Reality TV series The Apprentice is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025, after being launched by the BBC on 16th February 2005 to showcase a series of business challenges set for contestants by billionaire entrepreneur Alan Sugar.
Worth an estimated £1.2 billion, the magnate and two business associates observe candidates as they tackle various tasks to determine who’s worthy of the top prize. His current associates are first series winner Tim Campbell MBE, whose prize was to join Sugar’s Amstrad tech company, and Baroness Karren Brady, chairman of West Ham United FC.
Business analysts say every boss should take notes from The Apprentice, as the series highlights many skills that are vital to the success of a company.
In 1968, Sugar launched Amstrad with £100 of his Post Office savings, selling car radio aerials and other electrical items out of his van. He was only 21. After more than half a century in industry, the entrepreneur is ranked among the 150 richest people in the UK and has held the position of Enterprise Champion to the Business Secretary since 2016.
The importance of clear communication
Sugar continually emphasises the importance of clear communication between co-workers and believes contestants must be able to work well in a team and collaborate with others to achieve success. Poor communication has led to contestants losing their place on The Apprentice, with the most notable example being series four candidate Melissa Cohen.
Learning she was unpopular in the boardroom, after struggling to communicate with teammates, including making up words, she said angrily, “Karmically, they will be retributed,” adding, “I’ve always maintained my professionality,” before being dumped from the show.
Working in a modern collaborative environment, such as serviced offices in London, is an ideal place to hone communication skills. Far more than your run of the mill office space, serviced offices bring people together to work and thrive, offering networking opportunities and flexibility that promote a sense of community.
Decision making under pressure
Making decisions is a key task for business leaders, who may be under intense pressure and have to think fast in various workplace situations. The Apprentice is renowned for having a pressure cooker environment, with contestants working in teams to meet tight deadlines. This aspect of the series mirrors the intensity of high pressure situations experienced in business, when the importance of leadership, conflict resolution and clear communication all play a key role.
Sometimes, contestants in the show get involved in backstabbing and plenty of drama over collaborative problem solving, demonstrating how not to behave under pressure.
The art of adaptability
At the start of series 19, Brady and Campbell, in a promotional interview with the BBC, spoke of the importance Lord Sugar attached to adaptability. While he doesn’t hold grudges if contestants make a wrong move early on in the show, he does expect them to adapt their behaviour. This means being accountable for mistakes and proving they have learned from them and can adapt to become a better business person.
Leading by example
There are various different types of leadership in business, with Lord Sugar being a traditional CEO and leader, who tends to focus on the bigger picture, instead of getting bogged down by details. He leads by example, setting a vision and holding people accountable to deliver shared goals.
Every workplace team needs a leader, but this doesn’t mean appointing someone who will simply boss everyone else around. Contestants who have demonstrated an unfortunate manner by trying to bully colleagues when trying to step up as team leader traditionally haven’t fared well on the show. In series ten, Solomon Akhtar was considered the ideal candidate for project manager, demonstrating a calm and laid-back style that inspired his team to achieve their goals.
Handling feedback and criticism
Feedback in the workplace should never be viewed as a personal attack if it’s negative, as handling criticism and striving to improve are important parts of our career journey. Constructive criticism is meant to give employees a helping hand to improve themselves – something contestants on The Apprentice often find difficult to take.
While Lord Sugar and his colleagues like strong candidates, they also recognise the importance of handling feedback in an appropriate manner. The Apprentice contestants are all business people, so suddenly going into a collaborative environment where they must seek feedback from others can lead to a negative reaction and discord. Team members who vociferously argue and refuse to accept feedback as advice aren’t the type of people who will shine, either in The Apprentice or in their job.
For Lord Sugar, The Apprentice has been an opportunity to select the best candidates for key business roles, while it has given viewers a valuable insight into how to adapt their own leadership skills within their company for optimum results.
© Edward Moss / Alamy Stock Photo
