Gordon Brown to Sir Alan Sugar: 'You're hired'

Gordon Brown has appointed entrepreneur Sir Alan Sugar as his Enterprise Tsar to advise him on how to help small businesses cope with the recession, according to press reports.

Several newspapers and broadcasters are claiming that after a meeting in Downing Street on Thursday, the star of BBC TV's The Apprentice accepted a non-paid job to give guidance to ministers on how to boost UK enterprise.

According to one publication, the millionaire, who started his first business at age 16, will focus specifically on apprenticeships and the 'green and digital technology agenda'.

Meanwhile, other reports claim that Sir Alan's role may go even further by taking over from Peter Mandelson as business secretary. If that were to happen, he would have to become a peer.

BusinessZone.co.uk contacted the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and a spokesperson said that currently the story is all "rumours" and that she "knew nothing" about Sir Alan's role.

Despite published pictures of the entrepreneur leaving Downing Street, she was also unable to confirm whether or not he met with the prime minister on Thursday evening.

Speaking on the BBC, Sir Alan defended Gordon Brown, who is facing increasing calls to step down as prime minister. He said: "I can tell you that from what I understand he is resolute in his position, he is going to see out the governance of the country and I think quite rightly so.

"What needs to be sorted out is the economic climate ... We need to get the economy moving again and we could not have a better person in place [than Brown] because of his [former] position as chancellor."

More follows.

Discuss the appointment in our Any Answers forum: Sir Alan Sugar and the government: Hire a celebrity, never mind the substance?

Listen to BusinessZone.co.uk Dan Martin's thoughts in his latest audio blog: Sir Alan Sugar as Enterprise Tsar: Celebrity over business benefits?