By Daily Mail Reporter


Image overhaul: Helen Milligan now has a sparkle in her eye, that came across as stern on The Apprentice


She may have lost to rival Tom Pellereau by a whisper, but Helen Milligan has still triumphed with a new job promotion.

The Apprentice runner-up, who went on sabbatical from her job to appear on the entrepreneurial show, has now risen through the ranks of Greggs.

She will now be head of retail in the South East for Greggs; running 200 shops and in charge of 2,300 staff.


Before appearing on the BBC programme, the 30-year-old had landed the role of Executive Assistant to the CEO of the bakery company.

Since leaving the show, Helen has been praised for her makeover.

The businesswoman ditched her stern headmistress look, complete with a slicked back bun, for a softer more approachable appearance.

Everyone's a winner: Apprentice star Helen Milligan scores a promotion at work after featuring on BBC show


She says she has 'no regrets' that Lord Sugar failed to pick her as his sidekick and she has dropped plans to start her own business.

Helen told The Sun: 'I am more suited to being an employee in the corporate world than an entrepreneur.

'I was very lucky that Greggs gave me time off to do The Apprentice.

'They are a really good company to work for.'

Meanwhile, Tom's glory has seen the media floodgates open and now the inventor looks set to land his own television show.

A source said: 'The BBC would love to do more with him. There is definitely a gap in the market.

'Executives have been really impressed with the way he came over on TV.

'He is one of the most personable Apprentice winners and something of an underdog, which always goes down well with the British public.'

The 31-year-old agreed he was the 'most unlikely winner ever', but believes his continual failure led to more time to bond with Sugar in the boardroom.

Tom lost a whopping eight tasks throughout the process, compared to runner-up Helen, who had the best track record out of any contestant.

He added: 'I am probably the most unlikely winner ever. I certainly have broken the record for the worst record - nobody has ever lost eight tasks and reached the final before. I am just elated.

'By losing I had a lot of time with Lord Sugar from very early on, which really helped.

'I knew he saw something he liked in me, but I knew I was the underdog.'

The final four: Tom poses with Helen and co-stars Susan Ma and Jim Eastwood


source:dailymail