving them open to scandal after scandal.’
Around 3.5million viewers tuned in to watch Dean defeat pizza entrepreneur Anisa Khan in the final.
During the series, he revealed that ADL had a £500,000 turnover and £171,000 net profit before he agreed to hand over a 50 per cent stake to Lord Sugar.
According to The Sun, Refcom and the F-Gas Register, which issue certificates on behalf of the Environment Agency, say ADL did not hold the necessary certification from its formation in May 2020 until October 2021.
Despite this, Dean appeared to continue operating as normal, sharing photos of installations for high-profile clients including former Spurs striker Lucas Moura.
During that same period, the Upminster-based firm received numerous positive reviews.
Essex-based Dean, who runs ADL, has allegedly operated without a key industry licence for 17 months – potentially leaving him on the hook for a massive fine
The married father-of-two has been accused of failing to obtain an F-Gas certificate for ADL during that period (Dean pictured with his wife Chloe and their two children Bonnie and Ted)
One customer wrote: ‘Dean and the lads were very good.’ while another added: ‘Dean is an expert. Highly recommend.’
Graeme Fox, F-Gas Register scheme director, also told the publication: ‘If a company was operating without a valid certificate, it would have been trading illegally until it was registered.’
The Sun also reports that Dean was not formally listed as a director of ADL until April 2021.
However, Companies House documents show he became a 50 per cent shareholder in May 2020 and was listed as a ‘person with significant control’ from the start.
However, he became a 50 per cent shareholder in May 2020 and was described from the start on Companies House documents as ‘a person with significant control’.
It comes shortly after 3.5 million viewers tuned in to The Apprentice on Thursday to watch Dean defeat pizza entrepreneur Anisa Khan in the final
It’s understood that a certificate from Dean’s previous firm, DF Air Conditioning – held from March 2020 until its dissolution in October 2021 – would not have covered ADL’s operations.
An Environment Agency spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘We are clear that it is against the law to work with F-gas without the correct qualifications and certification.
‘We are investigating reports of a potential breach of these regulations.’
In response, Dean said he was ‘not aware’ of any ongoing review or investigation and claimed he has personally held F-Gas certification since 2014.
MailOnline has contacted the BBC and Dean’s representative, and the Environment Agency for further comment.
