The Apprentice winner Tom Pellereau becomes latest star to part ways with Lord Alan Sugar after 14 years

The Apprentice winner Tom Pellereau has split from his business partner Lord Alan Sugar after 14 years.

The TV star, 46, was the first contestant to become Lord Sugar’s business partner after impressing him, Baroness Karren Brady, 56, and Nick Hewer, 81, on the BBC show in 2011.

After joining forces, Tom and the business mogul went on to build tech-beauty venture, company StylPro.

Now, Lord Sugar, 87, confirmed Tom has bought out his 50 per cent stake – which Lord Sugar secured after contributing £250,000 in return – in the business, taking it to a 100 per cent founder-owned company.

Praising the prosperous partnership, the Amstrad founder said in a statement: ‘Fourteen 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.

‘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.’

Tom – whose business specialises in electrical beauty technology, such as LED face masks, and is stocked in the UK, US, Europe and Australia – sang Lord Sugar’s praises and thanked him for his wise guidance and help throughout this time. 

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

‘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.’

With the legendary show beginning in 2005, Tom was the mogul’s very first business partner, with winners before him being handed a £100,000-a-year job with Lord Sugar’s business, rather than investment into their own firms.

Tom previously admitted he and Lord Sugar have had ‘some ups and some downs’ during their time as business partners.

In 2024, Tom told The Sun: ‘He has always put a lot of pressure on me to succeed. He’s been like that kind of headmaster that just gives you a hard time.

‘And people sort of say, ‘You know, he does quite like you’. And you’re like, ‘Oh, he’s got a very funny way of showing it’. But we’ve had some ups and some downs.’

In February, Daily Mail took a look at where the 18 winners of the BBC show are now.

The show began in 2005 as a groundbreaking series which featured some of the country’s best young business minds hoping to secure a job with the then Sir Alan.

However, the programme has slowly turned into a more reality TV-inspired fare, with big personalities gloating irreverently about their skills in business.

The show’s prize changed in 2011 with the candidates now competing for an investment into their business.

A handful have gone on to build business empires that are bringing in the money, including Tom, Ricky Martin, Mark Wright, Sara Lynn, Sian Gabbidon and Carina Lepore.