Lord Alan Sugar has confirmed the end of a significant business partnership, as a former winner of The Apprentice has chosen to go it alone after 14 years.
The End of a Landmark Deal
Tom Pellereau, who triumphed in the 2011 series of the BBC show, has bought back the 50% share in the beauty-tech company Stylpro that was held by the peer and entrepreneur. The move severs a professional relationship that began when Pellereau beat fellow finalists Helen Milligan and Susan Ma, opting for a business investment from Lord Sugar instead of the traditional £100,000-a-year job.
The 78-year-old Apprentice host issued a statement marking the occasion. "14 years after investing in Tom, I have agreed with Tom’s decision to purchase back my shares and return sole ownership to him," Lord Sugar said. He reflected on Pellereau's journey, noting, "When I first met Tom, he was a naïve inventor with ideas and drive, but he desperately needed my business help. He has gone on to build one of the UK’s fastest-selling electrical beauty-tech brands."
Gratitude and New Horizons
Pellereau, the first winner to secure an investment from Lord Sugar, also released a statement expressing his profound thanks. "I will always be so grateful for the investment Lord Sugar made, and the potential he saw in me and my inventions," he said. "His time, knowledge and guidance have been invaluable."
He acknowledged that while now was the right moment to regain full control of Stylpro—known for its LED facemasks and beauty devices—he looks back on their shared journey with "deep gratitude and happy memories." Lord Sugar echoed this sentiment of forward momentum, adding, "It’s now the right time to part ways and allow Tom and his team to take the company to new heights."
A Partnership of "Ups and Downs"
The separation follows Pellereau's candid remarks in an interview with The Sun in October 2024, where he described the dynamic of their long-running partnership. He admitted they had experienced their fair share of "ups and downs" and characterised Lord Sugar as a "kind of headmaster that just gives you a hard time."
Pellereau believed their synergy stemmed from a shared focus on physical products, aligning with Lord Sugar's own origins in consumer electronics. "He really likes products and he has a lot to offer me in terms of helping with retailer dealings and with suppliers," he explained, suggesting this common ground was key to their enduring collaboration.
The deal concludes a major chapter in the history of The Apprentice, cementing Pellereau's legacy as the pioneer of the show's investment model and opening a new, independent future for Stylpro.
