We’re sweet on Sugar

Jun 8 2009 by Jez Davison, Evening Gazette

TEES Valley business leaders have given qualified backing to Sir Alan Sugar’s appointment as the Government’s enterprise “tsar”.

They say the multi-millionaire front man of BBC hit show The Apprentice will be a strong ambassador for business - but only if ministers are prepared to act on his advice.

Alastair Thomson, Tees Valley chairman of the Institute of Directors, described the appointment as “an inspired choice”.

He said: “He is somebody who has a lot of business credibility. The question is: will people in Government be prepared to listen?”

He added that Sir Alan would be keen to reduce the amount of red tape, “which is hurting too many businesses.

“But if anyone’s going to get something done, it’s him.”

Stephen Green of the Entrepreneur’s Forum, welcomed the move to “get entrepreneurs involved in promoting enterprise”.

He said: “Politicians have something to learn from people who know how to take enterprise opportunities.

“It will help government to understand how entrepreneurs think.”

Chey Garland, right, chief executive of Hartlepool-based Garlands Call Centres which employs around 3,000 staff in the North-east, said: “I think that it’s terrific that Government is engaging with real entrepreneurs who have made it.”

She added that Sir Alan’s knowledge of import and export issues could benefit Britain’s manufacturers.

Liz Mayes, assistant regional director of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), reserved judgment but said: “Making sure that enterprise is high on the political agenda is extremely important.”

Mike Parker of the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC), who thought Sir Alan needed to “speak for all businesses, not just big businesses”, added: “The appointment will only work if they (government) listen to him.

“Entrepreneurs don’t suffer fools gladly and he won’t hang around if his advice is falling on deaf ears.”

Laura Woods, director of academic research at Teesside, praised the Government for “thinking outside the box and moving away from the same old faces”.

She added “It’s a radical thing to do, but then perhaps we need radical things at the moment.”

However she warned that Sir Alan would have to contend with a “public/private sector mindset conflict”.

She said: “It’s one thing being an entrepreneur and doing it but, on the policy making side, you have to have a slightly different approach to things.”

Not everyone in Tees Valley was happy with Sir Alan’s appointment.

Yarm-based entrepreneur Jason Hadlow, right, managing director of home furniture retailer Simply Dutch, said: “I can’t imagine how he’s going to help businesses in Tees Valley.”