Apprentice winner Tom Pellereau has taken full ownership of his beauty technology company after buying out Lord Sugar’s 50 per cent stake.

Life-long inventor Pellereau found fame as the quirky winner of the 2011 series of BBC’s The Apprentice, creating the world’s first curved nail file.

His first invention at the age of 10 was a ‘dismantle-abra’, a dismantling candle stick for his grandmother.

He became the first winner to receive investment from Lord Sugar, who secured a 50 per cent stake in exchange for £250k.

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Since then, Pellereau has grown STYLIDEAS into one of the UK’s fast-growing electrical beauty tech brands, including LED masks and makeup brush cleaners.

He revealed: “Today I graduated as an Apprentice. 14 years after his investment Lord Sugar and I’ve agreed terms that return me to 100 per cent owner of STYIDEAS.

“In 2011 I became the first Apprentice winner to receive investment from Lord Sugar, who contributed £250,000 in return for a 50 per cent stake.

“The 2011 deal reflected a broader change in The Apprentice’s format: after six seasons of awarding the winner a £100,000-a-year job with Lord Sugar’s business, the series shifted to offering a cash investment and a business partnership.

“I will always be so grateful for the investment Lord Sugar made, and the potential he saw in me and my inventions.

“His time, knowledge and guidance have been invaluable. While now is the right time to regain full ownership of my business, I look back on the amazing journey we’ve taken together over the last 14 years with deep gratitude and happy memories.

“I am beyond excited to take it forward with the incredible STYLPRO team around me.”

Lord Sugar: “14 years after investing in Tom, I have agreed with Tom’s decision to purchase back my shares and return sole ownership to him.

“When I first met Tom, he was a naïve inventor with ideas and drive, but he desperately needed my business help.

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“He has gone on to build one of the UK’s fastest-selling electrical beauty-tech brands. It’s now the right time to part ways and allow Tom and his team to take the company to new heights.”

The company’s beauty devices are stocked by major retailers in the UK, Europe, USA and Australia.