Lord Sugar cuts an imposing figure in the boardroom of The Apprentice – and those looking to impress the business titan have been given five nuggets of advice by one of his former business partners.
Tom Johnson has just bought Lord Sugar out of Hernshead Recruitment, the business he set up in 2019 with a focus on the engineering and technology sectors.
Johnson had approached Sugar through the tycoon’s private investment vehicle Amsvest and, following investment from the former Amstrad boss, grew it to £3.5m turnover.
As sole owner, he is now looking to expand globally.
“Having been sat next to and opposite Lord Sugar many times, here’s what I would tell the candidates and anyone looking to pitch to a business partner or client,” he wrote on LinkedIn during series 19 of the BBC show.
“Know your numbers – whether that is during the working day (so you’re not selling for too cheap) or knowing where you’re at with cashflow/profit, you cannot run a business if you don’t make numbers your focus.
“Cut the bullsh*t – anyone with a background in business has either heard it before or tried to use it themselves before. Mistakes happen as long as you learn from them, back yourself and front it up.
“Be punctual and on time – no more needs to be said on that…
“Value your relationships and nurture them – yes this is hard in a competition like The Apprentice but never forget that industry is smaller than you think, and you never know when you’ll run into someone again.
“Leaders lead – anyone can manage a high performing engaged team. Real leaders lead and raise their team when the going gets tough. Are you raising the value of those around you?”
Hernshead Recruitment serves a diverse multinational client base, including companies in additive manufacturing, aerospace & aviation, automotive, automation, special purpose machinery. It is one of the fastest-growing companies in the UK.
Following the buyout deal, Lord Sugar commented: “It has been a pleasure to be a part of Hernshead Group’s journey from its launch. Tom and the team have done a tremendous job in driving the business forward.
“They have created an exceptional reputation in the recruitment industry, and I am confident that under Tom’s leadership, the company will continue to thrive. I wish Hernshead Group and the entire team continued success as they move into their next phase of growth.”
Johnson added: “The support and guidance I’ve received from Lord Sugar and his team has been invaluable throughout the years.
“He has played a key role in helping shape the business into what it is today. This buyout allows us to take full control of our future and accelerate our growth over the next 5-10 years.
“We are poised to continue expanding as one of the most successful engineering and technology recruitment agencies in the UK while continuing our expansion into Europe & North America, and we are eager to build on the strong foundations we’ve laid.”
Speaking about The Apprentice, Johnson adds: “It goes without saying it’s a TV show and long hours and lots of pressure with cameras on (if you’ve even been sat with cameras on, you’ll know what I mean).”