PA Life Magazine – Spring 2023

Outdoor fun in the city

The ultimate outdoor competitive socialising concept is back in London for 2023. For more information about The Bowls Club see page 17

BUSINESS TRAVEL

From bookings to on-the-ground help & private jets, it’s all in our travel section

FUN WITH THE TEAM A guide to activities and venues to boost teamwork and employee wellbeing

outdoor events and hospitality

ALFRESCO SUMMER Inspiration for planning

to wow your guests SUBSCRIBE TO PA

The PA Life Team

Welcome to our spring issue, packed full of inspiration to give today’s Executive Support Professionals a head-start when planning for the warmer months. We bring you outdoor events and summer parties, plus increasingly popular team building activities and days out of the office, as well as great travel options that will get your Executives there in the most efficient and comfortable way.

Our front cover feature focusing on The Bowls Club is a great introduction to a summer of outdoor entertaining and fun. Whether you are hosting in-house or client events - turn to page 17 for more details. You’ll find more summer event inspiration, including the London Summer Events Show on March 21st-22nd, top hospitality ideas from The Jockey Club’s racecourses; The 616 Venue as an ultimate corporate retreat and the new alfresco conference offering by Twickenham Stadium.

The overriding theme in this issue is wellbeing. Employee wellbeing has risen to centre stage in corporate culture and is increasingly considered in all activities due to the impact it has on productivity. Have you set your wellness goals for this year yet? If not, turn to page 7 for expert tips from our wellness columnist Lucy Eden from Be In Your Element. Meanwhile, Sarah Howson, Strategic PA Recruitment and Strategic PA Network, discusses how to work on your work-life balance.

Team building is an essential to in improving teamwork and communication as employees get to know each other better, and also for bringing fun into the workplace. We’ve got brilliant ideas and venues for you to take your teams to, whether they’d be up for Highland games at Crieff Hydro, karting or quad racing at Whilton Mill, sky walking at Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium or great outdoor games at Roehampton Venues. See pages 35-39.

As with every issue, we have great articles to support your career development. Firstly, if you are looking to change jobs you can now find the UK’s leading job site for Assistants, SecsInTheCity, on our website. But before you send off your CV, check out the Hays 2023 UK Salary & Recruiting Trends guide based on a survey of over 13,000 employers and professionals, on pages 8-9. Adam Fidler, our careers columnist knows the importance of having a career discussion. More career insights can be found in this issue’s PA Profile featuring PA Star of the Year 2022 Mei Suen, plus in our PA Life Club Member interview with Angela Walker, another PA Life Star award winner.

Talking of the PA Life Club, great changes are in the air and these will be announced at The PA Show on March 1st – 2nd at ExCel London so make sure to visit us on stand A44N. The PA Show returns with 14 sessions of relevant learning for PAs, plus wellchosen suppliers who can make your job easier. For all the latest Club news and upcoming events for your diary, turn to pages 42-46.

Until June, when we’ll be back with our summer issue. Hope you’ll enjoy the read!

Marja-Leena Toseland, Editor

“Employee wellbeing has risen to centre stage in corporate culture and is increasingly considered in all activities due to the impact it has on productivity.”

It’s International Women’s Day 2023 on March 8th

International Women’s Day (IWD) celebrates women’s rights by bringing attention to gender equality, violence against women and girls, reproductive rights, and urges us all, regardless of gender, to work together for a fairer world. Lots of events take place on the day and there is something for most of us, from education, culture and politics as well as many in-house events organised by companies.

The United Nations Observance of International Women’s Day 2023, ‘DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender quality’ highlights the need for inclusive and transformative technology and digital education. Follow #DigitAll and #IWD23.

You will also see #EmbraceEquity used on social media and at IWD events. This is the International Women’s Day organisation’s chosen theme for this year. Equity recognises that each person has different circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities

needed to reach an equal outcome.

WOW Women of the Word Festival, the biggest festival in the world celebrating women, girls and non-binary people, returns to South Bank Centre on March 10th to 12th for its 13th year. The three days are filled with life-changing conversations, incredible

performances and interactive workshops. Some of the speakers to look out for are Julia Gillard, Kathy Burke, Elif Shafak, Shani Dhanda, Sali Hughes, Mary Robinson and Megan Barton Hanson.

You can book day passes and there’s lots of free stuff to discover too, from the much-loved WOW

SecsInTheCity’s new jobs board on PA Life

Looking for a new job? You can now search for the latest business support job openings in finance, legal, media,

fashion, marketing and more, plus Private PA roles with high profile individuals in PA Life, on the SecsInTheCity’s jobs

board. They are the UK’s only specialist job site for PAs, EAs, Secretaries, Office Managers, Receptionists, Administrators

Marketplace, Pop-Up performances and Speed Mentoring. www.

thewowfoundation.com

and other business support professionals.

www.palife.co.uk/jobs

See you at The PA Show

The PA Show is the largest show for Executive Support Professionals in the UK, and brings together thousands of the community to learn, share, connect and source suppliers.

The five theatres will have award-winning CPD accredited content applying to Executive Support professionals at every stage of their career and budget, and

exhibitors across a multitude of industries such as venues, hospitality, corporate gifting, and travel. It’s an annual not-to-be-missed two days for your diary. Come and find

PA Life at stand A44N where we are joined by Hays recruitment specialist, plus we’ll be revealing our news for the future of the PA Life Club. www.thepashow.com

PA Life Summit is 15! & registrations are open

The 15th PA Life Summit returns to Hilton London

Canary Wharf on Thursday

September 14th. It is a Meet the Buyer Event specifically designed for senior PAs who want to find solution providers and discover innovative opportunities to help respond to the daily challenges of their professional lives.

This event is a small, niche event unlike other large, busy exhibitions and conferences, and it’s free for delegates.

Experience a day of private

meetings with corporate suppliers of venues, corporate gifting, hospitality and travel managers with a bespoke itinerary of prearranged meetings that match your requirements.

There will also be an excellent programme of insightful seminars led by industry experts as well as a chance to network throughout the day with fellow PAs and EAs.

Lunch and refreshments included. ]www.palife.co.uk/ pa-life-summit

Make a career conversation part of your annual goal setting

Adam Fidler is founder of Adam Fidler Academy, the UK’s leading provider of education to EAs and PAs. Here he discusses how to tackle career development...

If there is one area that EAs and PAs seem to forget when they have their performance appraisal or goal setting meeting with their boss, it’s career development. It’s not necessarily the EA’s fault that the topic never arises; in fact, I think the lack of career planning seems to be endemic in the EA/PA industry…

There’s a long, prevailing view that EAs and PAs don’t need career conversations because their job stays the same, their whole career, and once an EA, always an EA! Many organisations, regrettably, still stick to this traditional narrative that EAs and PAs don’t need a career path, let alone any training or formal development. This is why I often coach EAs on the importance of having a career conversation as part of the annual objective setting, or their formal appraisal.

So, what should a career conversation be? Simply, there should be time spent between the EA and their boss discussing the career goals of the EA. Before that conversation, however, the

What’s your plan? Where do you really want to be in two to five years time?

EA needs to think about their career aspirations. That means seeing beyond the here and now, and having a desire to progress, earn more money, change companies, get a more senior EA role or even move out of the EA job altogether.

What’s your plan? Where do you really want to be in two to five years’ time? Think about your vision for the future. What would that look like? Many of the EAs at my Academy want to remain EAs, but are desperate for a more fulfilling job. That can take many forms, but it all starts with knowing, and having, some image of the future you want to move towards.

You may want to be an EA forever, but surely you want a better job description, or have a desire to extend the scope of what you do every day? Being an ambitious EA might mean you want to move up the corporate ladder and even transition into a promoted role.

Whatever your thoughts about your future, career development is about using your job now to develop the skills

and competencies that will lead to something else. For instance, many EAs take on more project work, or gain a qualification, in order to be able to add wider value in their job or to get that promotion. Some, through career conversations, decide they can be more than an EA, and move on to other support roles, in an area that’s of interest to them.

To get you started with career planning, ask yourself the following questions. What role would I ideally be doing? What would it look like? Where would I be working? Then, create a career road-map, highlighting the activities, tasks and knowledge you can start to learn now to get you there.

One thing is for certain – if you don’t have a career road-map, you’ll carry on drifting. That may suit the PA and EA of yesterday, but the PAs of tomorrow take their career planning seriously… and, if their boss doesn’t, they find a boss who does!

www.adamfidler.academy

Setting wellness goals

Lucy Eden, founder of Be In Your Element, organisers of corporate wellness events, discusses wellness goal setting. We set goals for everything - career, finances, family, dreams and health. We perhaps set too many goals then beat ourselves up if we haven’t achieved them.Be kind to yourselves when you set your intentions. If you are setting wellness goals, that’s great, but are you setting them the ‘wellness way’?

I like to look at goals in a simple way, with a four-part plan; Simple – Steady – Strong – Scan.

Simple

Anything you introduce to your wellbeing should be simple to achieve. If your goal is to move more, make it easy to do; local walks, exercise at home, join a gym that’s on the way to the office etc. Keep the initial goalsetting simple to allow you to turn something that’s new to you, into a habit. Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement, the effects of your habits multiply as you repeat them and once you have a habit, you can then set a new goal and start building.

Steady

Slow and steady wins the wellness race. Be steady and patient with your purpose, anything worth doing is worth doing right. We know living at 100 miles an hour is not good for our health, and we have learnt that our mental health is just as important as physical health. Brain breaks are needed and mindful moments are magical, but we need to come off the fast lane to take the breaks.

Strong

Distractions and excuses off-rail our goals. Go back to keeping things simple to drown out the distractions and the excuses. If you want to do a morning workout, put your gym clothes out the night before. That sets an intention (half of the job is done) now you just need to grab those easy to reach clothes and get off the starting line.

Scan

I find this ‘S’ the most important one of all. Scan yourself. Check in with how you are doing. How are you feeling, what have you achieved, what has the journey been like, are you still aligned with the wellness way you had set? Setting goals

and intentions for your wellbeing should not be done only every new year. You should be scanning yourself and where you are on your journey way more often than that. And if you have derailed a little from your course, you aren’t too far down the line and can easily steer yourself back on track. Remember to be kind to yourself, if you have missed a run

one week, not slept for 7 hours every night, that’s okay.

And do you want to know what the best part of this plan is? If your wellbeing goals are set the wellness way, and are on track, you are bringing your best self to every day. From a healthier, happier you, there is nothing you cannot do.

www.yourelementevents.com

If your wellbeing goals are set the wellness way, and are on track, you are bringing your best self to every day.

The top priorities for Personal and Executive Assistants today

Roddy Adair, Director at Hays specialising in Personal & Executive Assistants, shares the findings of Hays 2023

UK Salary & Recruiting Trends guide based on a survey of over 13,000 employers and professionals. The guide gives an insight into the opinions of individuals across a range of industries, including almost 450 either working as, or hiring, Personal and Executive Assistants...

Throughout 2022 there were a number of changing situations which undoubtedly impacted the world of work. There were, and continue to be, significant skills shortages across several sectors, salaries came under the microscope and more and more professionals prioritised their work-life balance post pandemic.

Where do Personal and Executive Assistants stand in all of this?

Our research reveals the work patterns that PAs and EAs experienced during 2022 and what the year ahead has in store for the professionals working in these roles.

STARTING WITH SALARY

Unsurprisingly, the cost-of-living crisis placed salary high up on people’s agendas. Last year, 81% of employers increased salaries for PAs and EAs, whilst 19% kept salaries the same. Although salaries seem to be on the rise, the roles only saw a 2.9% average salary increase last year, which is below the overall UK average of 5.4%.

In terms of salary satisfaction, 61% of personal and executive assistants say they are satisfied, whereas 39% are unhappy with how much they are being paid. Over a third (36%) of PAs and EAs moved jobs in the past 12 months and close to a third (32%) cited a low salary as the reason for leaving their last job. PAs and EAs have taken on more responsibilities in recent years, but pay hasn’t necessarily kept up with this trend, having a detrimental impact on employee morale.

That being said, organisations are slowly beginning to increase salaries in order to attract and secure those with specialist skillsets. PAs and EAs will be pleased to hear that three-quarters (75%) of employers expect to increase pay in 2023. But, as our findings show, pay certainly isn’t everything.

THE IMPORTANCE OF WORK-LIFE BALANCE

Aside from salary, having a good work-life balance was reported as the most crucial factor by 50% of PAs and EAs when considering a new role. This is compared to 39% who said the same the year prior. On an optimistic note, over half (54%) of these professionals give their work-life balance a positive rating.

One way of achieving this balance could be through flexible hybrid working. Whilst over two-thirds (69%) of organisations currently offer their PAs and EAs hybrid working, 70% of Assistants could be tempted to change employer if they had a say in how often they were in the office. Ultimately, PAs and EAs really want flexibility when it comes to hybrid working.

PURPOSE, SUSTAINABILITY AND DIVERSITY PROVE ESSENTIAL

Finally, joining a diverse and inclusive culture is essential to 76% of PAs and EAs, which is another important factor for organisations to take into consideration when reaching out to attract and retain the top talent.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

As seen across several industries, the majority (89%) of those in charge of hiring PAs and EAs had to contend with skills shortages in 2022, compared to 70% in the year before. This is a big increase.

According to employers, the main cause of skills shortages is competition from other organisations (60%).

Hiring plans are set to continue as more than three-quarters (78%) of employers intend on recruiting PAs and EAs in the upcoming year. 74% of those hiring PAs and EAs are likely to hire someone who does not tick all the relevant boxes, with the intention of upskilling them. Whilst an openness to upskilling is a step in the right direction, businesses would benefit from investing in better training and development initiatives to appeal to the best individuals.

Our research found that personal and executive assistants take into account several factors when searching and applying for a new job and 44% of PAs and EAs anticipate they will move jobs within the next 12 months.

Many (89%) PAs and EAs look for a strong sense of purpose within a prospective organisation; as purpose unites employees and enables them to feel as though they are making a positive difference, it also has a positive impact on productivity.

Our survey shows that PAs and EAs also have the environment at heart, as 89% believe an organisation’s commitment to sustainability is important for deciding if they want to work there. This aligns with the growing concern across several industries in terms of going green in business.

It’s no surprise that many employers seek soft skills when looking to fill PA and EA roles. Our survey found that the most in-demand soft skills are communication and interpersonal skills (63%), followed by flexibility and adaptability (54%) and problem-solving (48%).

Positively, almost all (99%) respondents believe they have the skills needed to fulfil their current role; 7% slightly agree and a further 92% of PAs and EAs are confident in their abilities and strongly agree.

Organisations ought to be highly attuned to the things PAs and EAs value most to stand in good stead for competing in today’s candidate-driven market.

www.hays.co.uk

Aside from salary, having a good worklife balance was reported as the most crucial factor by 50% of PAs and EAs when considering a new role.

Mei Suen

Executive and Business Assistant at Integrella

Our Editor met up with Mei Suen, EA and Business Assistant at Integrella, a digital integration company. She has a huge impact on the company as she single-handedly manages all the office and business admin to help the tasks of everyone, from the junior consultants to C-Level executives. She also recently won the much-coveted PA Life Star of the Year Award…

What in your opinion are the most important qualities of a successful Assistant?

The most important qualities of a successful Assistant is the flexibility to adapt to any situation, reliability to get things done and resourcefulness to resolve everything. Good relationships and communications are also important. Paying attention to detail too and being alert and aware of what is happening, to think and act quickly when necessary and to assimilate and share information and knowledge quickly.

What does your average day look like at Integrella?

It’s constantly changing especially with a growing business. To put it into perspective, I joined Integrella 11 years ago. There were three of us and 10 contractors. I assisted the CEO and Sales Director, providing business administrative support, replacing the CEO’s ex-business partner’s admin duties. Since then we have further expanded to India and now have 79 employees and 14 contractors, recently our Indian office have employed their own admin assistants. As the business grew, I worked with the FD and COO, with more responsibilities, HR and payroll admin, employer visa sponsorships and office management. I also increased my workdays, to deal with the growth.

The nature of my work means very long days and short breaks, as requests and meetings are back-to-back. My day could start with checking emails and Team messages, many arriving earlier in the mornings, due to the time difference in India, or requests from the evening before. I could receive a request as diverse as to coordinate an event for clients at Ascot, resolving a PCN for the company car, or source a Notary Public, to resolving a training expiry issue or an office move, there’s been 5 so far! At the end of the day, I could receive a last minute call to change a ticket for the following day or there are last minute travel plans for six persons, so I have to be flexible.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I love admin and I love to organise, especially events, but anything, really, to benefit my colleagues and the company. I enjoy sharing info and knowledge, and it’s satisfying when things come together. I feel that about solving problems too, and interacting with people at all levels. I often have conversations with colleagues to discuss better ways of working or how we can automate routine tasks that take up time. I also enjoy finding ways to save the company and client money. Getting the best prices from suppliers has enabled me

to use my negoatiating skills. I am a very tenacious person.

What do you find most challenging in your role?

My biggest challenge was being asked to do the forecast for project management. I had no idea, knowledge or training on how to do it. There were no examples to follow and even asking for help was met with ‘it’s simple to do!’ (Obviously, everything is if you know how!)

I face daily challenges that just go with the role. It’s frustrating but you just need to roll with it! These are obstacles that stop me doing my work in a timely fashion and meeting deadlines as information and actions are not forthcoming without constant following up.

What tool, technology or service could you not do without in your job?

Google! It provides information I need at my fingertips such as location maps, calculating mileage, information from Government websites, checking the news, or making office purchases. I have also embraced Zoom video calls due to hybrid working. We can ping each other to discuss a query, as if we were in the office!

What’s the best advice you’ve been given?

Speak up and be more vocal. This can certainly open opportunities and establish your personal brand. Communicating upwards helps to establish yourself, makes your position in the team much stronger, helps strengthen your influence at work, and you will gain a reputation for solving problems.

Are you involved in any special projects that you are particularly passionate about?

I am passionate about so many things, especially the environment and being eco-friendly. I do what I can to recycle and reuse if possible or give to charities. We are a paperless office and have auto lighting in our office, and I ensure all equipment is turned off as opposed to standby. I also love organising the most memorable events, fundraising and wellbeing activities. I’m pround to have been a top fundraiser in two events, and I continue to look for ways to help charities in any way I can.

During the pandemic, it was very important to do everything possible to keep in contact with the staff to improve their wellbeing. I made sure to send out small birthday gifts to show that the company remembers them, and also as we expanded

“Communicating upwards helps to establish yourself, makes your position in the team much stronger, helps strengthen reputation to solving problems.”

into India, I wanted to make sure we got to meet our counterparts in India and had a weekly Zoom call to get to know each other. I was definitely very passionate about this.

This issue’s theme is wellbeing. Have you got any advice or experience of improving workplace wellbeing in your organisation that you would like to share?

Wellbeing in the workplace starts from having good relationships with each other. If you bond, then it helps you to work well as a team. To do this, I have introduced more social

events, like celebrating birthdays and work anniversaries, Diwali and Chinese New Year, lunches and socials. During lockdown, I improvised and had a weekly Watercooler Chat Zoom session, where we shared our hidden talents and party tricks!

I have created a channel on Teams for birthdays, a humour spot, social events, and wellbeing, where I post a weekly 60 seconds read that is uplifting, inspiring and energising to build a positive mindset. These are from a set of books from Meee which I discovered at a recent PA Show and bought to share with my colleagues.

How to ensure you have the right work-life balance as an Assistant

The role of a high performing Executive Assistant is not for the fainthearted. It takes a certain type of individual, with what is seemingly a never-ending skillset, to make a success of this position. One that is determined, resilient and driven. It is a challenging position where the pace, pressure and stakes are often high, making it easy to never truly switch off. Working with an Executive can be extremely rewarding, I’d argue it is one of the best roles in an organisation. However, when the work of an Assistant is relied upon so heavily, a work-life balance can fall by the wayside.

Have you slid into unhealthy habits where your work life boundaries have blurred? Do you feel, that to do your job effectively, you must always be ‘on’?

Here are four ways to re-establish a better work-life balance:

1. Be open and honest: Being face-toface with your Executive is key when talking about your workload; a casual coffee offsite will offer the opportunity for you to have a discussion. It is, however, important to consider that your Executive may be unaware that you are swamped with work so remember to keep the conversation positive and objective.

2. Take a step back: It is important to take time to evaluate what the issue is. Has your work-life balance always been skewed or is it a recent development that reflects a particularly busy time? If it is the latter, employing some coping mechanisms outside of work may be an effective solution: rest, relaxation, exercise.

3. Set or re-establish boundaries: If your work-life balance has always been questionable, it might be time to push back; you are allowed to say no and

standard 9-5, if your Executive really needs to get a hold of you outside your working hours, can you agree that they will call?

re-establish boundaries. As an Assistant, people pleasing will be in your nature, but when it comes to protecting your mental health, setting boundaries is necessary!

4. Get practical, set communication rules: Setting boundaries can be tricky but muting your phone after a certain time and having a specific ringtone for work notifications are ways to do this. Whilst the Assistant role is not your

I’m are going to leave you with a question. If you watched your work bestie struggling with overwhelm and completely stressed out, what advice would you give them? It is time to look after ourselves and take our own advice. Surround yourself with people that understand what you are going through, be kind to yourself! Join an Assistant network to meet other Assistants that will be there to support you. As the legendary Dolly Parton said; “Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.”

www.strategicparecruitment.com

Sarah Howson, Director of Strategic PA Recruitment and the Founder of Strategic PA Network, discusses great strategies for an Assistant to establish a sustainable work-life balance…

When the work of an Assistant is relied upon so heavily, a work-life balance can fall by the wayside.

How to Succeed in a PA Job Interview

Leaving the interview room with a feeling of pride and success should be a guarantee, says Evie Courtier from SecsInTheCity, the UK’s leading job site for PAs, EAs, and other business support professionals. She brings you the latest PA interview tips including how to conduct yourself during an interview and the necessity of preparation, plus the best ways to leave a lasting impression…

The Logistics

From a practical point of view, it’s useful to clarify the itinerary of the interview day. Prior to the interview, double check what style the interview will be conducted in (one-to-one or panel style), who you will be meeting, whether there will be a follow-up interview or tests, and the necessary commute.

Do Your Research - Company and Role

Diligence, professionalism and pro-activity are all vital elements within PA jobs. By discussing your acquired knowledge of the company within the interview, you’ll be able to demonstrate your enthusiasm for the role, as well as why you would be a good fit. Conducting in-depth research beyond the company’s website is crucial. Evaluate press releases, shareholder reports, social media and company reviews.

The Audience

Aside from direct company research, it’s tactical to analyse who you are trying to impress. Each interviewer will have their agenda and vision of what makes an ideal PA, depending on their professional focus and relationship to the candidate. Gaining an insight into the professional background and career history of your interviewer(s) beforehand will allow you to anticipate their needs and expectations for the role.

The Need for a Positive Mindset

Utilising a positive mindset, establishes yourself as a sought-after PA, helps to leave a lasting impression, and emulates your ability to support your future boss and wider team. Presenting a positive

demeanour, allows assertive communication skills to shine through. With communication playing a key part in a PA position, any proactive and communicative skills you can

Role related questions:

• “What are the biggest challenges of this role?”

Company related questions:

• “What are the company’s ambitions for the years ahead?”

Self-assessment questions:

• “What qualities would a candidate possess to excel in this role?”

demonstrate, will help you stand out in an interview.

Questions

The inevitable “so, do you have any questions?” statement is the final hurdle in an interview. As a lot of information will be covered throughout the interview, it’s wise to have a selection of questions to choose from, such as:

PA jobs on SecsintheCity’s job board in PA Life

You can now discover the latest jobs on SecsInTheCity job board at www.palife. co.uk which is advertising a plethora of PA roles. For more interview advice, industry insights and PA CV tips, head over to the SecsintheCity blog at www.secsinthecity.co.uk/careers

Conducting in-depth research beyond the company’s website is crucial. Evaluate press releases, shareholder reports, social media and company reviews.

Invest in your company’s wellbeing at The Bowls Club this summer!

Rolling into London with fun, colour and style between May and September 2023, London’s ultimate outdoor competitive socialising concept is back, and they want you and your company to be part of it…

The Bowls Club combines a 21st century twist on the quintessentially British game of lawn bowls with delicious summer cocktails, exquisite street food, live music and much more, It’s the perfect platform to bring your team together who, we know, have been apart for too long.

On speaking to PA Life, The Bowls Club co-founder Will Goy said: “In this post-pandemic world, where remote working is becoming the new norm, there has never been a more important time to invest in your corporate culture. Through our fun, immersive and inclusive concept, The Bowls Club offers you and your team the perfect solution to do just that in a feel-good, outdoor

In bringing light and life to the age-old game, The Bowls Club offers an extensive array of hospitality packages which include elements of lawn bowls, reserved space, street food, summery drinks, live entertainment, photography and service.

environment like no other around. Better still, The Bowls Club is popping up on 22 selected dates in Finsbury Square and Battersea Park, offering groups of between eight and 499 people the opportunity to celebrate summer together and we would love everyone to join in the fun!”

Do not panic if you haven’t bowled before as The Bowls Club is not looking for old timers or bowling champions. Instead, and under the guidance of Mr Benjamin Owls, it is attracting a younger audience, dispelling the all too common stereotype that bowls is a game played only by your grandparents. In bringing light and life to the age-old game, The

Bowls Club offers an extensive array of hospitality packages which include elements of lawn bowls, reserved space, street food, summery drinks, live entertainment, photography and service.

If you are looking to inspire your team, boost their morale and/or improve your corporate culture this year then please look no further. With a wonderfully experienced team, The Bowls Club hopes you are inspired to get the bowl rolling and looks forward to welcoming you to the Club this summer.

For more information, and to book your event at The Bowls Club visit www. thebowlsclubldn.com and/or email will@thebowlsclubldn.com

The PA Show returns on March 1st - 2nd to ExCeL London

The PA Show is dedicated to the personal development of PAs, EAs, VAs and Office Managers.

After the success of The PA Show Canary Wharf in November 2022, where over 600 executive professionals attended, its flagship event will return to ExCel London on March 1st - 2nd...

NEW INTIMATE SHOW FEEL

Following the new boutique edition PA Show launched last Autumn, The PA Show’s spring show at ExCeL London has been re-styled to deliver a new kind of show experience to the executive support community. The focus is to inspire with a more intimate show, encouraging a buzzing show floor and lots of networking opportunities throughout the two days.

UNLIMITED NETWORKING

Meeting with peers is a fundamental element of The PA Show March 2023. A networking bar will be available to all attendees to take time to catch up with colleagues and new acquaintances. Speed networking sessions will also take place – these quick-fire meetings allow executive professionals the opportunity to meet with relevant suppliers who can support their business goals.

MEET WITH INDUSTRY SUPPLIERS

Despite the more intimate design of the show floor and emphasis on connection,

there will be the chance to meet with 90+ industry suppliers. Exhibitors include venues, restaurants, bars, hotels, business travel, office supplies and corporate gifting companies. The PA Show Passport is a feature returning for the March 2023 event. When entering the show, visitors can collect a passport. Once they have a stamp from the listed exhibitors in their passport, they will then be entered into a prize draw. The prizes will be announced nearer the event and are sponsored by Viking Raja Group, who provide organisations with simple procurement options that go beyond providing high quality, best value sustainable products.

WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH INDUSTRY PARTNERS

The PA Show aims to support the ongoing development of the industry. Organisations that are partners work with the team to assist with content and raising awareness about the show. 2023 partners are PA Life, The Strategic PA Recruitment, Executive Support

Magazine, Miss Jones, Secs in the City, The Officials, The PA Way, Wharf Life, The Office Management Group and Your Excellency.

FEEDBACK FROM PEERS

Previous attendees have shared their experiences at the show. “Attending The PA Show opened my eyes to a whole range of opportunities and avenues that I would not have known about if I’d have sat at my desk and furthered my knowledge base with other possibilities.”

Clare Gilham-Cox, EA at SAS International. Joanna Widdows, PA and Operational Support at News UK said: “The PA Show was a fun event, full of wonderful and inspirational ideas and knowledgeable exhibitors.”

We are really looking forward to welcoming executive professionals back to ExCell.

Whether you’re new to your role or a seasoned professional, the PA Show aims you to take away improved knowledge, skills, and contacts.

www.thepashow.com

The PA Show: Supporting your career development

In an ever-changing world, it’s important to keep up to date with the latest industry developments and arm yourself with the opportunity to enhance your career. Lisa Farnfield, Sales Director at Mash Media discusses the event, where education and learning sit at its heart...

There are different ways of developing your role within the executive support industry. This may include completing a certification or training course, adding to your skillset by learning how to use new technology or systems and taking on more responsibilities in your role.

Underpinning all of our decisions for our events is the support that can be provided to enhance the personal and professional development of executive support professionals. For our sessions we choose speakers from experts and suppliers based on who will add the most value to support the roles of our attendees.

14 SESSIONS OF TRAINING AT 5 THEATRES

The PA Show’s flagship event takes place 1-2 March, the timing of which provides the chance to consider your learning and development plans for the year ahead. The event provides the opportunity to attend fourteen sessions of training over two days.

Five theatres will provide executive professionals with the skills needed to enhance their careers. The theatres are Keynote, Key Skills, Tech Theatre, Personal Development and The Office Management Conference – organised by The Office Management Group. “The theatres are organised in a way that people can decide to focus their learning in one area or choose sessions across the theatres and build their own agenda”, says Farnfield. “The Keynote theatre provides an overview of the industry whereas the other theatres focus on practical skills to implement in people’s day-to-day roles” she continues.

SESSIONS AVAILABLE INCLUDE:

The PA Show’s flagship event takes place 1-2 March, the timing of which provides the chance to consider your learning and development plans for the year ahead. The event provides the opportunity to attend 14 sessions of training over two days.

The Power of NO!: Strategies To Take Back Control Of Your Time (Key Skills theatre); Inside the Head of a CEO: A Deep Dive into a Successful CEO/EA Partnershi’ (Keynote theatre); Transformative Communication Tools (Personal Development Theatre); Automation: your next best conversion tool (Tech Theatre) and Talking Anxiety with Nick Elston (The Office Management Conference).

Farnfield explains “We have carefully selected a collection of speakers who

represent what we feel are the most relevant topics, and will support the learning opportunities for our audience.” Speakers include Lauren Bradley, founder and lead trainer at The Officials; Lindsay Taylor, Director at Your Excellency; Sarah Howson and Marianne Whitloc, Co-founders of Strategic PA Recruitment & Network. “The speakers really understand the industry and its challenges as they have typically worked in the roles or are trainers in these skills.” www.thepashow.com

PA Life at The PA Show March 2023

PA Life is once again partnering with The PA Show to help Professional Assistants access learning and networking opportunities. The UK’s largest gathering of PAs, EAs, VAs and Office Managers is returning to London’s ExCeL on March 1st-2nd...

Speaking of the partnership, Lisa Farnfield, Sales Director for the PA Show at Mash Media, said: “We are delighted to partner with PA Life as they provide a strong offering of relevant industry news and have an established community within the Assistant network. We are pleased to provide PA Life with the opportunity to have their own stand at the show where they can meet with their audience and share their work within the wider community.”

PA Life Editor Marja-Leena Toseland added: We’ll have a full team on our stand, ready to answer any questions about PA Life Magazine, PA

Life Summit and our PA Life Club which offers an excellent programme of events, partner offers, competitions and discounted courses and more to its members.”

We’ll be announcing exciting changes to the Club at the show, so come and see

us on stand A44P! We’ll be bordering Confex which is taking place at the same time. Hays recruitment specialists will also be at our stand and are keen to talk to Assistant about their career options.

PA Life will host a panel discussion ‘Considering Wellbeing in Business Travel’

3 ways to attend the show:

• The visitor pass allows access to the Keynote Theatre

• 1-day pass or 2-day pass: these provide access to all five theatres

• PA Life readers can receive a 10% discount of the passes using code PALife10.

www.thepashow.com

at the Key Stage Theatre on Thursday March 2nd, 2:50-3:30 pm. The business travel experts joining our Editor are: Matt Brown, Head of Sales and Service, Travel Counsellors; Terry Farthing, CEO of London Jet Charter; and Abigail Jones, Senior EA, Instagram.

>>> HAMPERS.COM

Hampers.com brings joy to gifting by offering a range of thoughtfully curated gift hampers which are packed full of quality food and drink from the finest hand-picked makers and producers. The

range includes bespoke and branded solutions to suit you, creating a unique gifting experience for any occasion.

Proud to be 100% carbon neutral and well on the way to becoming B-Corp certified, with a promise of environmentally responsible

gifting, whilst being passionate about the joy that hampers bring when they are received.

A team of corporate gifting experts are on hand to help you find the perfect gifting solution for your company. Contact them on

corporate@hampers.com or 01235 833732. You can also find Hampers.com at The PA Show - stand C18P.

Gifts are available for all budgets and dietary requirements, ranging from £26 to £375. View the full range on hampers.com

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium: Where Teams are Built, and Memories are Made

Are you looking for a unique and memorable location for your next corporate event or team building away day? Look no further than the multi-award-winning Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. This world-class venue offers unmatched flexibility and an array of stunning spaces, making it the perfect setting for your next event...

From the moment you step inside the stadium, you will be transported to a world of excitement and adventure. Take in panoramic views of London’s iconic skyline as you scale the stadium and enjoy a thrilling Dare Skywalk experience. For the ultimate challenge, add the Edge to your skywalk adventure and become one of the first to tackle the UK’s first controlled descent from a stadium. Explore the behind-thescenes of this world-famous venue on the exclusive stadium tour. Get up close and personal with the first team areas and NFL locker rooms and learn about the rich history of Tottenham Hotspur. Immerse yourself in the world of football and experience what it’s like to be

a part of the team.

One of the most technologically advanced stadiums in the world, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will transform the way you deliver events. Whether you’d prefer digital LED screens or

a toast with your colleagues? After a day of team-building activities, unwind in style on our Heineken Roof Terrace. Or why not see how your pint comes to life at the Beaverton microbrewery? Alternatively, head over to The Goal Line

offers a unique and unforgettable experience. With a range of exclusive spaces and exciting activities to choose from, your event is sure to be a success.

www.tottenhamhotspur. com/venuehire

audio-visual requirements, bring a new dimension to presentations, which can be delivered in a host of radiant spaces accommodating to all types of parties.

How better to celebrate hitting new heights by raising

Bar where you can say ‘cheers’ to a fantastic day at the longest bar in Europe.

Whether you’re planning a corporate event, team building away day, or a special celebration, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

events@tottenhamhotspur. com | 0208 365 5140

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Lilywhite House

782 High Road London

N17 0BX

From the moment you step inside the stadium, you will be transported to a world of excitement and adventure. Take in panoramic views of London’s iconic skyline as you scale the stadium and enjoy a thrilling Dare Skywalk experience.

New Venue for the London Summer Event Show

Now in its eighth year, the London Summer Event Show will return on March 21st - 22nd on the brand-new, highly anticipated event vessel to come to London, Oceandiva London – the first revolutionary C02 neutral event venue on the River Thames…

The Show is a must-attend for event agents and corporate event buyers looking to gain inspiration for not only their summer events but their entire events calendar.

The Show celebrates the London summer event season where you can discover and re-connect with over 150 of the hottest event venues and suppliers, enjoy complimentary food and drink and attend the packed (and free) seminar and workshop programmes.

NEW HOST VENUE – OCEANDIVA LONDON

Oceandiva London, in collaboration with events and hospitality supplier – Smart Group, will be the UK’s first CO2-neutral venue on the Thames, which could revolutionise the events and hospitality sector. Coming to London in Spring 2023, Oceandiva London is tipped to be the hottest venue to hit the London event scene this year.

Sam Gill, CEO at Story Events, commented: “We have been working with the Smart venue portfolio for many years to deliver great events for our clients, so to have the Show on Oceandiva London represents a continuation of this successful and established partnership. With so many great brands already confirming their stands, it is clear that this landmark new venue will attract huge interest from exhibitors and visitors alike.”

Oceandiva London will be the largest floating events space on the Thames, measuring 86m in length and 17m in breadth; spanning three decks and capable of hosting large-scale events on water that have never been seen before. The ship has 2,625m with space to host glamorous receptions, gala dinners, cutting edge product launches and

Oceandiva London, in collaboration with events and hospitality supplier –Smart Group, will be the UK’s first CO2neutral venue on the Thames, which will revolutionise the events and hospitality sector.

brand activations inside and ‘al fresco’ for up to 1,500 guests standing and 500 seated.

Greg Lawson, CEO of Smart Group Ltd commented, “We are delighted to be hosting the London Summer Event Show in March 2023 on board our latest, revolutionary CO2 neutral venue, Oceandiva London! We are proud to have exhibited at Story’s Shows for many

years now, which has become an invaluable event in our calendar allowing innovative brands and exhibitors to come together, share creative ideas and celebrate hospitality. We look forward to welcoming you all on board Oceandiva London this year!”

Corporate event buyers can apply for complimentary tickets at www. londonsummereventshow.com

OUTDOOR VENUES & SUMMER PARTIES

Outdoor events and parties are a wonderful way to bring people together. Guests can enjoy the weather and fresh air in a different setting, making for a more relaxed atmosphere. These are not the only advantages, of course. Staff motivation or simply breaking up the year, and entertaining clients at an impressive event or venue are all good reasons and there are many more for why your company needs a summer event. Here we’ve gathered inspiration to help busy PAs in their planning of outdoor events and hospitality that’ll wow their executives and guests…

>>> THE JOCKEY CLUB

Sandown is well equipped for all types of outdoor events from fairgrounds, fireworks, to festivals. Located in Esher, Surrey, Sandown Park Racecourse has magnificently maintained grounds and scenic views of Surrey and the Capital. It is easily accessible by road, rail and public transport, with ample car parking and there’s even onsite accommodation.

Kempton is great for traditional inflatables to more unusual challenges like it’s a knockout and geese herding. Kempton Park has an abundance of outdoor space to suit every type of activity. With exceptional conferencing facilities and

impressive catering, as well as easy transport links, Kempton Park is an event organiser’s dream.

Epsom, with 360 acres of

outdoor space, offers a fantastic location for hosting your next alfresco event overlooking Epsom Downs. Chefs from the award-

winning catering team thrive on preparing tasty packages including BBQs and the Great British picnics, perfect for any outdoor event.

Newmarket in the Suffolk/ Cambridgeshire countryside, has extensive grounds and outdoor space, and The Rowley Mile provides the perfect location for a variety of fun, challenging and relaxing activities. Boasting impressive conferencing facilities and catering credentials, away days at Newmarket Racecourses should not to be overlooked when planning your company day out. There are incredible activities designed to challenge and provide a great day out for all the team.

www.thejockeyclub.co.uk

The 616 Venue, located in the woodlands of the ancient Sherwood Forest, offers a truly private venue. This luxury barn conversion and its surrounding buildings offer recently refurbished indoor and outdoor spaces, perfect for events, meetings, celebrations and company retreats for up to 60 attendees and 26 overnight guests. The business facilities are designed to offer flexibility for presentations, brainstorming sessions, small group meetings and more. In addition to the dining area, the beautiful Orangery can be arranged in

a variety of meeting configurations, boardroom, theatre, classroom, cabaret, or banqueting style. Additional indoor and outdoor sofas and seating

sets accommodate breakout sessions. And there are even outdoor hot tubs to help you recharge after a busy day.

Accommodation for private and exclusive use is

available in eight King en-suite rooms and six Twin en-suite rooms, each with its own private entrance. Good transport links to the venue.

www.forestevents.co.uk

>>> THE 616 VENUE

>>> TWICKENHAM STADIUM

Twickenham Stadium is expanding its conference capacities by offering pitch side conferencing in the stadium’s seating ‘bowl’ for upwards of 1,000 delegates. The new pitch side offering is ideal for main plenary sessions that work in tandem with the stadium’s many other spaces. The venue will combine a selection of highly visual mobile screens and staging set ups, with conference hospitality, to offer a striking and original conference environment.

The innovation plays to an emerging trend of larger conference enquiries that are increasingly looking to Twickenham, as well as those that want to get closer to where the action takes place and experience the stadium bowl more closely. It also

>>> CHURCH HOUSE WESTMINSTER

Church House, located in the heart of Westminster is a Grade II listed, multipurpose event and conference venue, hosting almost 1,000 unique events a year. We blend the beauty of English heritage with cutting-edge technology and sustainability, creating unforgettable events. Choose from 19 versatile event spaces, expertly managed by our digital technicians and event production team who design a range of creative inperson, hybrid, and virtual event experiences. We’re here to help plan and coordinate your future event strategies with the use of bespoke virtual tours and guided in-person site visits.

Church House brings the

allows the stadium to expand its conference capacity to 3,000, although the stadium bowl seating can comfortably take many more. We can help our clients to deliver big brand messaging in a unique way. The stadium bowl is ideal for an opening or closing session before dispersing the delegation into

breakout spaces across the stadium, from eight to 800 theatre style. The ‘Alfresco Auditorium’, a new way of doing things is already being well received by both corporate ‘brand-heavy’ events, as well as association meetings and conventions.

We complement the experience with first class

hospitality either staying pitch side or back within our main conference spaces.

The stadium bowl can be used alongside any of the venue’s existing 34 event spaces, or 150 pitch facing boxes, and works well during the warmer months of the year. www.twickenhamstadium. com/venue-hire

outdoors indoors! With 32-ft high ceilings, innovative lighting, and inspired seasonal menus to impress your guests, you won’t miss the sun shining on your soiree! The world-class catering team from Searcys provides an extensive range of menu options, guaranteed

to satisfy even the most demanding of taste buds. Choose from an array of options, including food stations, canapes, bowl food, and buffets. We recommend talking to one of our dedicated Event Coordinators to discuss your summer party and further

event inquiries. The team will be happy to advise you on the most suitable packages and menus for your event and can also help you create a totally bespoke experience for your guests.

www.churchhouseconf.co.uk

sales@churchhouseconf.co.uk

BUSINESS TRAVEL

Business Travel for Executives requiring quick and convenient travel solutions...

As businesses become increasingly connected across the globe and the growth of hybrid working models, the number of employees travelling internationally for work is rising again. It is estimated that international business travel has increased by 25% in the last 10 years –despite the global pandemic – and is set to increase further…

Travelling for business continues to have many positives, even in today’s world where you can talk to anyone, anywhere over a video call. The most obvious benefit of travelling is the chance to meet clients and colleagues face to face. Video

>>> ACC AVIATION

Are you looking for efficient travel which will allow you to use your time more productively or enjoyably? If time is of the essence and reliability is a top priority, then chartering a private plane might be the perfect solution for you! For over 20 years, ACC Aviation has provided bespoke charter solutions to clients and businesses across the globe.

Leveraging a wealth of knowledge and experience, the ACC Aviation dedicated business jet charter team can recommend the most convenient local airport and create tailored schedules, giving you complete control over when and where you fly.

Their Account Managers work directly with you and are at your disposal 24/7 to ensure smooth travel

calls simply cannot replace the positives of spending time in person and getting to see clients’ premises or how your colleagues’ work. This gives you a much better idea of what they need from you and your business.

But business travel has

changed drastically since the start of the pandemic. The changing nature of work, with many people working from home in addition to the spotlight on corporate and social responsibility, is driving focus on wellbeing generally, and traveller wellbeing more

specifically, and that covers physical and emotional wellbeing.

Booking travel for timepoor Executives is a big part of a PA’s role. The travel specialists in this Business Travel section are ready to help you with any enquiries.

throughout. Thanks to the ongoing relationships with the world’s most exclusive private terminals, you can always trust that your VIP treatment extends well beyond the aircraft.

The ACC Aviation global network of aircraft suppliers enables you to access a wide range of planes from small executive jets to aircraft suitable for larger groups. Carbon offsetting options

are available on all our private jet flights.

To find out more, call +44 1737 232 230 or email Charlie.Wilcox@accaviation. com and quote PA Life. www.accaviation.com

Global Business Travel with a Personal Touch

Travel Counsellors for Business is a TMC where people come first and the focus is on helping business travellers get to where they need to be, safely, well informed, responsibly and in good time. Over 70% of its corporate clients are SMEs, and the company knows that getting out into the world is fundamental to SME growth. PA Life talks to the team…

What sets Travel Counsellors for Business apart?

At its core, Travel Counsellors for Business is about giving you a dedicated point of contact, supported by almost 2,000 individual travel counsellors around the world. Indeed, our travel counsellors are business owners and passionate travellers themselves, who understand the benefits and pitfalls of travelling the world and appreciate the impact a cheap overnight flight will have on that important meeting the next morning.

After a record-breaking start to the year, our latest survey results show that 96% of our clients are completely satisfied, rating our ‘quick response and efficient service’ highest followed by ‘proactive service and ‘outside the box’ thinking of the Travel Counsellor’.

What kind of support can Travel Counsellors for Business offer to PAs and EAs?

Simply put - it’s easy to reach your travel counsellor whenever you need to. We have focused on supporting our travel counsellors to be extremely reactive at short notice and have the freedom

accompanying traveller app, myTC, provides real-time updates on quotes, bookings, and any travel concerns.

We’ll help you put together a robust travel policy, support emergency procedures and mandate any bookings made out of policy, and provide the support network to enable your travellers to focus on the

Head Office crisis team is available 24/7/365 to help in those ‘big incident’ moments, whether it’s getting your people home, re-booking elements of their trip, or supporting them on the ground. And we know that constant communication is key to provide peace of mind!

From keeping your

We’ll help you put together a robust travel policy, support emergency procedures and mandate any bookings made out of policy, and provide the support network to enable your travellers to focus on the business trip in hand.

they need to do what’s right for their clients.

Our proprietary technology is used as a tool to help you, not the rule. It continually monitors everything from prices and routes to the impact of world events and the carbon footprint of individual trips. The

business trip in hand.

How do you help look after traveller safety and wellbeing?

Our travel counsellors are preventative and prepared: they’ll deal with pre-trip issues, often before you even know they’re an issue. Our

travellers safe, finding the perfect product at the best price, and personal service, discover how Travel Counsellors for Business can transform how your team travel at www.business. travelcounsellors.com or email businesstravel@ travelcounsellors.com

TEAM BUILDING

In today’s workplace, colleagues no longer need to be in the same location to achieve success. In fact, many teams around the world work together without ever seeing each other in person! Team building is therefore increasingly important. Let the experts help you plan fun and engaging activities at venues where your teams can really let go and reap the benefits of being in nature…

>>> ROEHAMPTON VENUES

It’s time to reconnect and have some fun! Roehampton Venues are focused on delivering on their motto of Creating Inspiring Moments. This summer Roehampton Venues are offering a range of party and team building packages all set in the glorious grounds of our Grade Listed Building Grove House. Our patio terrace overlooking oodles of outdoor space and beautiful gardens offers a perfect setting to reconnect with your team. Whether it is a day of team building, BBQ or a summer party, we are on hand to create a memorable, fun and engaging day.

This summer promote

>>> EVENTUROUS

Experts in team building and corporate events are seeing an uprise in event planners requesting outdoor events.

Kieron Bowen, Sales Director of Eventurous says, “The events industry has seen an amplified focus around employee engagement over recent years. The desire to reconnect and engage people in the workplace through activities that improve collaboration, communication and wellbeing is on the rise. We have seen a five-fold increase in demand throughout 2022 for large

wellbeing! Get outside, bring some physical fun, learn new skills and reconnect.

Looking for a meeting before? Our Elm Grove Training Centre is a unique conference space situated on the third floor. The Oak Suite,

with its floor to ceiling windows, offering views of the surrounding grounds and lake. Treat your guests to a lunch with a view in our Lime Tree Suite. This space gives guests the option of an outside terrace and views

overlooking the city. Elm Grove also offers guest bedrooms for anyone needing to stay on site.

Find out more at www. roehamptonvenues.co.uk or email conferences@ roehampton.ac.uk

moving away from traditional booze orientated social gatherings and spending budget on inclusive outdoor activities that appeal to all and promote wellbeing among other benefits.

scale, outdoor corporate events, from family fun days to corporate festivals and team building days.”

Multiple studies show that being outdoors has significant benefits to mental health and mood, supporting

overall life satisfaction and it is believed that happy employees are around 20% more productive. Employers and business owners are now becoming far wiser to the benefits of switching their internal events up,

Outdoor events have evolved considerably over the years - popular and innovative team building activities like iPad Treasure Hunts use latest technologies to allow your teams to walk around their chosen city, soaking up Vitamin D exploring unseen sights and partaking in fun physical and mental challenges along the way.

www.eventurous.co.uk

>>> CRIEFF HYDRO

Reuniting team members to create great work memories is invaluable for improving employee wellbeing. So, open the meeting scheduler, block out the time and grab the crew. You’re off for a unique team building experience to reward and reunite your team. It’s time for fresh air and exhilarating adventures. Crieff Hydro has locations across Scotland from Perthshire to the Scottish Borders and the West Highlands, all surrounded by stunning landscapes and offer unique activities that will bond your teams together and leave them with incredible lasting memories. Take your teams back to a time with inflatable assault courses, enjoy some head-tohead challenges with our

>>> WHILTON MILL

Forbes Magazine once published an article that stated, ‘team building is the most important investment that you’ll ever make’. And they are so right. The benefits to business have been applauded for decades, improved communication, collaboration, and morale, to name a few. A great team building day is also good for well-being and personal growth, it can genuinely put a smile on your employee’s face, and a happy workforce is a productive workforce.

But what is great team building activity? We think it’s a truly memorable experience, something that takes employees out of their comfort zone, one that excites them. Providing a shared experience is also an important consideration as

Highland Games and choose from a host of other activities that you can add into your day including axe throwing,

archery, archery tag, quad bikes, EZ Raiders and 4x4 driving. The activities are suitable for all levels of fitness.

The possibilities are endless. www.crieffhydro.com/ events/meetings/corporateteam-building

this often removes barriers with teams bonding organically and more effectively. With real racing and adrenaline fuelled fun, go-karting is a worthy contender for any team building activity that ticks all

the boxes.

As the most raced at outdoor go-kart circuit in the UK, Whilton Mill Karting & Outdoor Activities, in Northamptonshire, is a wise choice for go-karting. And they offer much more than

just go-karting; archery, clay target shooting, quad bikes, plus amazing hospitality, are all available.

Interested? Then call 01327 843822 or visit www. whiltonmill.co.uk.

IN HORTO - HEARTY WOOD-FIRED DISHES IN SE1

Southwark is now home to In Horto, the latest restaurant venture from the tvg hospitality group. Inspired by nature and fuelled by fire, this is an evergreen gastronomic oasis…

Translated from the Latin ‘in the garden’, In Horto is an ode to the wild. Here diners can tuck into rustic wood-fired cooking and botanical alchemies amongst a verdant setting. Whilst flora and foliage drape down from the rafters, wooden shutters surrounding the four walls, terracotta tiles and natural lighting, all work to create a natural and calm environment.

DINING AT IN HORTO

The food at In Horto is led by the seasons and inspired by nature which ensures a sustainable ethos supported by like-minded suppliers. Seasonal ingredients are supplied by Lake District Farmers, Wright Bros and Portland Shellfish for fish as well as charcuterie and cheese from nearby Borough Market.

Ideal for sharing, the menu includes an array of Nature’s Finest. Starters include burrata, fig and cherry molasses; heritage beetroot with vegan feta and toasted pumpkin seeds; as well as In Horto’s

freshly baked bread with a choice of either Nduja or burnt onion butter.

For main courses choose from whole baked cauliflower with four-cheese potatoes; cod fillet with fire-roasted ratatouille; and In Horto’s signature 12-hour lamb shoulder with harissa vegetables. Tempting side dishes like carrot, celeriac & cabbage slaw; seasonal greens, herbs and shallots; and confit potato chips all complement any dish. Desserts are not to be missed, choose from tiramisu, chocolate mousse with salted caramel ice cream; or tarte tatin.

LUNCHTIME SET MENU

If you are looking for a feast that maximises on taste but minimises on cost, then try In Horto’s lunchtime set menu: Wednesdays to Fridays twocourses are just £15 or three for £19.

DRINKS AT IN HORTO

In Horto’s bespoke cocktail list offers

elixirs inspired by the Great Outdoors; try Mezcal Breeze (Mezcal, pink grapefruit juice and agave) or Botanist 75 (Gin, lemon juice, sugar, and sparkling wine). Non-alcoholic options include Pure Spritz (Crossip pure hibiscus, raspberry cordial and soda). Whether you’re on the booze or not, the bartenders have something that will always appeal.

The wine list has been devised by the multi-award-winning Liberty Wines and includes organic and biodynamic labels. Sourced from renowned estates and trailblazers, boasting impressive sustainability credentials.

A welcome addition to the everexpanding Southwark Quarter development, In Horto offers a taste of the outside, inside. With the winter months often feeling too long and summer all too short, its natural interior and honest seasonal cooking evokes joy, whatever the weather.

www.inhorto.co.uk

The food at In Horto is led by the seasons and inspired by nature which ensures a sustainable ethos supported by like-minded suppliers.

Carden Park Hotel & Spa, Cheshire

Carden Park Hotel in the beautiful Cheshire countryside is a multi-award winning hotel, golf course and spa. It’s ideal for all manner of corporate events. Just make sure to check out the spa. PA Life checked in to discover the facilities...

If you’re looking for an impressive venue for hosting an event, cosporate hospitality, or for a not-to-be-forgotten team building experience, check out Carden Park Hotel in Cheshire. First the practical bit... Carden Park is located in a beautiful countryside setting in Cheshire in the North West of England but is easily accessible. If you’re travelling by train, Crewe and Chester stations are short taxi drives away, and the venue is within an hour of both Manchester International and Liverpool John Lennon airports.

PA Life had the pleasure of visiting Carden Park following the venue’s launch of its Private Spa Package which provides the ultimate VIP experience, giving companies the opportunity to have exclusive use of the spa for a ‘Twilight’ session from 5.30pm till 9pm. The package also includes a glass of the Carden Reserve sparkling wine – grown on the estate’s own three-acre vineyard – on arrival, plus a hot and cold buffet.

Carden Park is located amidst the beautiful Cheshire countryside on 1,000 acres of estate. It boasts 197 bedrooms, including four Carden Luxury Suites; a new £10 million spa with one of the largest spa gardens in the UK; a newly refurbished Leisure Club; two Championship golf courses; award winning restaurants; and conference and meeting facilities. The venue also features a fine dining restaurant The Vine, plus an outdoor ropes course name Vertigo. There really is something for all tastes, and for all types of events.

The Spa at Carden was awarded ‘Best New Spa’ in the Good Spa Guide inaugural 2020 awards and went on to receive the prestigious 5 bubble luxury rating again in 2022. The Spa at Carden also won England’s Best Country House Hotel Spa at the World Spa Awards,

Large Spa of the year 2022 at the BABTAC awards and Experience of the Year at the 2022 Marketing Cheshire Awards, as well as highly commended for the Hotel of the Year, plus many more awards and accolades.

And it’s easy to see why the venue’s trophy cabinet is so full. The drive up to the hotel itself is a pleasure, crossing the golf course and then taking in the impressive Sculpture Garden in front of the venue’s entrance. The artwork and sculpture exhibition has been curated by Grant Ford, BBC’s Antiques Roadshow fine art expert, and is updated with new pieces throughout the year. The artwork is available to buy, although you’ll need deep pockets – individual pieces are

including the thermal pool and the generous-sized hot tubs. A glass of mulled wine from the Bollinger Bar certainly helped to warm us afterwards.

As you’d expect, the Spa features treatment rooms and I was fortunate to enjoy a luxury facial, which was incredibly relaxing and made my skin feel so good that I didn’t want to put make-up on…

… but not wanting to frighten the other guests, I headed back to our comfortable and generous room to get ready for the evening. before headed down to the lounge bar for pre-dinner drinks.

The space would be ideal for more relaxed business meetings, or for company get-togethers. Indeed, there were two corporate Christmas drinks events taking place in reserved areas while we were there.

priced from £1,000 up to £320,000…

After check-in, we were directed to the Carden Spa where we enjoyed a light lunch in the Elements restaurant, before donning dressing gowns and slippers to head into the Spa itself, which boasts both indoor and outdoor facilities and experiences.

Indoors, the pool provides a place to relax and catch up on the latest bestseller; and our time there was interspersed with visits to each of the thermal experiences, including steam rooms, traditional saunas, panoramic room and rainfall showers.

It was a chilly December Sunday when we visited, but despite the weather we braved the outdoor experiences,

We then headed to The Vines restaurant, which is overseen by Executive Head Chef Graham Tinsley MBE and Head Chef Harri Williams. There we enjoyed the Taster Menu, which changes seasonally, along with expertly paired wine. We ended the evening with a cocktail.

For a personal break like ours, Carden Park is the epitome of luxury and elegance, with the Spa providing a much-needed shot of wellbeing. But Carden Park can provide much more for companies looking to host clients for dinners, meetings and conferences –along with a round of golf. And for team-building that can take in the Vertigo rope courses, golf and the spa facilities.

A thoroughly recommended venue for all manner of corporate events – and for a wellness or romantic break away.

www.cardenpark.co.uk

The Spa at Carden Park was awarded ‘Best New Spa’ in the Good Spa Guide inaugural 2020 awards and went on to receive the prestigious 5 bubble luxury rating again in 2022.

Spring is here, bringing new winds to the PA Life Club. All will be revealed at The PA Show on March 1st and 2nd on our stand A44N. Don’t miss our panel discussion either. It’s about Wellbeing in Business Travel on the second day, 2:50-3:30 pm. The past months have filled our Club Meet Up calendar with hugely popular events and there are plenty more for your diary this spring.

Our Partners

WHAT YOU MISSED... PA Life Christmas Party & Star Awards 2022

What a superb evening hosted by the beautiful De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London’s Covent Garden on November 28th.

The Assistant community came together to celebrate the PA Life Star Awards 2022 winners and finalists. The joint celebration saw 100 Assistants in attendance, both our PA Life Club members and PA Life readers and followers. We also

had events industry suppliers and some of the awards panel of judges including the main awards sponsor Liz Taylor, Taylor Lynn Corporation; Paul Pennant, Today’s PA and Kathy Soulsby, Personally Virtual.

The winning Stars of 2022 are: Mei Suen, Integrella, PA Life Star of the Year; Mia Shanahan, PWC, Rising Star; Tina Walker, Liberty Executive Services, Virtual Assistant Star;

Angela Walker, St Paul’s Cathedral, PA Life Club Member Star; Danielle Francis, Commitment to CSR Star, Ankura; and Jayne Hill, SS&C Blue Prism, Commitment to Wellbeing Star.

In true PA Life style, it was a fun evening with great entertainment, drinks, canapes, selfie-station, mind magic, balloon sculpting and live music.

The pick of our recent Meet Ups:

GO Sport Travel, a sporting hospitality provider, hosted PA Life Club members on October 11th at the very swanky Great Scotland Yard Hotel for drinks and canapes. We learned about their impressive portfolio of sport, music and entertainment hospitality packages

Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve

Meet Up on October 25th was a fantastic day out in the beautiful 600 acre Kent parkland. We were lucky to see many of the endangered species on our tour. We were equalliy impressed by the fantastic events and meetings spaces as well as the historic 4* boutique Port Lympne Hotel.

The Postal Museum treated us on November 16th to a superb event. It was great fun to go down to the Royal Mail postal

tunnels in one of their Mail Trains and to see what a unique events and celebrations venue the museum makes.

The Fellows House invited 10 club members for an overnight stay at the Hilton Curio Collection hotel in Cambridge from November 17th-18th. The hotel feels like a luxury home from home, offering superbly equipped one bedroom and studio apartments , a gym,

small pool and beautiful garden.

The Eastside Rooms, the newest conference centre in Birmingham, and the 4* Aloft Birmingham Eastside, hosted 18 club members for an overnight trip on January 19th-20th. We travelled from London to put the best of Birmingham’s large venues to test. The venue was fantastic with contemporary spaces and a very comfortable hotel connected to the

conference centre.

Nhow London, the new East London design hotel (pronounced ‘now’) treated us to a fantastic drinks reception, 3-course dinner and tour. The reception area is a large open space with striking colours, extraordinary furniture and art, all fitting their London theme. The 10ft high Big Ben rocket alone, taking off by the entrance, is worth seeing.

WELCOME TO OUR LATEST MEMBERS:

Hannah Houston-Banks – Associated British Foods, Alessia Serpi – Kao Corporation, Brenda McLeish – Barclays, Holly Copsey – Virtually Priceless, Caroline Marshall – Upsource, Lucy May – EPLS Design, Kristina Aleksejunaite – SAV Group, Abigail Nimblet-Hunt – St John’s Wood Church, Bibi Mootialloo – Joint Security Services, Tammy Ashwell – Brewin Dolphin, Vicky Hodgkins – Holland & Barrett, Candice Fernandes – PwC, Courtney Sadler – Vine Hotels, Joanne Stoyles – Be Sure Events, Annabel Harding – Rathbones

WHAT’S ON – TOP PICKS FOR YOUR DIARY

Awards, networking and the best events for PAs to attend in the coming months

PA LIFE CLUB IS CHANGING!

We are making exciting changes to PA Life Club benefits and membership. All will be revealed at The PA Show, so make sure to visit us at our stand A44P. See you at the show in ExCel London on March 1st and 2nd.

PA LIFE AT THE PA SHOW

We are hosting a panel discussion on ‘Considering Wellbeing in Business Travel’ at the Key Stage Theatre on Thursday March 2nd, 2:50-3:30 pm. The business travel experts joining our Editor are: Matt Brown, Head of Sales and Service, Travel Counsellors; Terry Farthing, CEO of London Jet Charter; and Abigail Jones, Senior EA, Instagram.

You’ll also find Hays recruitment services at our stand and they are looking forward to discussing your careers with you. The visitor pass allows access to the Keynote Theatre, and the 1-day and 2-day passes let you in to all five theatres. Enjoy 10% discount when booking day passes with code PALife10. www.thepashow.com

RIDE THE TUNNELS AT THE POSTAL MUSEUM

PA Life Club is returning to the Postal Museum on March 16th for a second Meet Up. The unique 275 capacity venue offers guests an opportunity to enhance their event experience with an underground miniature train ride through the 100-year old Mail Rail tunnels under London. Additional areas are available for hire in The Courtyard and Postal Museum. Please RSVP to reserve your place.

Our Meet Ups alone are worth joining the PA Life Club for, and we have much more to offer besides showcase and networking events. www.palife.co.uk/pa-life-club/

PA LIFE WELLNESS SUMMIT

Heads up for a fantastic wellness day just for you. There will be wellness talks, workshops and classes. You’ll be able to recharge and take away new ideas, experiences and knowledge to share with your teams.

The date and venue will be announced soon on our social channels and online events diary. www.palife.co.uk

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL 2023

The jump racing event of the year runs from Tuesday March 14th to Friday 17th. The four extraordinary days of racing will see the best horses, trainers and jockeys go head-to-head in 14 Grade One races. It’s a great event for corporate hospitality. www.thejockeyclub.co.uk

Work & life

Angela Walker, Office Manager at St Paul’s Cathedral’s busy Commercial Department is the 2022 winner of the PA Life Club Member Star category in the recent PA Life Star Awards. She sat down with our Editor to talk about her role and to share her experiences as a long term member of the PA Life Club…

What are the most enjoyable aspects of your job, and the least?

I love working in the City and love the special events at the Cathedral and being part of historic occasions such as the late Queen’s Jubilees. It is a very busy department and every day is so varied. The increased use of the Cathedral as a filming location has brought in much needed revenue and lots of publicity – and the chance to see some major film stars up close! The least enjoyable is just keeping on top of everything that is happening here on a daily basis, it is a case of lots of plate spinning!

You have been a PA Life Club member for a number of years. What do you enjoy most about the Club?

I joined the Club on the recommendation of a friend when it first

launched in 2012. I can recall many fun networking meetings and it has always been a really friendly and welcoming Club, offering a wide range of venues to visit and activities to try. The drive around the track at Silverstone was unforgettable!

Are there any new offerings you would like PA Life Club to introduce to its members?

I’d like to see more rewards and loyalty schemes for PAs and Office Managers or access to ‘once in a lifetime’ experiences that we can share together.

What do you see are the key professional development areas Assistants should focus on this year?

It’s all about flexible working these days and making the most of new technology to be

able to do your job wherever you are.

Best advice you’ve been given? Have a Plan B, or even C, D and E…. always be prepared for the unexpected. Planning and preparation are key when organising anything, but still make time to enjoy it!

Your favourite things to do & places to go in London?

I love the theatre and go regularly, especially to Theatre Royal Drury Lane, and anything that involves a good cocktail is always a winner. I’ve also practiced yoga for many years and attend yoga events and have been to some amazing ones in unusual buildings and settings in the City, such as rooftops, gardens and a crypt. It counterbalances a busy day surrounded by tourists.

Creating relationships between PAs and their industry suppliers

Editorial: editorial@palife.co.uk

Sales: c.smyth@forumevents.co.uk

Design: ThinkCreative Printed by: The

PA Life Club Manager: Morgan Robertson

Email: m.robertson@forumevents.co.uk, Tel: 01992 374069

“Have a Plan B, or even C, D and E…. always be prepared for the unexpected”