One of these hard-working personal assistants will be named The Birmingham Post's PA of the Year during a ceremony in the city next week.

This year's final six come from diverse fields, ranging from military medicine to the construction industry, but all are familiar with the daily demands of a busy boss and running an office smoothly.

Last year 'superwoman' Linda Wilden, who works for Birmingham University's vice chancellor, received the accolade for unfailing readiness to go that extra mile.

Her boss, Michael Stirling, and the office team had praised her for working 12-hour days and overseeing contractors refurbishing the office at weekends.

Alison Bess, PA to Colonel Tim Hodgetts, who runs the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine at Selly Oak Hospital, in Birmingham, is one of this year's chosen finalists.

Soldiers are flown in from war zones across the world, including Iraq and Afghanistan, and Col Hodgetts describes Ms Bess, who has been his personal assistant since 2005, as "the glue that holds this team together".

He said: "She is an exemplary organiser and a focal point for the department's co-ordination: this is in support of the team's doctors, nurses and paramedics who move around the UK preparing others to deploy to combat zones.

"Alison is therefore central to our effectiveness - and just as importantly, because of her calm and friendly nature and initiatives to maintain team spirit, she is central to our morale."

The second finalist is Caroline Cook, PA to the chairman, managing director and four other directors at UGS Specialist Construction Products, based in Shipston on Stour, Warwickshire.

With 15 years' experience as a PA - including nine with UGS - Ms Cook's bosses describe her as the "font of all knowledge".

Paul Beaman, the firm's MD, said: "Caroline's hectic schedule would be enough to try most people but she is always professional and calm."

He added: "She is the central heartbeat of the company."

Jackie Goodfellow has worked at PriceWaterhouseCooper in Birmingham since 1987 and is PA to the firm's chairman David Waller, a role she described as her greatest achievement.

In his nomination, Mr Waller claims he would "simply be unable to function effectively without her".

He added: "She has the trust of myself and my fellow partners in all matters to do with the firm and our clients."

Louise O'Neill works for the fourth most powerful man in the Midlands, according to surveys by Midlands Insider and The Birmingham Post - Clive Dutton, the city council's director of planning and regeneration.

This is the second time Ms O'Neill has been nominated for the title PA of the Year, something she admits gives her "a real sense of achievement".

Mr Dutton describes her as "the most powerful PA in the Midlands", adding "she is a rare and precious talent".

Debbie Raffan has made a major impact on her bosses at Halesowen-based Advent IM, where she answers to three directors, since joining the firm in February 2007.

Julia McCarron, the company's commercial director, said: "She does not have her own office and frankly works for the love of it, not the money.

"But her tireless contribution as our PA, I would argue, is far more valuable to an organisation of our size."

The final contender is Anne Thornton, who is executive assistant to Mark Lawrie, partner at Deloitte and three company directors.

In his nomination, Mr Lawrie said: "Anne works to a standard that is above and beyond that of an executive assistant. She is extremely competent. She also plays a very important role in developing a 'team spirit' in the Birmingham office."

The winner of PA of the Year 2007 will be announced at a glittering event with champagne reception and three course dinner at the Macdonald Burlington Hotel, in central Birmingham on November 8. The night will be hosted by Heart FM, where the overall winner and the runners up will be announced. The evening includes:
· Live entertainment and disco until midnight.
· Fantastic prizes for the overall winner, plus runners up prizes
· Goody Bag for all nominees
· Raffle draw with fantastic prizes

Tickets are £35 each with £5 going to charity, or you can book a table (10 seats) and get one place free – so you only pay for 9 with a total of £315.

Limited places are available, so tickets are strictly subject to availability.
For ticket and booking information call Kate Gregson on 0121 643 6866 or email pears@brindleyplace.com.