Get Back to the Office: Lord Sugar Advocates for In-Person Work and Challenges Remote Culture

Lord Alan Sugar, the renowned entrepreneur and face of the BBC’s The Apprentice, has publicly declared his stance against remote working, urging employees to return to their offices. Speaking to the BBC, Sugar emphasized that young workers need to be physically present in the workplace to learn and benefit from the invaluable interactions with experienced colleagues. He expressed concern about the trend of many young professionals preferring to work from home, stating, “They’ve got to get their bums back into the office.”

Sugar’s comments come in response to the ongoing debate surrounding remote working since the Covid pandemic reshaped traditional work patterns. He believes that essential learning experiences are lost without in-person collaboration, as tasks that arise in a casual office setting foster professional growth.

In alignment with Sugar, fellow businessman Lord Stuart Rose criticized working from home as “not proper work.” However, Sugar acknowledged that exceptions could apply for individuals like software developers who may thrive under unconventional work hours or for those with disabilities.

Amidst his critique of remote working, Sugar also took the opportunity to express his views on Brexit, characterizing it as “the biggest disaster in [his] lifetime,” and lamented the consequences of the UK’s departure from the EU. If he had political sway, he said he would seek to rejoin the Union.

Additionally, Lord Sugar shared his skepticism about the growing reliance on artificial intelligence in job applications, labeling it as “a bit cheating.” He noted that while the reality of modern job recruiting involves AI, using it to inflate one’s CV is unacceptable.

Despite his extensive business background and a net worth exceeding £1 billion, he dismissed any ambitions for political office, citing the role of Prime Minister as “untenable and thankless.” This year also marks the launch of series 19 of The Apprentice, which Sugar continues to lead, adapting challenges to keep pace with advancing technology, despite restrictions on contestants’ access to digital tools during the show.