With which of the 4 remaining finalists would you feel happiest going into business with? Obviously we haven't seen their business plans yet.

Personally the one I feel would most likely make a success of a business in which I didn't have a hands-on role is Jim.

Helen.

Susan or Tom.
Susan has the most natural 'nose' for business and Tom has integrity.
Helen is nothing more than a PA and that has been obvious in the last two tasks. I suspect she has learned business talk from listening to her boss on the phone and in the boardroom
As for Jim, well, your £250k would be better spent on the 2.30 at Chepstow, and thats most likely what he would do with it.
Jim strikes me as naturally deceitful, what he didn't gamble away he would swindle you out of.

I would fire Tom, Bring back Melody and go into business with her

Not again. :yawn: How many more times, she isn't a PA.

Back on topic, Tom or Helen. Ideally Tom and Helen. Jim and Susan are basically excellent sales people.

I know that's what you think, and I know thats not her title, but it reflects what I've seen of her capabilities and what she does.
I accept your view that I'm wrong.
You should be able to accept mine that's she a glorified phone answerer. I bet she's a good one though.

Not Jim, that's for sure. He has no head for business. Disorganised. Shrinks from responsibility and accountability. Would tell a fib or two if he thinks it can get him out of trouble. Poor instincts in corporate pitches. He's a damn good salesperson and has a great rapport with the public, but no more than that. He would be my first choice if I want a sales manager or account executive with a view to becoming a senior branch manager in sales.

I would have Helen if she offers an existing business model. Like a franchise. As a start-up business? No. Too conservative and too cautious. She will burn out the fastest, too.

Tom... only if there is someone to keep him under control. He seems to be easily lost in figures, ideas and concepts. He's a thinker, not an action taker. He would move too slow for my taste.

Susan... she's the opposite of Tom. She's a dasher, but she does seem to have a good head and instincts for business. I suppose it depends on what she's offering.

If I had to choose, it would be either Helen and Susan. I'll make my choice once I know their business plans.

I'd take the money myself and put it into a country pub with good locally sourced food.

For me it would be Tom. He has run a business. Created a product from scratch, sourced it, patented it, sold it. From a business point of view, there is no more qualified. He would need some direction, which Shugs could provide.

In second place it would be Susan, again has run a business, thus knows the basics. She would require too much baby sitting for me. She also talks a lot of sense at times, however she talks way more rubbish. So would require patients.

In third place Jim, can sell/but products all day long. He does seem to do to well with facing the public/buyers/sellers. However the business side would let him down.

Finally Helen, she would be great at organising things, booking appointments. Thats about it. She would be well turned out, and be able to give a pitch. Apart from her pitching skills, a £20-25k a year PA could do her job.

She was previously a local manager then a regional manager at Greggs. You don't go from regional manager to PA, do you? PA is certainly not how her job role was described on The Final Five last week.

You're welcome to your opinion of Helen, but please stick to the known facts regarding her career. "Phone answerer's" would not be able to be so comfortable managing people, making pitches and dealing with clients, as she has been for most of this series.

Wikipedia has a good definition on the secretary page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secreta...tive_assistant

"Executive assistant

The work of an executive assistant differs slightly from that of an administrative assistant. Executive assistants work for a company officer (at both private and public institutions), and possess the authority to make crucial decisions affecting the direction of such organizations, and is therefore a resource in decision-making and policy setting. The executive assistant performs the usual roles of managing correspondence, preparing research, and communication while also acting as the "gatekeeper," understanding in varying degree the requirements of the executive, and with an ability through this understanding to decide which scheduled events or meetings are most appropriate for allocation of the executive's time.

An executive assistant may from time to time act as proxy for the executives, representing him/her/them in meetings or communications.

An executive assistant differs from an administrative assistant in that they are expected to possess a higher degree of business acumen, be able to manage projects, as well as have the ability to influence others on behalf of the executive."

From the way she behaves, I'd say that pretty much describes her job.

That fits in fairly well with what's been said on the show. Very different to a PA though. A PA would not take executive decisions, run projects or act as a proxy for the CEO.

I know some glorified phone answerers who are very comfortable at organising and bossing people around, and with far more genuine people skills than PA, Helen.

You dont have facts, you have what she and her boss says, it's their opinion of her role and importance. I see no evidence that she has any innate business skills.

So that's why I think she is, in fact, really just a PA.

You think she is a proven business success, gotcha

For me, Helen, Susan, Tom, Jim.

Helen has made very few mistakes in this. She's way ahead of the others in every area except perhaps creativity. As long as she has a sound idea to start with, I'm confident she could execute it as well as anyone.

Susan has moments of competence, but is too erratic for me. I'd always be worried she was going to do something bizarre, like order too much product, ask inappropriate questions of old-age pensioners, sell duvets door to door, or just babble on in that content-free way she has.

Tom likewise seems to need someone watching him to keep him on track. He lets everyone else walk all over him. Jim is little more than a salesperson and doesn't have a clue about business.