Lord Sugar has set Chigwell and Hainault United Synagogue members an Apprentice-style challenge this weekend. 

The businessman, a Chigwell and Hainault member, has tasked the Essex congregation with raising £600,000 to match a donation from his family to fund a £1.2 million renovation.

In a promotional video, Lord Sugar tells members of the need to bring the synagogue premises “up to standard for the 2020s. It has been a workhorse in serving the community but needs overhauling. It is a big task which is why I asked Kevan [Green] and Colin [Franklin] to set up teams. Each team will raise the remaining funds needed to get this project done."

The video also shows the brainstorming efforts of the competing teams to come up with novel fundraising ideas.

These range from selling off lost property to a kugel and cholent enterprise. One team member was fired after suggesting charging people to attend on Shabbat. 

Chigwell and Hainault’s Rabbi Baruch Davis is confident that the congregation will rise to the challenge.

"A lot of preparation has gone into this and we have already had some generous pledges."

He said it was an "absolute privilege" to have the Sugar family as members. “It is through one of the children, Daniel, that this project came about."

The renovation plan is to develop the two buildings on the shul site and connect them via a walkway. Rabbi Davis hopes construction work will start in the spring.