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Sugar safe as firm loses £5m

By Robert Mendick
Updated: 09:46 EDT, 11 May 2007

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Profits in Apprentice star Sir Alan Sugar's main holding company have dropped almost £5m.

According to the Financial Times today, figures for Amshold released this week show the profits for the year to 30 June 2006 falling from around £13.2m to £8.6m.

The FT, however, suggests Sir Alan should not be too harsh on himself. The value of properties in the company portfolio has increased from £48m to £166m.

Sir Alan, despite his grumpy demeanour, has become a cult figure for his role in The Apprentice, the TV show in which each week he fires one contestant in a competition to land a £100,000 job at Amstrad's headquarters in Brentwood.

The reality show, now in its third series, has switched to BBC1 where it is pulling in record numbers of viewers.

Fancy that?

Wednesday 9 May The Press Association quote Adam Hosker after he became the latest to be fired by Sir Alan from The Apprentice:

'Katie [Hopkins, fellow contestant] thinks Sir Alan is thick. She told me that in the car on the way back from a task. She doesn't rate Sir Alan, she's there to publicise herself.

'It's bizarre that she's still there. She doesn't want the job. She's an absolutely prime example of someone that doesn't want to work for Sir Alan. She just wants to use The Apprentice to enhance her business as a global brand consultant.

'I think I'm the only person that actually went into the show to get the job. It surprises me that people come out and already have a business set up, like the wine bar (being opened by Natalie Wood), and the Zeppelin flights (Robert Laing).'

Wednesday 9 May From the Mercury Press Agency:

'Apprentice hopeful Adam Hosker reckons he will be the next Arthur Daley after being booted off the hit business show. The northern lad, who clashed with fellow contestants on the BBC 2 show, has already come up with a new venture after being fired by ruthless business baron Sir Alan Sugar.

'The likely lad has put his car showroom expertise to new use on a new website venture which promises to find customers their dream car. He has set up an online showroom, billing himself as 'The Fixer' who will solve car-buyers problems in preparation for missing out on the £100,000 first prize.

'Smooth-talking salesman Adam, who quit his job at a Renault delearship in Preston to take part in the show, has now hired a London public relations firm to advance his career.'

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