Sir Alan Sugar appointed as the government's 'Enterprise Tsar'

[DanMartin]

Many of you will have spotted that several press reports (http://www.businesszone.co.uk/topic/business-trends/breaking-news-reports-gordon-brown-sir-alan-sugar-youre-hired) are claiming that Gordon Brown has appointed Sir Alan Sugar as his new Enterprise Tsrar to advise him on helping small businesses cope with the recession.

What are your thoughts?

In my view, while Sir Alan's success can't be doubted, how in touch really is he with on the ground, current small business issues? It has been a long time since he has run a small firm and when you reach his level of business, it's very easy to lose touch with the kind of issues many UKBF members are facing.

[4little1s]

I agree, you cannot doubt his success however I wonder how much of this is a last ditch PR attempt for Gordon Brown rather than anything else ? Not sure.....

[vvaannmmaann]

Gordon Brown,you're fired!

[mubin]

Isn't is Csar?

[NetConneXions]

Gordon Brown,you're fired!

Perfect! :D

[sirearl]

You can not be serious appointment by TV.

Flogging dodgy electrical goods don't quite cut it for Tsrar of a street market.

Strewth give me strength.

Earl

[NetConneXions]

Gordon Brown will be on the dragons den next. He has this big idea...hope they dont ask him any financial questions.

[Beachcomber]

Can't help thinking there are far better qualified people out there who could do the job - but none of which have as high a public profile.

Can't help thinking whats in it for him? If the proper time and dedication is to be devoted to this task, whats the pay-off? He's already got the knighthood ;)

[Scott-CopyandDesign]

Isn't is Csar?

There's two commonly used spellings for it in English; Tsar and Czar. :cool:

[YODspica]

I think its Lord Alan Sugar, now (nice negotiation).

[DuaneJackson]

My chairman wrote an article in The Spectator a couple of weeks ago with some comments on Alan Sugar getting involved in politics: http://www.spectator.co.uk/the-magazine/business/3614903/the-business-of-politics.thtml

[4little1s]

I read in the Times that the Aprentice will now not be shown on TV during any election that we may or may not have in the future as it may sway votes.....hmm not sure of that !

[stugster]

With all due respect to Lord Young, perhaps it maybe is time that Government was run like the private sector. He makes some very valid points though.

[sirearl]

With all due respect to Lord Young, perhaps it maybe is time that Government was run like the private sector. .

Oh you mean like the banking Industry or was that the car industry,maybe the private companies that do the computer systems for them.:rolleyes:

Cause there's always the good old pension industry.:)

and then there's the effect that privatization has had on the NHS.

sorry but a successful useful private industry seems to have slipped me tongue at the moment.?:|

Earl

[Stephen Berry]

In my view, while Sir Alan's success can't be doubted, .................

How are you measuring success?
In pound coin terms he is undoubtedly a success.

In football terms, with Spurs, less so.

If the measure was the gap between 'achieved' and 'potential', he may be seen as even less successful.

If the measure was on the style of management which would inspire and develop his team to achieve, I think he would score about as low as Gordon Brown - how much is for TV and how much is real I have no idea, but the dictatorial bully style of management may be inappropriate for this role.

[stugster]

Oh you mean like the banking Industry or was that the car industry,maybe the private companies that do the computer systems for them.:rolleyes:

Cause there's always the good old pension industry.:)

and then there's the effect that privatization has had on the NHS.

sorry but a successful useful private industry seems to have slipped me tongue at the moment.?:|

Earl

Who are the people at the top of those industries? Are they politicians?

What about Microsoft, Google, IBM, Dell, DSGi, Sainsbury's? :)

[Dawg]

The article from the Business editor of the Indy (http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/margareta-pagano-why-has-sir-alan-been-hired-as-enterprise-tsar-1699236.html) summed it up for me.

"....In retail there is Kate Swann at WH Smith who has turned it in to a fine business, while at John Lewis there is chairman Charles Mayfield, and at least half a dozen managers below him, who could have been perfect to be tsar – if, of course, we really need such a gimmick.

I could name many more but the quality of these people shows how puzzling it is to have Sugar advising companies what to do. It is an insult to the business community to expect them to accept this man as their delegate in this debate: a debate that is more critical than ever to the UK economy and the future of our young.

[..]

What do the people who allow themselves to be patronised by him on his TV show really think of him? The important thing is that no top businessman or woman I know will take him seriously. His appointment is the desperate act of a desperate prime minister, and it is surely time for Gordon's peers show to end."

And, as a snide little dig, a Sir Alan quote from Feb 2005: "Next Christmas, the iPod will be dead, finished, gone, kaput."

A finger on the pulse of the cadaver, huh?

[sirearl]

Who are the people at the top of those industries? Are they politicians?

What about Microsoft, Google, IBM, Dell, DSGi, Sainsbury's? :)

No British companies there apart from Sainsbury and people always eat more in a recession to try to overcome there depression.:p

Earl

[YODspica]

it seems Sir Alan, loves the celebrity status (was he too quick in accepting the post? in the current political turmoil, time will tell).

[aaamusements]

So will the Amstrad Emailer soon become the compulsory telephone system?
:D

[wevet]

It is a sad indictment on this country that we do not have available an "enterprise Tsar" with a background in actually MAKING something.

Sralan is fine entertainment, has made a lot of money but he is an importer and trader NOT what this country needs which is a refocus on manufacturing.

[stugster]

There was a good discussion on bringing back the manufacturing businesses here: http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=94609

[4little1s]

Am getting my Amstrad Emailer out of the loft, dusting it off, great idea at the time.......

[aaamusements]

Am getting my Amstrad Emailer out of the loft, dusting it off, great idea at the time.......

I have one of those that I inherited from somewhere... nice enough phone, but the services cost a fortune!
Amstrad lost fortunes on the Emailer but Siralan was so convinced it was a good idea that he kept pushing it, despite all evidence that it would never be very commercially successful...

[cal900]

How successful was Amstrad?

From what I can make out, the 90s was a disaster with failure after failure for the company until it started making Sky boxes and not a lot else.

All I’m saying is, for a company which led the way in home computing there is not a lot to show for it now.

[Lasting Designs]

And not to mention this... http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6437959.ece

It's almost funny, its as if he had written that as a prediction, and Gordo's Andrex touch (opposite to Midas) continues, make Sugar a Lord, Margret leaves. ;)