He says that Tycoon provides a poor example of how venture capital works in practice.

‘This show is a bad example of the quality of support this country provides new businesses,’ says Ward. ‘Jones is allegedly looking to invest, so he should be bringing out the best in these people, rather than spying with webcams and bullying in a poor attempt to boost ratings.’

Ward, who has held CEO roles at five companies including loudspeaker manufacturer Wharfedale, says that Jones’ approach is not representative of angel investors or venture capital firms, which actively help entrepreneurs achieve success.

‘The UK is renowned for its entrepreneurial spirit, and Tycoon could have been a popular mechanism to support and encourage this fantastic culture,’ Ward adds. ‘I genuinely hope the series improves by showing Jones sharing the skills and knowledge that attribute to his success.’

The European Leadership Programme was launched earlier this year to assist CEOs in developing their careers through mentoring and peer-to-peer discussions.