The Rise Of Lord Sugar

Lord Alan Sugar is best known for his long tenure as host of the BBC’s hugely successful show The Apprentice. We asked our team of homeowner loan brokers team to take a break from educating borrowers on how to get a homeowner loan to take a look at some of his greatest achievements.

His qualifications to sit across from hopeful candidates in the boardroom have been built up through years of diverse business experience from heading up an early computing giant (Amstrad) to more recently acquiring a lucrative property empire.

A self-made man with an innate sense of corporate strategy, Sugar rose from humble beginnings in a council flat to being appointed the UK’s Enterprise Tsar through tenacity, savvy and a tell-it-like-it-is attitude.

However, his rise from obscurity to celebrity wasn’t without its setbacks and stumbles. Here is the story of one of Britain’s most influential businessmen.

Amstrad

Lord Sugar’s first major success came when we founded Amstrad. Here’s a quick summary of the key milestones of his time at Amstrad:

1. Founding Amstrad – In 1968, Lord Sugar founded Amstrad, a consumer electronics company that produced affordable audio and computer equipment. By the mid-1980s, Amstrad had become a household name, and the company’s products were sold around the world.
2. Developing the PCW – In 1985, Amstrad launched the PCW, a personal computer that was designed specifically for home use. The PCW was a commercial success and helped establish Amstrad as a major player in the consumer electronics market.
3. Selling Amstrad to BSkyB – In 2007, Lord Sugar sold Amstrad to British satellite broadcaster BSkyB for £125 million. The sale marked the end of an era for Amstrad, which had been in business for nearly 40 years.

The Apprentice

Over the course of the show’s 16 seasons, Lord Sugar has experienced both successes and failures. He has invested in several business ventures launched by previous winners of the show, including companies focused on technology, health and beauty, and consumer goods. Some of these ventures have been successful, while others have struggled to find a market.

The Apprentice has also been a ratings success, regularly attracting over six million viewers per episode in the UK. The show has been praised for its entertainment value, but has also faced criticism for perpetuating negative stereotypes of businesspeople and for its focus on cutthroat competition.

In addition to his role on The Apprentice, Lord Sugar has also been involved in other media projects, including writing several books and appearing on other TV shows. He has also continued to invest in various businesses and has become a well-respected figure in the UK business community.

Overall, Lord Alan Sugar’s time on The Apprentice has been marked by both successes and failures, but has helped to establish him as a prominent media personality and a respected business leader. The show’s popularity has also helped to raise awareness of entrepreneurship and business leadership among the general public.

Check out our Lord Sugar infographic below or read our guide to Administration Britain.