PA Life March/April 2017

Roundtable discussion Our PA panel on organising events

Look On the bright side the importance of optimism in the workplace

Pay rise ahoy!

PA salaries are rising in 2017.

Are you earning enough?

CHARLOTTE WIBBERLEY CEO and Founder of VIP VA

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EDITOR’S LETTER

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New beginnings...

So this is it. My final letter to you. I am moving on from PA Life. I first took the chair of Editor back in August 2015 – and what an 18 months it has been. I came here to shake things up and move the magazine forward. I’ve never worked on a publication that’s felt so connected to its audience. Your emails, cards and messages letting me know your views, that we’re on the same page, have always been gratefully received. However, everything is a work in progress and I leave as the brand begins a new phase.

The more I’ve become involved in the PA world, the more I’ve come to appreciate, care, understand and champion the community. I’m proud that the magazine is award-winning; of its uniqueness; of how it blends content that is designed to improve work efficiency yet offers a healthy work-life balance. The PA world has taken great strides in the last few years and I’ve always wanted PA Life to stand out, to give you the opinions of leading experts and to translate information that is relevant and useful while ensuring we don’t take ourselves too seriously.

Keeping assistants in the know on a wide variety of topics that are important to your role and delivering the sort of immediately applicable advice that you can put into practice has always been the underlying focus. Encouraging readers to contribute their personal experiences for others to read, comment and encourage – and ultimately advocate this fantastically collaborative and supportive clan – is what it’s all about.

Donna Coulling, Lorna Sturge, Judith Croasdell, Neftali Karlsson, Abigail Jones, Amy Marsden, Samantha Cox, Libby Moore and Adam Fidler – I thank you for agreeing to allow me to photograph and interview you for our PA Profiles. You permitted fellow professionals an insight into each of your journeys. Standout moments include our ever-patient photographer Dave Willis and I encouraging Donna Coulling to lie on a bathroom floor and Adam Fidler to teeter on a city rooftop, all in the name of getting the perfect snapshot of their true characters.

Our March/April cover star is Charlotte Wibberley, Founder of VIP VA. Her shoot was on one of my final days at PA Life and was the perfect way to say goodbye – interviewing someone who is “on a mission to improve industry standards and engage with VAs and business owners alike around the true value of the VA and the worth that they bring”. Turn to p12 to read more.

Elsewhere our roundtable discussion proves that PAs do hold the purchasing power for events, our MICE spotlight shines on Austria and we check in at Jersey’s The Atlantic. We zone in on the importance of optimism, aptly leading into a report on PA salaries being on the rise in 2017.

I’m leaving you in great hands as I pass the pen to Molly Dyson and I’m sure you’ll love what’s coming next.

So raise your glass!

Amelia Walker, Outgoing Editor

The UK’s award-winning title for personal and executive assistants Forum Events Media Forum House 71 Mead Lane Hertford, Hertfordshire SG13 7AX Website: palife.co.uk Twitter: @palifemag E: editorial@palife.co.uk

EDITORIAL Editor: Molly Dyson Junior Content Writer: Toby Cruse COMMERCIAL Charlotte Russell E: charlotte.russell@ palife.co.uk Tel: 01992 374080

MANAGEMENT Publisher Katy Phillips

All material in the publication is covered by copyright. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form – electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise – whole or in part, without written permission of the publisher © 2017 Forum Events Media Ltd. While considerable care has been taken in the production of this issue, no responsibility can be accepted for any errors or omissions. No responsibility can be accepted for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, artwork or equipment. All correspondence is assumed to be for publication unless clearly stated otherwise.

Managing Director Sarah Hendy

Member’s Voice Awards Best PA Industry Publication 2015 Most Votes: PA Life

DESIGN 155Creative Printed by The Manson Group

Member’s Voice Awards

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Best PA Industry Publication 2015 Most Votes: PA Life

Best PA Industry Publication 2015 Most Votes:

Member’s Voice Awards

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CONTRIBUTORS

Nick Allwood Nick graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a degree in Economics. He joined Robert Walters to lead the HR and Secretarial & Support teams in the North West. The division has established itself as the recruiter of choice for all levels of secretarial and business support appointments across the North.

The team specialises in recruiting permanent and contract candidates across a broad spectrum of roles, including team assistants, office management, EAs, secretaries and legal secretaries, among others.

Carly Fordyce Carly Fordyce is currently PA to Bibi Hilton, MD at communications agency Golin. She has an interest in elevating awareness and recognition for the role.

Although relatively new in her career, she hopes to become an ambassador for this and is currently working on building up a network of likeminded young PAs and assistants. She is married to Tom and they have a rescue cat Daisy, and enjoys cooking and baking.

Twitter: @CarlyMatthewsPA

Melanie Richardson Melanie’s career has spanned more than 30 years and in 2016 she was awarded the title of Yorkshire PA of the Year. Her current role is Executive Assistant to the MD of Taylors of Harrogate and she is a member of the Taylors Leadership Team. Melanie also acts as a one-to-one developer and coach within the business.

Twitter: @MelYorksPA2016

Nick Fewings Nick Fewings is former Change Director of Barclays PLC and a behavioural psychologist. He founded and is CEO of Ngagementworks, a learning and development company that helps many well-known brands succeed through developing their greatest asset, their people.

He is also an award-winning conference speaker on behaviours, leadership, team effectiveness/engagement and creator of the Team DyNAmics© model of team engagement. ngagementworks.com Twitter: @Nick_Fewings

Dr Sally Norton Dr Sally Norton MB ChB, MD, FRCS is an NHS Consultant and Weight Loss Specialist. She is the Founder of vavistalife.com. Sally was the first female weight-loss surgeon in the UK and has been working in the NHS for 25 years. She serves on the Council of the British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society and is an ambassador in campaigning for a healthier Britain.

Twitter: @DrSally_Vavista

Adam Russell After a number of different career paths, Adam is now a career PA with over 12 years of experience at Founder/Owner level. After leaving his role as the Private Office to Ted Baker, he decided to take some time to himself and travel. Adam has just started working for a young billionaire family and looks forward to growing his new role around him.

Sarah Sharp Sarah is a SmartPA Partner and her background is more than 20 years’ experience working within the highly regulated financial services industry.

Sarah specialises in working remotely and providing first-class customer service, admin support and business development to her clients.

This month Sarah is celebrating her first year in business as a Virtual PA. Twitter: @sarah_smartpa

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CONTENTS PA LIFE - MARCH/APRIL 2017

33 Business in the Alps Molly Dyson heads for the hills in Austria to experience a taste of what arlberg1800 Resort has to offer corporate groups looking for something out of the ordinary.

12 PA Profile: Charlotte Wibberley Amelia Walker talks to VIP VA CEO Charlotte Wibberley about the current state and future of the VA industry.

39 Tried & Tasted Reviewing swish restaurants that are perfect for business lunches and dinners.

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44

Roundtable Discussion Three established PAs give us an insight into how they source venues and the purchasing power they hold when it comes to planning events.

Get set for growth The experts at Robert Walters expect PA salaries to receive a boost in 2017.

We find out why rising demand is driving up pay for admin professionals.

43 The importance of optimism Why having a positive outlook can do wonders for your health and productivity.

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NEWS

Face the facts

Latest insights into the issues facing assistants across the UK PA LIFE WINS PA-ASSIST.COM AWARD FOR THIRD YEAR IN A ROW momentum of bringing you even more news and top tips from established PAs, as well as firstclass networking events. We’re incredibly proud of everything we do, from editorial projects to the PA Life Club and the Training Day to the PA Life Summit, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this April.

Congratulations to other winners in the awards. We look forward to making 2017 our best year yet.

[ ]

We are excited to announce that for the third year running, PA Life has won the PA-Assist.com Members’ Voice award for Best PA Industry Publication 2016.

This is a monumental moment for the team and a testament to the value of our readers’ voice in the industry. We couldn’t have won this accolade without your votes. Thank you for showing your tremendous support.

The entire team has been working hard to keep up the

30% OF PEOPLE WOULD ACCEPT LOWER PAY IF IT MEANT TRAVELLING MORE FOR WORK New research by Booking. com for Business reveals that a staggering 30% of business travellers would accept a lower paying job if it meant they could travel more for work.

These findings reflect a broader trend identified by Booking.com for Business, which reveals that employees are increasingly blurring the line between business and leisure. Data shows that nearly

NEARLY HALF OF WORKERS DENIED TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES A survey of 1003 US workers carried out by The Knowledge Academy revealed that 47% say their employer has refused requests for learning in the past.

This is despite one in three reporting that they believe training would significantly impact their ability to do their job. But the last laugh could be on bosses, as the data shows more than one in four (26%) workers felt

half of business travellers (49%) have extended their trip to a different city or country in the past 12 months, with nearly a third of this group (27%) claiming they intend to do the same in 2017. It’s a trend Booking.com for Business predicts will continue in the coming year, with 46% of those surveyed believing they will travel more for business in 2017 than they did in 2016.

development would make them more productive.

Of the reasons for declining these requests, a lack of budget was the most common, at 23%.

19% said their boss didn’t want them to take time out of the office.

Meanwhile, 7% said their manager didn’t feel the development in question was relevant and 5% claimed their boss didn’t feel it would be beneficial.

ENCOURAGING DIVERSITY ‘COSTS NOTHING’, SAYS CEO

TOP 10 FASTEST GROWING BUSINESS TRAVEL DESTINATIONS 1. Shanghai 6. Budapest 2. Tokyo 7. Singapore 3. Bangkok 8. Hong Kong 4. Guangzhou 9. Prague 5. New York 10. Amsterdam

MEN & WOMEN VALUE DIFFERENT JOB PERKS

A survey of 2000 UK employees shows men value pay, perks and travel opportunities, while women care more about work-life balance, career progression and ‘making a difference’.

While overall both sexes valued work-life balance second highest, more men spend additional time at the office – with three in 10 commenting that they work out of hours, compared to 26% of women.

However, one in 10 state that doing so has negatively impacted their sex life and 8% of women admit the same. A further 12% said that it had negatively affected their relationship with their children (10% of women said the same) and 18% of both men and women attributed work as the cause of an argument with their partner.

Almost half of employers admit to having no strategies or programmes in place to achieve equality in the workforce, even though most consider it priority.

The British workforce is made up of over 32 million people, and approximately 46% of those are women, a number that has almost doubled since the 1970s, but as the population continues to grow, so too does the concern.

The government believes that around 11% of workers in the country are BME, or black and minority ethnic, and while this means more people from minority backgrounds are in work than ever before, around 37% remain unemployed.

The research was carried out by Robert Walters and

the Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion (ENEI), and revealed that 85% of bosses say building and increasing diversity is a priority for their firm.

However, there is confusion over who should be enforcing the change. Over half of respondents believed that senior management should be responsible for encouraging diversity, while 35% believe it should be down to HR departments.

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EVENTS

At the summit of success

This could be the best two days you spend out of the office this year. Join us at the PA Life Summit from 24-25 April at De Vere Wokefield Estate in Berkshire to meet new suppliers, network with your peers, learn from seminar speakers – and help us to celebrate our 10th anniversary 10 years ago, Rihanna stormed the charts with Umbrella, The Queen won Best Film at the BAFTAs, the smoking ban came into force in the UK – and the first PA Life Summit took place (although back then it was known as the EXECSec Summit).

In the decade since its debut, the Summit has followed the same successful format. We provide our PA and EA delegates with a bespoke itinerary of one-to-one meetings with product and service suppliers who match their requirements.

A series of educational and insightful seminar sessions are scheduled throughout the two days, and there are plenty of opportunities for informal

networking with your peers. And on top of that we’ll provide you with free lunch and refreshments throughout, plus a gala dinner – with entertainment – on the first night of the event.

NETWORK WITH YOUR PEERS There will be plenty of opportunities to get to know your fellow PAs throughout the event. We have PAs and EAs representing some of the biggest companies and organisations in the UK, including AMEX, Barclaycard, Citigroup, Diageo, Future Electronics, Grant Thornton, HSBC, KPMG, Lloyds, Microsoft, Prudential, RBS, Wagamama and Yazaki Europe, to name just a few.

A SEMINAR PROGRAMME TO INSPIRE & EDUCATE As ever, the PA Life Summit will feature a FREE seminar programme designed to help you elevate your career.

Topics include: • Personal Branding for Success • The Mentoring Mindset • Creating an Awesome Event

by Working with Suppliers • What Does Team Building Mean?

• Strategies for Becoming a Better Speaker • The Modern Executive PA – From Support Role to Strategic Business Partner What are you waiting for? Register today for your free place by contacting Laura Spratt via l.spratt@forumevents.co.uk or call 01992 374053.

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EVENTS

That’s entertainment The NTAs are one of the showbiz calendar’s most glamorous events, with TV’s dazzling stars sweeping the red carpet. PA Life was there to enjoy the corporate hospitality of Asemblr, which showcased its expertise in event management. Amelia Walker checks in PA Life joined hundreds of actors, directors and producers for the biggest night in British TV when the 2017 National Television Awards returned to The O2 in January. Hosted by Dermot O’Leary, the NTAs are entirely viewer voted and broadcast live on ITV. Celebrating 22 years as Britain’s leading awards show featuring the nation’s most popular stars, the event was spectacular.

Asemblr is a specialist in searching, selecting and booking your meeting room requirements via its online marketplace and knows all there is to know about meetings and events. It’s a company that assistants ought to have in their little black book if you’re in need of an easy, instant and cost-effective way of searching and booking events. They specialise in spaces, hotel accommodation and travel, all in one place.

CMO Stephanie Wallis and Founder Ashley Moore played host to an intimate group of 10 assistants to experience the company’s first-class hospitality expertise and enjoy the evening’s proceedings from a private box.

For business, the option of privacy plays a big part when you’re looking to entertain those key contacts while enjoying good food, wine and entertainment. Seamless service and management are key components that today’s assistants look out for.

Stephanie and Ashley were fantastic, encouraging guests to network while subtly ensuring each person gained the most out of the

“I had a fantastic time – it was so seamlessly put together that everyone was able to relax and enjoy themselves. Despite this being the first time most people had met, everyone got along really well and the conversation (as well as the champagne) flowed freely. There is really nothing quite like watching from a box; it really makes the occasion special and sets it apart.

Asemblr were the perfect hosts, making everyone feel relaxed and comfortable while ensuring all the arrangements went without a hitch. As an event booker, I usually notice all the behind-the-scenes preparations but this was so good I didn’t even think about it – for once!”

Nicola Mackey “What an amazing evening. I find it difficult to even put into words how much I enjoyed the experience. The hospitality provided by Asemblr and the O2 was first class, everything was organised down to the very last detail. Stephanie and Ashley of Asemblr were both amazing, welcoming and put us all at ease when we met for the first time. I have come away from the evening with some new friends and hope there will be many more opportunities for us all to continue working together and having fun with Asemblr!”

Sarah Sharp, SmartPA Partner “Asemblr are experts at what they do, which really takes the pressure off when trying to find a suitable venue or hotel for my client’s events. Every suggestion they supply meets the brief and budget perfectly and the recent outing to the NTAs proved that entertainment, hospitality and events are really at their core!” Sophie Hammond, Pegasus

opportunity. Attentive, good fun and always ensuring my glass was never running low, each component of the evening was carefully planned, from being whisked through security to entering the AMEX VIP Club Lounge for the after party with no fuss.

A top night was had by all.

“Asemblr works to develop ways to ease workloads for PAs, and hosts events to help them meet like-minded people to grow their network and share experiences. With VIP status at the O2, we enjoyed a suite filled with delicious food and drinks.

The after party was a highlight to meet celebrities like Great British Bake Off winner Candace. A night of glam, great company, and an unforgettable experience.

Hope to see you at the next one. Email stephanie@ asemblr.com to join our mailing list for a future invite.”

Stephanie Wallis CMO, Asemblr

UPCOMING CLUB EVENTS 21 MARCH TEAM BUILDING AT KAREN HARDY DANCE STUDIOS 18 MAY SHOWROUND AT TUDOR PARK MARRIOTT HOTEL & COUNTRY CLUB IN BEARSTED, KENT

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COMMUNITY CLUB

Straight to the point Executive Assistant trainer and educator Adam Fidler offers sound advice and no nonsense views on topics of interest. In this edition he discusses the loneliness of the PA role As someone’s PA, you occupy a very sensitive and lonely position.

You must relate well to your executive and everyone around you. It’s hard though when people see you as an extension of the ‘boss’ and when you are often privy to confidential information.

Luckily, most PAs now sit open plan, even next to their executive, which means they are more involved, but that can mean assistants have to be even more guarded with what they say and what they are seen doing. Being careful not to make the wrong remarks or give ‘knowing looks’ can feel constraining.

If you’re feeling solitary in the job, I think human interaction is the best tonic.

Above all, you are allowed to be yourself and the role shouldn’t change the essence of you. Assistants need to enjoy the company of their executive and their boss’s immediate team (the direct

reports) regularly – this is your team too – and your job becomes very lonely when you do all your ‘interacting’ through email. Have the confidence to get involved – especially when the boss is not around.

In one EA job, I was left to my own

in front of the boss?”. And if the answer was ‘no’, then that was the ‘test’ for me – that I was operating wisely and with appropriate discretion.

A sense of humour, team-spiritedness and humility also go a long way. Your executive and team will respect you for

“A SENSE OF HUMOUR, TEAM SPIRIT AND HUMILITY GO A LONG WAY. YOUR EXECUTIVE WILL RESPECT YOU FOR THOSE QUALITIES BECAUSE THEY MAKE YOU ‘HUMAN’ RATHER THAN ROBOTIC.” devices most of the time and I had two choices: sit there and feel lonely or get the social interaction I craved from members of the team. The way I looked at it was as follows. I would give my opinions, speak to people, ask questions and do what I needed to do. Then, I would reflect and say to myself: “Did I say anything just then that I wouldn’t say

those qualities because they make you ‘human’ rather than robotic in your dealings with people. You can’t get overfamiliar, and discretion is the key internally, so it may help to have an outside mentor or peer from another organisation who you can confide in more openly. Being discrete doesn’t have to mean being detached!

Read all about it This month’s motivational must-read book

The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team With Positive Energy Author: Jon Gordon Paperback available to buy at amazon.co.uk, £8.33; Kindle edition, £7.91

The Energy Bus centres around a fictional character called George, who feels the world is against him both in his personal and professional life. One morning, a flat tyre forces him to take the bus to work, where he meets Joy, the driver, who introduces him to her rules. Essentially, these are ‘10 rules to fuel your life, work and team with postive energy’. Through the sharing of Joy’s wisdom, George very quickly learns that he has a choice whether to be a positive or negative thinker and, as he begins to live the ‘10 rules’ in the days that follow, his positive energy

ripples out to the world around him and his life begins to change.

The main messages may be hung around a story that I suspect many will find a tad cheesy, but I discovered there was lots to love about this book. I found it full of passion, optimism and spirit to live a more positive and energy-filled life and it gave me a real boost.

Go on, hop on the Energy Bus and learn the ‘10 rules’ for yourself.

Reviewed by Melanie Richardson, EA to the MD, Taylors of Harrogate

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COMMUNITY CLUB

Work + Life

This month Carly Fordyce, Personal Assistant at Golin unlocks her diary from AM to PM.

My alarm goes off…

At 7am, although the cat tries to wake me up earlier!

I’m responsible for…

My boss’s work life when she steps through the door. Keeping on top of her extremely busy and packed diary and making sure she is in the right place at right time, liaising with clients and their own PAs, shadowing her in our businesscritical meetings, keeping her informed of all office and social events (including gossip) and the usual PA duties such as managing her work expenses, timesheet logging, meeting preparation, etc. I also oversee the running of our 150-strong office, which includes liaising with operations (reception, facilities, IT), onboarding new joiners, managing our social events, keeping all admin files up to date, completing our biannual audits and more. I couldn’t do all of this without the support from our wonderful team assistant and office apprentice.

My boss…

Is Bibi Hilton, Managing Director of communications agency Golin. Under her leadership Golin has gone from strength to strength. Being crowned PRWeek Large Consultancy of the Year 2016 meant we retained our 2015 title and added to an impressive 13 overall awards since 2013.

She is also a huge advocate for gender equality and flexible working, encourages and promotes ethnic diversity within the industry, and we recently introduced the returnship initiative, which supports parents returning to work. She is quite possibly one of the most hard-working and inspirational women I have met and a pleasure to work with.

I got my job…

Through great timing. Five and a half years ago I put my CV on SecsintheCity and was contacted the next day with an invite to interview. A week and two interviews later, (one with Bibi at 8am ahead of a flight to Italy) and the job was mine.

My daily commute…

Is my opportunity to think about the day ahead, get into my work frame of mind,

and check through mine and Bibi’s emails to see if anything urgent has come in overnight. By the time I’m at my desk I have a fairly clear idea of what to prioritise and can write them down, usually over a double shot latte!

My work mantra…

I believe that there’s no ‘I’ in team. Without mine I wouldn’t be able to support Bibi and run the office smoothly. I also strongly believe there’s no such thing as ‘I can’t’. Any PA that says otherwise is in the wrong career.

My proudest work moment…

Sitting in a field at midnight, watching the festival that I had organised for our staff and sister agencies to celebrate Golin’s 60th anniversary. It was a huge social event that involved juggling budgets, suppliers, talent, travel and catering.

Seeing everyone dancing and singing in the after-hours tent is one of my proudest moments. Our CEO said it was the best event we’d ever had.

After work…

Getting home and cooking with my husband is the highlight of my day.

Mainly because he cooks and I drink.

We’re renovating our house at the moment so I’m really enjoying putting my love of interior design to good use.

My fave techie kit/app…

Along with my iPhone, Doddle is a godsend. It enables me to liaise with other PAs/employees in one go, and it collates the responses on one easy-touse platform. It’s like having my own PA.

Alternative career…

Interior designer or a show jumper. But I take a lot of pride in being a PA, so I hope to start working more closely with my peers and perhaps running an assistant support union or recruitment consultancy.

My bucket list…

Learn a language and sky dive – all in 2017 so I’ll report back in December!

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PA PROFILE

CHARLOTTE WIBBERLEY Founder of VIP VA & Business Success Coach

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“THE WHOLE MISSION BEHIND VIP VA IS TO CHAMPION THE VA INDUSTRY, RAISE AWARENESS, TO SUPPORT IT AND TO NURTURE NEW PEOPLE INTO IT. THAT’S WHAT I LOVE” Words: Amelia Walker Photography: Dave Willis Location: Special thanks to Bronte; bronte.co.uk

Would she say that her job is stressful and what does she enjoy least about it? “It's way more stressful then my PA job was but it’s much more rewarding. Any person who runs their own business would agree that you don’t leave it at the door.

It’ll be nine or 10 o’clock at night and I’ll think of an idea – it’s tough to switch off. My home is my office after all. I love the flexibility that my business gives me but equally too much flexibility can mean that you have to be way more disciplined to avoid over-stepping your boundaries. You have to be self-driven and motivated because no one is there to hold you accountable – you have to motivate yourself.”

And what does she enjoy most about her job? “Engaging with people. I’m a real people person. That’s why I’ve gone from PA to VA to Business Strategist to coaching – because for me, hearing other people’s stories and also using questions and life experiences to help them with whatever it may be that they are struggling with is really rewarding. It’s all about relationships.

The whole mission behind VIP VA is to champion the VA industry, raise awareness, to support it and to nurture new people into it. That’s what I love. I’m really trying to pioneer the setting of industry standards to benefit VAs, but also to benefit the clients that work with VAs. I’m working to create a benchmark for VAs and engage with business owners around the world and show them why hiring the right VA can transform their businesses.”

The perception of the VA role is one that is both elusive and eclectic. There is a gap in the understanding and awareness of VAs right at this moment and the future of the role looks bright.

“Many PAs don’t realise that the VA route is a viable option for them – especially if things aren’t going so well for them in their corporate jobs. There is often a lack of understanding from VAs themselves and the business owners they work with around what they actually do. There is still this perception that a VA can take on absolutely everything in a business, whereas in my opinion the reality is they fall into one of three camps: techieVAs who are skilled at managing processes, systems, software, integrations etc, marketing VAs focussing on social media, email and digital marketing, blogging etc and traditional ‘right hand woman’ support as I like to call it – running their clients’ businesses.”

What does the industry need to do to champion this understanding and perception moving forward? “As an industry I believe we need to come together and agree what the standards and messaging around the VA role should be.

We are already a collaborative industry and to take it forward, we need to stand together collaboratively. As mentioned before, I think there will be the death of the general VA, the superhero who can do everything. I think VAs will begin

………………………………………………………………………………………………….….….….…......

Charlotte Wibberley is the Founder of VIP VA and a Business Success Coach; helping women (particularly those with children) successfully juggle business and family and build their vision on their terms. How? By supporting them in making the transition from employment to self-employment and helping them create an authentic and adaptable business that fits around their lifestyles. Nurturing, supporting and championing the VA industry and creating a platform for VA businesses to collaborate and continue their professional development is her mission.

“Many of my clients are already self-employed, in which case I help them solve a particular issue or help them to focus on growing their business. I work closely with female entrepreneurs such as Virtual Assistants (VAs), having had a long PA career myself.

I was a PA for 10 years in the City – I worked for a couple of large blue chip companies as a PA then as an EA and Project Manager.”

So what is a VA? Many people already have their own idea of what the role is, while many others remain unsure. “Indeed.

The term VA is a blanket term that covers many different disciplines and skillsets. VAs can be anyone from ex-HR directors that are freelancing as HR specialists, social media managers to web developers and ex-PAs focussing on admin and the running of the clients’ businesses – the industry represents a whole host of skills, individuals and backgrounds.”

Charlotte says her ‘typical day’ is all about juggling. “I’m a mum of two very small children. I tend to structure my day with client coaching calls in the mornings, some social media interaction in the middle of the day using Facebook Live or webinars and back-end content creation such as writing and PR in the afternoon. It is a mixed bag and I love the diversity.”

Naturally, with the nature of the VA role meaning the majority of them work from home, face-to-face virtual interaction with clients and the VA community is the main form of communication. “As VAs we have to be engaged with meetups over webinars and online training; it’s like second nature. Facebook Live for example is just amazing. I have a community of around 450 VAs globally and Facebook Live allows me to be present with them on video, and I can answer their questions in real time. Sometimes I have specific things that I want to focus on talking about, other times I’ll go online and say to them, ‘I’m here for you, have you got any questions?’

It’s interactive and much quicker to build rapport with people because they can see me and hear me.”

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“THE SKILLS THAT I NEEDED TO SET UP AND RUN MY OWN BUSINESS WERE TOTALLY DIFFERENT TO THOSE I NEEDED AS A PA. THERE ARE A LOT OF TRANSFERABLE SKILLS OF COURSE, HOWEVER THERE IS A GAP THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED” myself out there, speak up and actually talk about my business.

In those days talking about me, my business and how I could add value to my potential clients was hard! I think a lot of PAs find it hard to talk about themselves, toot their own horn and explain what they can bring to the table. Talking about your business and your mission brings it to life and makes it real.

You have to get out there and showcase yourself. People buy people (and we are all different!) so what you need to market is actually you!”

With regards to the best piece of advice that Charlotte was given that still resonates with her today, she cites her own business coach, who said: “You don’t have to fit in a box.

You don’t necessarily need a title. You could call yourself a fairy godmother if you want! You just need to be confident about what you love doing, how you help people and be able to communicate that to people.” Charlotte continues: “In the end, especially with the VA world, clients work with VAs that they feel they have a relationship with because they trust them and because they know them.”

We touch upon networking and how the industry needs to build this avenue further for the VA community. “VIP VA is like a sisterhood in itself for peers to bounce ideas off each other and provide a safe space for support. Our members share problems, talk about industry issues, and continue their professional and personal development through exclusive webinars and masterclasses. There are quite a few communities that are encouraging VAs to set up their own networks – some of which I sponsor and help with – but there’s much more to be done to support and grow the VA community. A peer-topeer environment works well from a collaboration point of view, but we need more of these. I also recommend visiting business shows to make connections with clients that use VAs – and engaging with business owners. There is also office* show, but the focus on VAs needs to be greater. Confidence and self-belief is intrinsic and networking really helps build these attributes.”

So what does the future hold for Charlotte? “This year is about raising awareness about VIP VA and my mission.

I’m engaging with a greater number of business owners, attending and speaking at more industry relevant conferences and building up my networking and PR. Ultimately, I’m really trying to grow my tribe, support more VAs to grow their authentic and high performing businesses and reach out to more PAs that are feeling trapped to show them they can develop a business to suit their individual situation.”

Watch this space.

to niche into the areas that people specialise in – and these niches need to be championed in their own right. People refer to VAs as Virtual PAs, something which I always challenge because the people I have in my community come from many different backgrounds. Many are ex-PAs of course, however the term VA covers lots of different freelancers and gives people many options. It’s refreshing. I also see the UK VA industry leading the way in terms of raising the profile and standard of the industry and shattering the myth that you can get great proactive support for £10 per hour.”

I tell Charlotte that I’m surprised, as I personally didn’t realise the VA role was so adaptable. “Absolutely. There is a lot of scope to do different things due to how adaptable the role is, the skills and the different backgrounds that VAs come from.

It is important to remember, however, that the skills that I needed to set up and run my own business are totally different to what I needed as a PA. There is a gap in knowledge that needs to be addressed to support PAs that want to make that transition. Of course, having a solid PA background is a good place to start and means you have lots of relevant skills to offer in the outset.”

For those of you reading this now who are contemplating making the leap but are unsure about your next step, Charlotte has some words of wisdom.

“It is important to remember that starting out you need to take it one step at a time. There are a huge number of VA forums with tonnes of information to hand – it can be quite overwhelming in terms of where you start, what to focus on, how to structure your business, how much to charge.

Before you dive in, make sure you have a support network around you to help guide and strengthen you when you need it. One of the hardest things I found when I made the transition was going from working as part of a large and noisy team in a corporate office to suddenly being at home on my own.

Professionally, I felt really isolated, alone and unsure of where to go, with no-one to bounce ideas off. My family were then (and always have been) great but I think there can be that risk of isolation for those of us who come from an office environment.

Getting support, be it from an online community, a business coach, family, friends, and people you can talk to is intrinsic to sanity and to success.

“You also need to be able to talk confidently about your business. As PAs our confidence levels can often be low, coming from ‘bottom rung of the ladder’ roles and being used to being supporters rather than directors. I found it hugely challenging when I became a VA and realised that I had to put

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Roundtable discussion

Roundtable Editor Molly Dyson took a trip to Butlin’s Bognor Regis to visit PAs in the Sussex area for our regular roundtable discussion

Topic: How to find the perfect venue for your corporate events How do you start your search for a venue?

Esther: I think about who’s coming and the logistics of getting there. The biggest external event I’ve done was about 600.

The smallest was 45. For me it’s all about the audience. Every venue has a purpose.

Emily: When you’re asked to do an event you immediately start thinking about places you know of that would work.

I always look for a place with plenty of free parking. I don’t think it’s right to expect people to come to an event and have to pay for parking. I wouldn’t put on an event somewhere without this amenity. It’s a bugbear of mine.

Nancy: I find out what the purpose is and what they want to get out of their time together. I organise tiny meetings for 13 heads of department right on up to our big annual meeting of 150 leaders and everything in between. A lot of my events happen on the Butlin’s resorts,

but for external events I always look at the function first. Free parking and wifi are a must.

Does the venue team make a difference to you?

Nancy: I always buy into a team. If I don’t feel a connection, I know I won’t get the best out of them. It’s really important that if something goes wrong they’ll be there to help.

At what stage do you start doing site visits?

Nancy: I do a lot of research online and look at reviews, then come up with a shortlist for site visits.

Esther: I’ve done many familiarisation trips. Tried and tested is definitely the best method of choosing a venue.

Emily: I sometimes worry that people think it’s a jolly old time going out to these hotels, but it’s not. It’s hard work because we’re looking at every aspect of the venue and trying to imagine if it will work for our events.

Do you use venue-finding agencies?

Esther: Sometimes you want something unique or you have a bigger budget, and I think agencies can find something you didn’t know about. However, if you don’t have a massive budget you can save a bit of money by doing it yourself.

Emily: If it’s something a bit further afield I’d definitely use an agency. They’ll save you a bit of time on research if you know nothing about the area.

What features do you look for at the venue?

Nancy: Accommodation is quite important for external events. In terms of spaces I like light and airy rooms because if you’re going to be sitting in it all day it’s important for it to not be dull and uninspiring. I also love places where you can get outside for a break.

Esther: It all depends on the agenda.

I’ve had one event with team-building activities, so I looked for venues that had areas where we could do everything all on site. At another the delegates

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Emily Darnell EA to CEO of PVL UK

were all men, but their wives were joining them in the evening, so I found a place with a spa they could use.

What sort of lead times do you work to?

Nancy: A few months; maybe longer if it’s a big event. We have our calendar of meetings planned a year in advance, so I can always start looking at spaces ahead of time. Things can change; something that was originally set as an internal meeting might suddenly become an off-site function.

Esther: I usually start about nine months out – longer for bigger events. It can be difficult to start that early because you don’t always have the agenda, but I like to give it as long as I can.

How far outside of your local area do you typically go?

Nancy: It depends on how long the delegates can spend out of the office.

We have around 5,000 guests checking in every Monday and Friday during the season and the weeks that we’re closed will be booked up with other companies having their conferences here, so taking our team out for too long is really hard.

Esther: I usually don’t go more than an hour from our office or transport links because it’s hard to get delegates there otherwise.

How involved does your boss get in the planning process?

Emily: Mine doesn’t really get involved at all. I run things past him if I need his opinion, but usually I try to find a solution first. It’s not something he’s got time to do.

So are you given free reign with the budget?

Emily: Our bosses are too busy. If we have to get them involved in the nitty gritty then we’re not doing our job properly.

Nancy: My boss gives me a brief and the budget but that’s it. When it comes to negotiating or deciding if we need to spend money on something it’s all down to me.

Esther Dawson EA to CEO at Ridgeview

Esther: My boss will set the theme, then the marketing team makes it tangible.

I’m given a budget and it’s up to me how to spend it. I keep her up to date but she gets more involved towards the end.

Some suppliers say they don’t think PAs have any purchasing power.

What would you say to that?

Emily: Really? I mean it’s our job!

If our company is having an event it’s my responsibility to make it work.

Do you look for a complete package, or do you use various suppliers?

Esther: I normally start with my own list.

That might be cynical, but it’s nice to give business to people you’ve used before to build the relationship.

Emily: Maybe with your first few events you should keep everything in house to make it easier, but as you gain experience you can start to source other suppliers. The more events you do the more relationships you build.

Has anything ever gone wrong that has made you think on your feet to find a solution?

Emily: Emily and I had a speaker’s car break down on the night of one of our networking events. We just had to be honest with the PAs. Luckily, one of the ladies who came along was someone who has a very interesting career story, and she offered to speak for us instead.

Esther: At my old company we’d held our Christmas party at the same venue for four or five years and suddenly one year everything just seemed to go wrong. I was honest with my contact and she was mortified. We booked it again the following year, so that bad experience didn’t ruin my relationship with them. I remember another event where some of the delegates were sharing rooms but the hotel had only issued one key per room. We only had an hour and a half to programme more.

I got big brownie points because my boss saw me working out the solution before they even knew there was a problem.

Nancy Joy PA to Resort Director at Bourne Leisure

Do you have the power to negotiate if something goes wrong?

Nancy: There’s no harm in asking. If you have a relationship with a venue they’ll want to give you compensation. It’s important to have the courage to negotiate.

What sort of thanks do you get after the event?

Nancy: I’m quite lucky in that there’s always a thank you for everyone, from the chefs to the cleaners. He understands there’s a lot of hard work that goes into it.

All the stress and pressure is worth seeing an event go well. It’s not the biggest part of my role, but it’s still my favourite part.

Esther: My boss takes the team out for lunch the next day and gives us the afternoon off. I normally write a note to everyone afterward to thank them for helping me.

Do reward schemes matter?

Emily: I’d rather pay a little more and know the event is going to be good.

People judge me on my events so I can’t be seen as doing a mediocre job for the sake of a freebie.

What tips can you give other PAs when planning events?

Emily: Speak to other PAs. Esther and I run a regional PA network for that exact reason. There are lots of online groups too. We all want to help each other.

Esther: Ask your boss questions to get more information. When you find a venue, they can recommend suppliers for AV and theming. Utilise other people’s knowledge rather than relying on your own research.

IN CONCLUSION This discussion proves that PAs really do hold the power when it comes to booking venues and suppliers for their company events.

Even if it’s not a large part of their job, they’re still trusted to make decisions on where they spend their budget.

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AN AWARD WINNING GRADE II LISTED GEORGIAN TOWNHOUSE OFFERING OVER 30 EVENT SPACES FOR 2-300 GUESTS IN THE HEART OF LONDON’S WEST END

To arrange a private show around call our venue team on 020 7307 2474 or email venue@11cavendishsq.com

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SUPPLIER GUIDE

PA Life March/April 2017

Supplier Guide We’re helping you gear up for summer with a selection of fantastic outdoor spaces that are perfect for warm-weather soirées. Elsewhere, we look at prestigious academic venues that offer a complete corporate event solution. Finally, it’s time to follow the tracks to some of the UK’s best train lines for business travel

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EXPERIENCE YOUR EVENT, THE WOBURN HOUSE WAY

SAVE 10 % Quote “PA LIFE SPRING” to SAVE 10 % on all bookings for 30+ delegates made before 30th April 2017* 5 MIN WALK FROM EUSTON FREE WI-FI & AV SUPPORT 8 VERSATILE SPACES FOR UP TO 200 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK UNTIL 11PM

Call 020 7419 5489 Email bookings@woburnhouse.co.uk www.woburnhouse.co.uk @WoburnHousecc

20 Tavistock Square London, WC1H 9HQ

*all bookings should be between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday and are subject to VAT

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OUTDOOR SPACES

BMA HOUSE Sip on a refreshing gin cocktail on arrival, tuck into a classic British BBQ and enjoy Chef’s pick of English teatime treats, all from £80 +VAT per person.

To book, contact the events team on 020 7874 7020 or events@bma.org.uk. bmahouse.org.uk

Delight in a summer of hearty British food, English garden party theming and games at BMA House. The venue’s two beautiful outdoor spaces, The Garden and The Courtyard, are ideal hidden gems of tranquillity in central London for up to 320 guests.

KIA OVAL your summer BBQ or drinks reception, for up to 600 guests.

It’s also the perfect spot to enjoy a Pimm’s or prosecco with clients or colleagues while you watch Surrey cricket in the ever-popular T20 Blast over the duration of the summer. events.kiaoval.com | enquiries@kiaoval.com

Where else in the capital city offers a stunning view of the London skyline from one side, and a world-famous sports pitch on the other?

The Corinthian Roof Terrace at the Kia Oval is located just five minutes’ walk from Vauxhall station and is the ideal location for

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University of Roehampton London SW15 5PH

020 7882 8174

Elm Grove Grove House Parkstead House

QMHospitality.co.uk

ALL YOUR SUMMER CONFERENCE NEEDS ON ONE SITE IN CENTRAL LONDON Providing conference venues, accommodation and dining on one site in London E1 throughout the summer as well as year-round venue hire.

Let us plan your next event.

Whatever your event or budget our range of venues in SW15 provide a wide choice of meeting rooms and outdoor spaces.

RESIDENTIAL DELEGATE RATES

“The team were brilliant, from the booking stage through to delivering the workshop. Everything was spot on, food was good and the service from the Roehampton staff was great.”

FROM

£ 95+VAT

Creating inspiring moments 020 8392 3505

@RoeVenues

conferences@roehampton.ac.uk www.roehamptonvenues.co.uk

Roehampton Venues_PA Life_1/4 page advert_103mm x 148mm.indd 1

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The

ENGLISH

GARDEN PARTY

BMA HOUSE

BMA House welcomes you to a summer of hearty British food, beautiful outdoor surroundings and classic English garden theming – – – – – –

Tranquil outside space plus indoor room as wet weather option Arrival Gin cocktail or mocktail with amuse bouche Hearty British BBQ with colourful summer salads & delightful dessert Two drinks per person (beer, wine, Prosecco or soft) Water throughout the event English garden theming

For extra theming & garden games we have ideas already put together so all you need to do is pick and pay – we’ll do the rest! £80 + VAT per person Courtyard, Snow & Paget rooms – minimum numbers 90 Garden & Garden room – minimum numbers 60

Come and visit BMA House & enjoy summer with us!

Call 020 7874 7020 or email events@bma.org.uk BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JP www.bmahouse.org.uk @BMAHousevenue

20170087 PA Life outdoor venues HP advert 210x148.indd 1 22 PALife March/April.indd 3

Facebook.com/ bmahouse

@bmahousevenue

bloomsburybunch. wordpress.com

08/02/2017 19/03/2017 15:19 12:04

OUTDOOR SPACES

LORD’S CRICKET GROUND Lord’s offers a trio of venues for alfresco parties and drinks receptions in the heart of London. The Pavilion Roof Terrace is a beautiful space with a long balcony that boasts stunning views of the ground with space for up to 200 guests.

Meanwhile, The Mound Stand terrace offers a versatile outdoor reception area for up to 350 guests.

Alternatively, the Harris Garden provides a tranquil oasis for up to 200 guests. lords.org

MIDDLE TEMPLE HALL The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is steeped in more than 400 years of history. Middle Temple Hall is situated in open courtyards and gardens, creating an idyllic escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, yet with the River Thames in view.

With more than 1,000 square metres of landscaped lawns and awardwinning planting, the gardens offer the ideal setting for receptions and summer parties. The addition of a marquee in the garden accommodates up to 1,000 guests. middletemplehall.org.uk

NO 4 HAMILTON PLACE With stunning views that just can’t be rivalled across Park Lane to Hyde Park, the Roof Terrace at No 4 Hamilton Place is one of a select few locations in Central London offering an exclusive outside location in a garden setting.

Double bow-front glass window doors open directly from the Argyll Room onto the first-floor terrace. Hire of the space includes access via The Argyll Room, providing an indoor retreat in case of bad weather. 4hp.org.uk

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ACADEMIC VENUES

ROEHAMPTON VENUES terrace with views overlooking London and 30 guest bedrooms on site. The portfolio will have you seeing academic venues in a whole different light. roehamptonvenues.co.uk | 0208 392 3505

With a selection of venues and outdoor spaces, Roehampton Venues has something for every event brief. The newly-opened Elm Grove Conference Centre is at the heart of Roehampton Venues and offers a range of meeting spaces, a top-floor

WOBURN HOUSE by personalised service, an excellent choice of food and drink and a dedicated AV technician.

DDR starts from ÂŁ45 +VAT. Quote PA LIFE SPRING to save 10% on bookings made before 30 April 2017 for groups of 30 delegates or more.

To find out more: woburnhouse.co.uk | 020 7419 5489

This central London venue is within close walking distance of Euston and Kings Cross St Pancras, making it easily accessible for both international and UK events. The Main Hall is ideal for board meetings, training days, evening dinners and everything in between. There are a further seven spaces, perfect for breakout sessions or smaller meetings. Every event is accompanied

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ACADEMIC VENUES

QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON newly opened Graduate Centre. Flexibility is at the heart of QMUL’s venues, with options for more than 450 square metres of exhibition space alongside dining for 500 and accommodation for 1,000 delegates. qmhospitality.co.uk

Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), through Events & Hospitality QM, offers a unique setting for those looking for venue hire at a Russell Group university. It features Grade II-listed venues and award-winning spaces along with the

ROYAL HOLLOWAY experienced events team to cater for everything from largescale residential conferences and banquets to smaller business meetings.

Contact the team at Royal Holloway today to see how they can help with your event.

Call 01784 443045 Email sales-office@royalholloway.ac.uk Visit the website at venue.royalholloway.ac.uk

The stunning Grade I-listed Founder’s Building at Royal Holloway, with its flamboyant architecture, is an unforgettable venue for your event.

Experience the majestic Picture Gallery, the original Victorian dining hall with its plethora of original features, the beautiful quadrangles and the 135 acres of parkland located in Egham, Surrey.

Royal Holloway offers a variety of event spaces, as well as on-site accommodation and in-house catering, allowing the

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An inspiring venue for any event 

The perfect venue for residential conferences, day meetings, banquets, parties, training, group stay or team building;



A portfolio of versatile spaces, with cutting-edge conference facilities to suit every type of event;



Set in 135 acres of beautiful parkland with easy access to the M25, Heathrow and London Waterloo;



A combination of state-of-the-art conference facilities and breath-taking Victorian architecture;



Modern accommodation and expert catering on-site;



A dedicated team of experienced staff offering a full Conference Management Service. /royalhollowayconferences

@rhulconferences

For more information and to check availability   

Call 01784 443045 Visit venue.royalholloway.ac.uk or Email sales-office@royalholloway.ac.uk

The elegant Edwardian Town House is a magnificent, central London venue providing the finest views over Hyde Park make for the perfect summer party venue.

Our Summer BBQ and Reception Packages have been designed to make the most of your budget to include venue hire and unlimited drinks to refresh your summer evening.

For more information contact the Venue Team on 020 7670 4314 or hello@4hp.org.uk No. 4 Hamilton Place, London W1J 7BQ

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TRAIN LINES

Part of Deutsche Bahn, Arriva UK Trains’ network connects the three countries of Great Britain; Arriva Trains Wales, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, Grand Central and Northern operate a range of services, from rural commuter lines to long-distance and inter-urban journeys.

As an expanding business, Arriva is looking to the future to find new ways to improve its transport services, with investments in everything from on-board passenger

technologies and simpler ticketing to innovative ways to reduce environmental impact. The operator wants to go beyond everyday expectations.

Explore ways to make your business rail travel more effective – connect with Arriva at arriva.co.uk/uk-trains

Nothing beats those face-to-face meetings and booking train travel should never be a barrier. Specifically designed with SMEs in mind, Railblazers is a free online service that makes booking easier. And what’s better – an account is completely free.

MANAGE THOSE INVOICES AT THE CLICK OF A BUTTON Avoid the paperwork stacking up with an easy-to-use invoicing system that lets you set the budget for other departments and gets them to stick to it.

NO FEES, NO PROBLEMS Those pesky credit card or operating fees have gone.

Just whip out the plastic and get cracking. So easy!

SURF’S UP IN STANDARD That’s right, onboard wifi with Virgin Trains along the east coast is now free in Standard when booking through Railblazers.

Thank goodness your colleagues will be able to send you those thank-you emails while on the go!

To create your account and for more information, check out railblazers.co.uk

THE MORE THE MERRIER Your colleagues can check their own travel details and book their own trips. All while you keep a hold of the financial reigns.

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HOTEL BOOKING

Room Mate

In the crowded hotel booking market, it takes something remarkable to stand out.

One such company is Roomex.com, the leading corporate hotel booking service for business travel. With offices in Dublin and London, the site offers best available corporate rates at more than 550,000 hotels worldwide who arrives at a hotel and finds there is no room for them.

Remarkably, Roomex takes care of this by calling each hotel before arrival to reconfirm the booking.

Sales Director at Roomex Michael Steele points out that although the tool is designed for online self-booking, key users often remark upon the effectiveness of the offline support team. “We recently commissioned a customer feedback survey from an independent third party, which reported that customers love the fact that Roomex saves time and money. To be honest we expected to hear that, but we were more surprised by the fact that users appreciate the offline support so much. In the words of the Office Manager of Tradition, a large London-based Finance House, the thing that sets Roomex apart is “definitely customer service”.

She said: “We just don’t get the same attention anywhere else”.

Steele continues: “This can be attributed to the fact that Roomex works on a no-contract and no-fee model. Our users could in theory stop using us tomorrow but they don’t because we deliver on what we say we will do every day. This model puts the onus firmly on Roomex to deliver and ensures the customer is firmly at the centre of every decision we make.”

Roomex.com

Roomex believes that office managers, EAs and PAs are the key beneficiaries of the service, allowing them to continue with their busy day while the Roomex support team acts like an outsourced hotel booking agent. From a booker point of view, time savings are essential, as well as the knowledge that best rates are being achieved. Roomex provides the ability to confirm reservations in under 60 seconds and all bookings can be tagged with cost centres to provide live reporting.

The feedback from office managers is impressive.

“We have been using Roomex to manage our staff accommodation bookings for a number of months now.

In that time, we have experienced significant time savings and cost savings,“ says the EA to CEO, Irish Wheelchair Association.

Speed is again the key benefit for the Office Manager of Keystone Group UK: “We have been using Roomex for our hotel bookings since October 2015 and our average savings are 23 per cent, which I am more than delighted with.

The booking system is flawless and so easy and quick to use.

We have saved precious minutes and indeed hours by not having to shop around to find the best prices.”

From a booker perspective peace of mind is key. No-one wants to get a late-night phone call from an angry colleague

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Special discount offers from our exclusive partners Access to all PA Life networking events VIP invites to special partner events VIP invites to the PA Life Summit Discounted attendance to the PA Life Training Day Invites to lunch with our editorial team Member only competitions

palife.co.uk/pa-life-club

London pa awards

London PA Awards Nominations are now open for this year’s London PA Awards, an event designed to recognise and reward the hard-working assistants of the capital. We asked founder Amy Law to explain why she created this prestigious celebration to be there, the unsung hero that takes this responsibility to heart and delivers with pride.

These are the people that the London PA Awards is seeking to recognise by creating a platform and a voice for them to be rewarded for their endeavours. Many of you reading this article will have had moments when this would have made all the difference in your career – to be given a chance to be recognised by your peers, colleagues, mentors and counterparts.

This is why the London PA Awards is run by a select group of previous winners, key members of the London business community and members of the PA and EA community.

It is essential that the people judging the awards should know and appreciate the tasks and demands that are placed on the nominees and truly recognise the diversity and extra miles these people go.

It is incredibly hard to take praise and also to give applause in many cases, but when it is bestowed upon you as an individual there is no greater feeling of accomplishment than the belief that you have made an impact. How many times have you wanted to really say thank you and not known how?

Many people have asked me since the launch of the London PA Awards back in 2014 why I did it. The response comes in the form of another question – have you ever seen what an average PA does in one day? Now see what an awardwinning PA does. You will then have your answer, and you will want to show your appreciation.

It has been a pleasure for the last 15 years to interact with this powerful community that holds such diverse and variable roles, regularly tasked with “Anika Rice”-style challenges that would have seen many people dashing for their Lycra. These individuals have to glide like swans and have SAS-like endurance to get the task done.

It’s not all about last-minute deadlines and manic moments but can actually be about celebrating the individuals who we believe are the life blood of the organisation. The community that helps mentor, support, create more efficient systems and procedures, reduce costs through negotiation, or simply reflect the company ethos; the tasks that everyone within the organisation seems to know needs to be completed but are not quite sure how or who completes them. One individual always seems

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london pa awards

to take on the ever-growing challenges that we all face in the business environment. Who knew you could have a networking event based around confidence and presentations, while having a burlesque lesson or simply engaging in a social engagement workshop prior to champagne tasting?

I know that you are all incredibly busy people that are probably organising a networking event, formatting a word document, or rearranging a meeting schedule while reading this article. Stop just for a moment; take some time to reflect and before you turn this page, think of the how you would feel if you were nominated. Do you know someone that should be?

As Nike would say, “Just do it.” See you at the nominations party!

For further information visit londonpawards.co.uk

Or show your appreciation for how much that person has achieved? Maybe you have found a platform or forum before to express your appreciation and there has been a cost involved, you are not senior enough, or it is a long, complicated process.

The London PA Awards have made this process as simple and cost effective as possible. It’s free – it can’t be more cost effective than that.

We do require your time and effort, as anyone can nominate.

We just need to know the reason for your nomination so that we can validate the application through contact. Just tell us their story and we will then be able to discover more.

When creating the London PA Awards, we wanted to develop a platform for individuals to be recognised, many of whom have gone to receive promotions, financial remuneration and even mentor roles from external organisation.

We also wanted to create a support structure that will allow many to develop a private network that can facilitate a secure, educational and engaging community. To develop and grow their own personal network to allow additional resources

Amy Law, Head of Sales at the Hippodrome Casino, started the London PA Awards back in 2014 with founding sponsor the Hippodrome Casino, choosing to celebrate the incredible and invaluable roles of the PA community. She has more than 15 years’ experience and knowledge in hospitality and event sales working across the hotel, restaurant and bar sectors

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Connecting business across the UK Arriva UK Trains’ network reaches far and wide; CrossCountry, Chiltern Railways, Grand Central, Arriva Trains Wales and Northern operate a range of services, from rural commuter lines to long distance and inter-urban journeys. Arriva UK Trains connects the three countries of Great Britain and collectively runs 4,186 services each weekday.

Connecting people and communities to what’s important to them.

Aberdeen

Glasgow

We will always go the extra mile for our customers.

Edinburgh

Carlisle

Newcastle Sunderland Middlesbrough

Barrowin-Furness

Delivering great service, on great journeys across Great Britain.

Blackpool Holyhead

We provide great value and enjoyable journeys that help remove the limits on where businesses can go.

Bangor

Doncaster Sheffield Lincoln Stoke-on-Trent Nottingham Birmingham

Oxford

Cardiff Swansea

Explore ways to make your business rail travel more effective – connect with us at: arriva.co.uk/uk-trains

Aylesbury Stansted London

Bournemouth

Penzance

Hull Grimsby

Manchester Liverpool

Shrewsbury

We are passionate about making sure that your journey with us is a great experience.

Scarborough

York Preston Leeds

Guildford

BUSINESS TRAVEL

Business in the Alps Austria is home to some of the best ski spots in the world, including arlberg1800 Resort, but not many companies know it’s the ideal location for summer activities too. Molly Dyson investigates

following a fire in the 1950s), arlberg1800 features a selection of hotels, suites, chalets and award-winning restaurants surrounded by challenging and breath-taking slopes.

I visit at the height of ski season in January. Our hostess Sandrina tells me it’s the best time to see the resort in full swing; we’re really here to find out about the location’s usefulness for corporate groups during summer. Local expert Andy Butterworth of Kaluma Travel has spared no expense in getting us to St Christoph, with a two-hour flight from London Gatwick direct to Innsbruck airport and a comfy taxi to take us the remaining 45 minutes up into the mountains.

Owing to Florian’s passion for supporting artists and musicians, the resort has recently undergone a €26 million (roughly £23 million) redevelopment programme that included

Ski trips have long been a popular corporate retreat, a chance for executives to hit the slopes and get to know their clients better in order to do more business. Fewer places offer greater snowy hotspots than the Alps, Europe’s highest and most extensive mountain range – scenic views and powder kept fresh by crisp temperatures, all within a couple of hours of many cities, including London. While the area is more well known for its winters, summer is becoming a popular time to head for the hills in search of intimate team-building opportunities.

Nestled in the Tyrol region in the Austrian section of the mountain range, St Christoph is home to some of the best and most exclusive destinations in the country, not least of which is arlberg1800 Resort. Lovingly run by owner Florian Werner (whose grandfather bought the resort and rebuilt it

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BUSINESS TRAVEL

before I meet my instructor Liam, who hails from the UK. He proves to be a brilliant teacher, as after only a few falls, he has me and another journalist in the group zipping down a short slope.

Lunch today takes place at the Hospiz Alm, where you can find Florian’s ‘retired’ father Adi overseeing everything to make sure the restaurant runs to a high standard. I can testify that he must be doing something right.

After spending the morning on skis, sitting on the VIP balcony basking in the warming sun while we sample amazing Austrian cuisine is a welcome break. The Hospiz Alm serves hearty meals during the day (think burgers, heaping salads and of course plenty of sausages), but at night it transforms into a fine dining establishment, with Head Chef Stefan Griessler preparing elegant dishes paired with wine from Adi’s big bottle cellar, where you’ll find the world’s largest collection of wines in specially made large bottles.

Skiing can be quite hard on the body, so those looking for some respite will find it at the on-site spa. My visit includes an exfoliating back scrub with grape seeds followed by a soothing massage that nearly puts me to sleep.

Our final evening at arlberg1800 is a fun one; once a week the hotel opens its kitchen for a ‘party’ complete with traditional Austrian polka. Guests are invited to come in, donning a tall white chef’s hat, to take a tour of the facilities and sample a selection of starters from all over the world while greeting the staff. On other nights, visitors can pay to have an exclusive wine tasting in the property’s 13th-century cellar – the only remaining feature left from the original building that once stood on the site.

The next time your boss asks for suggestions on a great summer getaway for the team, I can’t stress enough how much I recommend arlberg1800 Resort – friendly, beautiful and full of charm.

Arlberg1800 RESORT, St Christoph, A-6580 St Anton; +43 5446 2611; arlberg1800resort.at

a state-of-the-art concert hall and gallery situated underneath a set of 17 exclusive suites, which opened in October 2015.

The building plays host to concerts (usually jazz or classical artists, both local and international) two nights a week yearround while the art gallery is open to the public Friday to Sunday, but it can be hired for events outside of those times.

Since it opened, the venue has seen the likes of McDonalds and Swiss Re hold large annual meetings with exclusive use.

At the Arlberg Hospiz Hotel, where I stay during my visit, you’ll find 52 cosy guest rooms, 29 apartments and four suites, as well as four restaurants that seat up to 300 people.

The warm and welcoming bar features the largest open fireplace in the Alps – perfect for long chats over a pint or sampling the local favourite Schnapps. The hotel restaurants serve only the finest food and cater for any taste and dietary requirement – I’m pleasantly surprised to find a selection of gluten-free bread and pasta has been made fresh on site to accommodate my intolerance.

After our first lunch at the resort, we head further up the mountain to Lech to meet the team from Eventation, an agency that offers bespoke activities designed to bring a fun element to meetings and events in the area. We’re here for a taster of the GPS rally, a popular summertime teambuilding exercise. With GPS devices in hand, we trek through the snow to find a series of challenges, including a ‘guess the scent’ quiz and a difficult balancing act where we all have to get onto a rope strung between two trees without anyone falling off. It’s a really hard task in full snow gear, but we almost manage it as a team. For the summer months, Eventation offers a wealth of activities, from bike rides, hiking and white water rafting to archery, ‘cross golf’ and even drone flying.

Day two brings much excitement for me, as I’m about to try skiing for the very first time. The Arlberg Hospiz features a sports equipment centre on the bottom floor, where you can rent or buy skis, boots and helmets to hit the slopes. The staff here is very helpful in making sure I’m comfortable in my gear

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SALOM O NS E STAT E

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PALife_MSLAdvert_210mm x 297mm_V3.indd 1

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RESTAURANT REVIEW

CONTACT The Atlantic Hotel & Ocean Restaurant Le Mont de la Pulente, St Brelade Jersey JE3 8HE, Channel Islands 01534 744101 theatlantichotel.com/dining/ocean-restaurant

Island getaway Jersey is just a hop, skip and a jump from London and offers a great location for business meetings and dinners, as Daniel Fountain discovers

“We’re very proud of what has been achieved,” his wife Treena adds. It’s hard to disagree with them as I take in my surroundings. Given its coastal locale and incredible views over St Ouen’s Bay and the vast Atlantic expanse beyond, the décor is markedly influenced by the oceanic setting. Stark blues are set against subtle creams and whites, while American shutter windows and ornate pillars give the space an almost colonial feel.

The main dining room allows for an elegant but convivial atmosphere; it doesn’t have the air of pretentiousness that other destinations in the Michelin guide can sometimes have.

Another added bonus is the ability to book the private dining room – perfect for client entertaining or impressing up to 12 guests – which allows for more privacy and seclusion.

After starting with an aperitif in the modestly-sized bar, we are shown to our ocean-view table by restaurant manager and exceptional maître’d Martinho de Sousa, whose team are professional to a tee but never overbearing. Small touches like

When you are asked politely on arrival if you can wait before taking photographs to allow one of Jersey’s richest men to finish his lunch, it should give you some idea of the high esteem in which Ocean is held. Indeed, this Michelin-starred gastronomic delight has been making waves across the UK restaurant scene since it was recognised at the highest level back in 2007.

The subsequent result a decade later is down to the successful collaboration between two champions of Jersey; hotelier Patrick Burke who owns the adjoining Atlantic Hotel and head chef Mark Jordan. What they have created with this restaurant is nothing short of superb. My visit coincides with a review of the hotel, with which Ocean has formed a symbiotic relationship, and the two complement each other seamlessly.

“We wanted to create something unique that also showcases the very best this island has to offer,” owner and dining companion for the evening Patrick explains.

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All dishes, as expected, are served with the flair, precision and craftsmanship befitting of Mark Jordan’s ever-increasing reputation and each course is paired with a carefully-chosen wine from head sommelier Richard Burton’s extensive selection; in this case a Burgundy chardonnay, a South African cabernet sauvignon and a Sauternais sweet wine. Despite the artistry and elegance of the dishes, portions are not undersized and don’t leave room for much more, but a cheese selection is available as part of the more extensive taster menu.

With the benefit of a small, luxury hotel attached and Jersey only a 55-minute flight from London, this really is the perfect spot for a weekend getaway at a venue with a difference.

Simply put, Ocean is fantastic and justifiably a destination within itself and certainly won’t disappoint. But be sure to book yourself a table – this little slice of Jersey has built quite the reputation.

Daniel Fountain

Jersey butter served on a beach pebble and amuse-bouches such as a shot of gazpacho set the tone for what is to come.

One of the things that Mark Jordan has prided himself on since first arriving at Ocean in 2004 is his use of Jersey produce and working closely with local suppliers. So it seems almost rude not to indulge in some of his island-influenced culinary creations.

To start, I opt for a taste of the sea with the Jersey shellfish in an oyster mayonnaise accompanied by sea herbs and a tomato consommé. It’s a wonderful showcase of one of the delicacies this Bailiwick is famous for. The other, of course, is Jersey beef from the famous breed found on the island; and I plump for an assiette, which comes with a lobster ravioli, a deconstructed Dauphinoise in the form of a cappuccino and a beef marmite reduction. My dessert of chocolate gelée – a decadent blend of dark cocoa, Gianduja and praline ice cream – is preceded by a raspberry sorbet palate cleanser.

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Regent’s Park, London

Sizzling Summer Soirées at the RCP Nestled between the Nash terrace buildings of Regent’s Park is the Royal College of Physicians, an imposing modern masterpiece and grade 1 listed modern building, with one of London’s only Medicinal gardens, forming a fantastic backdrop for a summer soirée.

This summer, the venue is offering two fantastic summer party packages. A three hour BBQ bites reception package @ £25 +vat per person, or a four hour BBQ party package @ £45 +vat per person with an optional £30 +vat per person drinks package available. Picnic blankets, parasols, garden benches and garden lighting are all included, creating the perfect formula for a relaxing summer evening with co-workers and friends.

The mouth-watering menus include a range of choices from hickory-smoked plantation pork belly to beanie patties, with spicy minced vegetables and

Royal College of Physicians Advertorial_v4.indd 1

raspberry Eton mess. There is also a range of supplementary items such as summer cocktails, fruity flower arrangements, stretch tents and jazz bands which we can recommend to complement your event.

The venue also boasts an award winning conference centre with a range of purpose designed facilities, including meeting rooms, auditoriums, exhibition spaces and dining facilities, with a good mixture of old and new styles to suit all tastes.

The building has an atmosphere of space and light, with stylish modern architecture

and has been awarded small museum status and an accolade of a Grade 1 listing in recognition of its architectural importance. Bespoke tours of the Heritage collection, architecture or unique physic garden are available on request.

In its central attractive location, the RCP is an ideal venue for your event and we look forward to welcoming you!

Contact us Tel: 020 7034 4900 Email: events@rcplondon.ac.uk Web: www.rcpevents.co.uk Twitter: @RCPVenue

20/03/2017 16:05

RESTAURANT REVIEW

TRIED &TASTED Texture serves modern European food with Scandinavian influences.

It’s a speed-dial cert for many assistants, says Amelia Walker

WHAT WE ATE Tasting menu for the whole table £95 per person; additional cheese selection £15.50; five complementing wines £65 per person; five-wine prestige pairing £95 per person

CONTACT 34 Portman St, Marylebone London W1H 7BY 020 7224 0028 texture-restaurant.co.uk

or fluff. The modern cooking starts to appear and is light, delicate and healthy. We have a Norwegian king crab with macadamia nuts and ginger broth oozing wasabi, and anjou pigeon and the black angus beef theatrically served on smoky bark. Not only are these of the most incredible quality, but they are also sourced using eco-friendly, sustainable techniques.

The Jerusalem artichoke hazelnut black truffle appetiser is a small dish with big lungs. Veal strips cooked to perfect pinkness and the Icelandic lightly salted cod with avocado brandade are fantastic. The warm smoked eel bonito broth is not my cup of tea, but I’m won over by the salmon and caviar on rye bread decorated with ‘cucumber snow’, which forms a pretty picture. Pickled vegetables, creams, smears of ruffled sauces, blends of unusual textures and tangy flavours are the norm here, all artfully presented in unexpected and imaginative formats – guaranteed convo starters. Service is super attentive and undoubtedly slick, but just that bit too fussy and neat.

For quick business lunches as opposed to a leisurely dinner, a more affordable set menu is available at lunchtime. Guests can expect the likes of yellow fin tuna tartare, cornish pollock, lamb and coconut cake for dessert as example dishes. Two courses are £29; three courses £33.50 and three courses with water and coffee or tea for £36.90.

Amelia Walker

“Do you like bubbles?” I’m a fan of this place already after taking my seat at a table nestled subtly in a corner of the stylish dining room. It rocks a vibe of chic simplicity, mint green leather, modern art and colourful floral arrangements.

Housed in a beautifully restored Georgian building on Portman Square in the heart of Mayfair, the main dining room comfortably seats 50 guests while the private dining area is ideal for smaller parties seeking a more intimate experience.

When a PA and I were talking at a PA Life Club networking event, I mentioned that Nordic cuisine is the latest foodie trend and she told me about Texture. I mention this to manager Robert Dokler, to which he responds: “That’s fantastic to hear, although I’m not surprised. Around 30 per cent of all our bookings are made by PAs.” My companion and I visit on a Tuesday at 6.30pm, having come straight from work. There is a lot of staff prepared for the bustling evening ahead. We’re informed that Chef has arranged a personal tasting menu for us, combining dishes from both the À la Carte and Set Tasting Menu. “You can look forward to an evening of surprises,” says Dokler. If the sweet, warm breads are anything to go by, then we’re in for a moreish evening.

Each individual dish has been paired with a brilliant wine courtesy of the too cool for school sommelier, who explains in a simple sentence her reason for every match – no faffing

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RESTAURANT REVIEW

TRIED &TASTED Margot London is a newly opened Italian restaurant in the heart of Covent Garden and is sure to impress the boss, says Amelia Walker

WHAT WE ATE 30-month cured Parma ham – £8 Gramigna pasta with homemade sausage and mushrooms – £9.50 Tagliolini with Sicilian red prawns – £13.50 Seared fillet of red mullet – £22.00 Baked veal ossobuco, saffron risotto ‘alla Milanese’ – £28 Roast suckling pork belly – £22 Chocolate, Morello cherry and rum cremeux – £8.50 Rum baba, tangerine cream – £7 Gianduja mousse, mixed berries poached in Cassis – £8.50

Lovely, wonderful Margot. For those who hanker after white tablecloths and chipper front-of-house staff who do things properly, this establishment is for you.

Bang in the heart of London, here’s a great new address for fancy business lunches or dinners, or if you find yourself in the West End pre or post-theatre. This newbie is handsomely kitted out with the sexiest leather banquettes (perfect for hot dates and up-to-no-good afternoon gossiping), plus soft lighting and is discreet and classy.

Executive Chef Maurizio Morelli heads up the kitchen of Paulo de Tarso and Nicolas Jaouën’s venture. So, what about the actual food? The menu brims with promise, with many of the courses available as both a starter and main – ideal for diners like me who want the best of both but can never decide between two.

My companions and I have opted to go with the recommendations of our waiter, who tells us: “Chef expresses his skills best in the mains, which you can also have as starters.”

We begin with his suggestion of a simple 30-month cured Parma ham, sliced oh so finely and perfectly cooked, as well as absurdly ‘light’ Gramigna pasta with homemade sausage and mushrooms, and the taglionlini with Sicilian red prawns to share, deftly seasoned for destruction.

Mains of robust baked veal ossobuco, saffron risotto ‘alla Milanese’ and veal jus plus a seared fillet of red mullet with squid ink dressing follow – and are light and excellent. A juicy slab of suckling pork belly is lasciviously soft. Our party ends up sharing plates, unable to decide which is the winner.

Looks can be deceiving; the plates look rich in flavour and size

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PA VERDICT For assistants looking for a smart restaurant that isn’t stupidly expensive and will impress the boss and any company clients, Margot is sure to make a good impression.

The number one factor for me when booking somewhere is first and foremost the service, which was brilliant here. Staff were attentive, friendly and professional. If I was to book the downstairs for a private party I’d feel confident that my boss and guests would be taken care of and things would run smoothly. The menu is varied, with the go-to standard Italian favourites mixed with alternative dishes. My red mullet was so good and the chocolate desserts far too moreish. The sommelier knows his stuff; my glass was never empty. Its location in Covent Garden is central and is a refreshing option away from the more obvious restaurants and bars around the main tourist square.

J Wood, Freelance PA

form of art has my heart. Note that bottles here don’t come cheap – stick to a large glass and you’ll save a significant amount.

The brunch menu, I have heard from an associate, is one to tick off on the weekend hit-list. Plates of Italian lemon crepes with wild berries and mascarpone, and fried eggs with burrata and finocchiona Toscana salami on a Saturday morning sound like a treat in themselves should you wish to simply swing by and informally sit up at the buzzy bar. Britain’s great love affair with Italian dining remains true here.

Amelia Walker

but in fact leave me feeling comfortable and not weighed down at all.

Our waiter insists on us trying a selection of desserts despite our feeble protests and he soon arrives with a chocolate, Morello cherry and rum cremeux, blood orange and Campari granite, which is rich and decadent. My favourite, the rum baba, tangerine cream and orange sauce is tangy and sharp, and the Gianduja mousse, mixed berries poached in Cassis and chocolate sorbet finishes us off. We concede. No more.

Margot is one of those restaurants I will now dish out as a tip when asked for recommendations for an all-round dining experience (FYI – private dining options are available for parties of eight or more). The super wine is worth a standalone visit itself – any restaurant that proudly displays used bottles in the

45 Great Queen St, London WC2B 5AA 020 3409 4777 margotrestaurant.com

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25th September 2017 InterContinental London – The O2 PA Life Training Day is a series of intermediate level courses, seminars and master classes aimed at PAs, EAs and Administrative Assistants who are looking at new ways to improve upon their current skills and knowledge.

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Get That Job/Enjoying the Interview Process

Making the Leap From PA to VA

Handling Stress in Tough Times

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Joanna Gaudoin

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Panel Discussion Confidence Building

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Business Travel Management

Making A Positive Professional Impact

Reclaim Your Life From the Inbox

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OPINION

The Importance of

The idea that having a positive mental attitude will help us at work – and in our lives generally – has been with us for decades. There is now a body of evidence that optimism can help us in many ways. Dr Sally Norton, Founder of vavistalife.com explains further Better chances of ditching the junk food Struggling to lose that last half a stone? We all know that when we’re feeling negative we instinctively turn to sugary and fatty foods that will give our bodies a quick burst of energy and feel-good hormones. However, this is swiftly followed by a crash in our blood sugar – leaving us feeling even worse than before.

These junk foods also do little to help us lose any weight, adding to those negative feelings that left us reaching for them in the first place! So instead, try focusing on the positives – think about how hard you’ve worked and how good you’ll feel when you finally reach your goal weight, and you’ll find those negative yearnings soon dissipate.

More likely to stick with your fitness goals Thinking about fitness in a negative way will make you more likely to bail at the first opportunity. Studies show that a positive frame of mind helps people to stick with their fitness regimes as well as their healthy eating goals. Once you get exercising, that positivity is helped even more by the endorphins that activity releases. If the thought of heading to the gym leaves you feeling miserable, then ditch the gym! Try finding different ways you could keep fit – fitness classes, swimming, or brisk walks in the fresh air. There’s something out there for everyone, and when you’ve found an activity that you really enjoy those positive feelings will make you more likely to stick with it for the long-haul.

Ways to be more optimistic?

You may want to keep a journal to record the positive things in your life. Even when things are going badly there are normally some aspects that still make you happy and it can be helpful to reflect on those from time to time. Try walking around your home and/or office looking at the people and things you care about, or recording three good things that have happened at the end of each day.

Do good deeds and recognise others for theirs. Finding ways to help your colleagues and friends can positively change someone else’s day and your own.

Many people see positivity as a genetic trait – something they are either born with or not. In the same way that we might talk about our eye colour or height, many of us will describe ourselves as naturally optimistic or pessimistic. However, in the same way that we can train our brains to appreciate healthy food, we can train ourselves to have a more positive outlook on life.

When you find yourself thinking negative thoughts about yourself, your circumstances, or even about others, STOP! Instead, force yourself to think of three positive things instead; there will always be something. If you persevere, it will become a habit. It’s well worth the effort – the benefits of being more optimistic are now being recognised in numerous studies.

Here are just a few of them.

Improved heart health A study from the University of Illinois found that those people who were most optimistic were twice as likely to be in ideal cardiovascular health compared with their pessimistic counterparts, with significantly better blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Not only this, but the optimists were also more likely to be physically active and have healthier BMIs. More likely to succeed You might think that succeeding would lead you to feeling happier, but in actual fact it works the other way around.

Studies show that a positive outlook will increase your chances of success. For example, did you know that three quarters of our success at work is linked to our optimism and how well we manage stress, rather than our IQ? And being positive could help you to achieve better results in smaller tasks – in fact, studies have shown that people who are encouraged to think positively before a math test actually did better than others.

Stress in the workplace triggers our ‘fight or flight’ response, which can lead us to focus more on a particular threat. Practising optimism and identifying what we can do to have a positive impact on a situation helps to interrupt that response, letting us think more broadly and have a sense of control.

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PA salaries

Get set for growth Experts believe an increase in demand for skilled personal and executive assistants could mean average pay for these roles will grow.

Nick Allwood from Robert Walters explores this shift in the industry

2016 was a year marked by surprise political shifts in the UK and abroad, and many feared this could see employer confidence shaken, leading firms to reduce hiring. However, despite a turbulent year, confidence among employers appears to have remained steady, with many businesses still pursuing sustainable growth in 2017 and looking to take on staff to support this.

In particular, demand for personal assistants has risen in 2017 compared to last year, with employers competing to secure top talent and driving up salaries as a result. Personal assistants with in-demand skills and experience will be able to secure pay rises of up to 10 per cent.

A shortage of highly skilled and experienced PAs has seen salaries for these professionals rise ahead of other roles.

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PA salaries

a growing demand for permanent secretarial and support staff.

As businesses plan for steady and sustainable growth, permanent staff are needed, with employers looking to invest in retaining highly skilled business support professionals. In many cases, this also means employers will offer opportunities for career development in order to ensure that they can retain high potential professionals.

Personal assistants, receptionists and administrative assistants are all highly sought after, but those with particularly valuable business skills or experience stand to secure strong salaries and benefits packages.

In particular, fluency in foreign languages remains highly sought after among support professionals. While any foreign language skills are valuable in a support role, we have seen particular demand for French, German and Spanish speakers.

In short, 2017 promises to be a great year for PAs.

As employers compete to secure top-calibre candidates for personal assistant positions drawing on a small pool of talent, salaries are increasing accordingly.

The fact that demand remains high for support staff and that businesses are prepared to compete to secure top talent is an encouraging sign that firms are set for steady growth in 2017, seeking high-calibre secretarial professionals in order to provide vital support to ensure that this growth is sustainable.

Despite an uncertain economic climate, employers are still looking to achieve steady growth in 2017, with businesses in the North West of England showing particular confidence.

This is reflected in the salary growth we have seen for secretarial and support professionals.

Permanent salary growth outstrips contract While salaries for contract secretarial and support staff are also expected to rise, permanent staff can expect to see salaries rise faster than interim or temp professionals. While opportunities certainly still exist for contract professionals there is evidently

Nick Allwood is Manager of Secretarial and Support recruitment at Robert Walters; robertwalters.co.uk

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the pa of the FUTURE

Tomorrow’s Assistant Nick Fewings, Creator of the Team DyNamics© model and expert trainer gives his thoughts on the skills future PAs will need to succeed

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the pa of the FUTURE

The business world is ever-changing, and I believe this will bring some significant opportunities for assistants – so long as they are prepared to embrace and adapt to shifting practices.

In this article I will share what I feel will be the important interpersonal skills and attributes that will support assistants in embracing future opportunities.

To clarify, I am fully aware of the myriad of job titles given to the assistant; my thoughts below are what I believe are the interpersonal skills and attributes, that will be required by those whose main responsibility, objective and focus is to support those in senior leadership positions.

While such a list would be lengthy, I have, for the purposes of this article, kept it to four of each. These, I believe, are the essential combination that will provide leaders with an assistant who is able to support them effectively and, in doing so, help them deliver the exemplary leadership required to achieve even greater success for their teams and organisations.

I believe that assistants that support leaders should not be apart from their leadership team, but a valued and integral part of it.

Interpersonal skills Below are the four interpersonal skills that I believe are the most important: 1. The Strategist. Someone who is skilled in taking appropriate decisions and planning for future eventualities. Not afraid to take action and step into the shoes of the leader when they are unavailable. A person that others will willingly follow, knowing that they have the authority to take such action.

They will also have the ability to see beyond the day-to-day operational tasks and consider future longer-term strategies, visions and goals.

2. The Communicator. A person who recognises and understands that different people have different communication needs and is able to adapt their own communication style to meet the needs of others. The ability to do this both in written and verbal communication is essential.

3. The Diplomat. Someone who through their actions, interactions and behaviours is respected by others; a person who allows others to share their ideas and thoughts openly without being dismissive of them or making snap judgements;

a person who values and appreciates the diversity of behaviours, styles and the decision-making of others; a person whom others aspire to be.

4. The Expert. A person who is knowledgeable about their role and the role of the leader that they support, i.e. what directly affects them. In addition, an individual who seeks to understand the goals of their immediate area as well as the wider organisation and constantly keeps up to speed with wider industry trends and the impact these may have on their organisation.

Attributes Last year, I undertook a survey asking people what were the key attributes they wanted to see in their leaders. I published the results in the article “Transformational Leadership: Do You Demonstrate What Your Staff Expect?”

Below are the top four attributes.

As I believe that assistants, if not already, will be an integral part of leadership teams in the future, these will be relevant to them.

1. Integrity – The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.

2. Passion – An intense desire or enthusiasm for something.

3. Visionary – Thinking about or planning the future with imagination or wisdom.

4. Empathy – The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

For those of you who are aware of the colour model of human behaviour that I utilise, you may have recognised that both the inter-personal skills and attributes fall into the four top-level behavioural styles that we all have within us but to varying degrees. As such, some of the skills and attributes will come easily to you, while others will be more of a challenge.

The ability to succeed lies within us all; the key is how emotionally intelligent and adaptable we are.

In conclusion, I believe that the seeds have been sown, that change is happening.

Momentum will increase, with assistants finding their voice, speaking up for themselves, their colleagues and the assistant community as a whole.

Be the changemakers of tomorrow.

This article originally appeared on LinkedIn Pulse

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OPINION

The other side of a

recruitment agency Recruitment agencies are designed to help connect companies with potential employees, but occasionally they can prove to be a road block for PAs, as Adam Russell discovered first hand

and trustworthy; many an agency is far from it in my experience, and yet they specialise in high-level PA roles.

I’ve had double-digit number of calls and emails not returned despite chasing a numerous times. It’s amazing the amount of emails that seem ‘to go missing’. The number of times I’ve heard ‘this job would have been perfect for you’ that I had missed because it’s a struggle to get on their books is astonishing.

The old days of calling up for a role, talking about it with the relevant person, being invited in to discuss it further and sign up with them, then being put forward, are very much long gone. I felt nothing more than a number to most of the agencies I encountered, and when I finally got on the books, most of them said it was up to me to keep watching the job boards and then let my contact know I want to apply for it.

Agencies make between 15 and 30 per cent off the back of placing someone like me, and for the level of role I’m going for, they make a lot of money for not a lot of work. So what do the ones like I’ve contacted do? A client calls them and they work out what the role is. They advertise it on their job boards and places like secsinthecity.co.uk, then wait for people to apply. They read CVs and then invite people in for interview.

They send those to the client and wait. At what point have they earned in excess of £10,000? I can’t see it myself. Not when I’ve been the one to actually put the work in, watch the job boards and then apply for it. It is so rare to have a call saying ‘this role has just come in and I think it is perfect for you’ – at least in my experience.

Due to the level of roles that I was applying for, I was generally dealing with the owners or the directors of the

“I had a **** of a day yesterday”… “You need to get off your high horse, why should I drop everything for you?” This is how I was spoken to by the founder of a high-end recruitment agency when I pointed out that they had not returned my calls in three weeks, having chased multiple times about two roles I wanted to apply for. By this stage I was still only just trying to ‘get on their books’. I had even spoken to the owner – quite by accident – the day before, who promised me a call back.

They were shocked that I had not had an email or call returned in more than three weeks. Did that promised call arrive in the end? Well yes, but a day overdue.

I’ve been a PA for more than 10 years and in my last role I was at the private office of the founder of a very well-known designer label, looking after him and his family in a 24/7 capacity. I was with him five and a half years and decided it was time to move on and take the next step in my career.

During this time, I had received multiple calls from agencies wanting our corporate and private business, promising the world and stating the sheer level of dedication they would give me and the business. I’m sure you’ve had the same calls; however, when you’re sitting the other side of the table, it’s all very different.

After I finished my previous role I decided to take a few months off and enjoy time with my partner, friends and family, and just to take some selfish time to myself. It’s a good job too, because I had forgotten that applying through agencies for roles is actually a full-time job in itself.

Agencies try to sell how wonderful and efficient they are.

As a PA/EA we pride ourselves on being efficient, concise

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says ‘what do you know about the business?’. I’ve worked in a FTSE 250 company, so I may have some useful insights.

Aside from that I’ve been a PA long enough to know the job inside and out.

Agencies forget one very big point – I may be your commodity today, but by next week I could be your client.

When those tables have turned, I will remember which agencies are good and which are not; which return calls, which don’t; those that take time to get to know me and what I’m after, and those that do not. These agencies are dealing with PAs, yet they seem to forget that. Sadly, we feel we’re not able to complain to them about how they treat us – after all, they hold the jobs that we’re after and we worry that if we cause an issue we’ll be put on the bottom of their list.

It happens. Believe me.

This is not to say that all recruitment agencies are bad.

Some have been efficient and helpful, but in my experience they are very few and far between. Perhaps other PAs have had better luck.

My awful experiences have very much left a bad taste in my mouth that makes me doubt ever using them again. I would encourage all companies to really dig and do their due diligence before using one. Even as a client I’m sure you’ve had calls not returned; for every one call they are not returning to you, there must be at least 10 of us they are not calling back that are more than qualified for your role.

It’s time the PA recruitment sector has a shake up, that agencies remember we are not just a number to them and above all one day we could very well be their client.

company; believe me, this made no difference at all. You feel confident that you will be looked after, and yet you drop off their radar very quickly. You email about a role to ask them their thoughts on it. I’m still waiting for a reply from some of them.

I am also amazed by the irrelevant tests and paperwork that are still needed to get on some firms’ books. I point blank refused to complete a typing test. I have been a PA for 10 years – I promise I can type! I know how to use Excel and PowerPoint, etc. Surely my CV would convey that when I’m used to working for UHNW; if I couldn’t type, I would not have kept my job for very long. I understand the need at entry level or first roles, or ones that require a high level of typing, but I’m very much past those days. One agency totally agreed with me and said it was a silly company policy, but there was no need for me to take it. Another agency was beyond shocked that I wouldn’t take it. “What if the employer asks for your speed?”. I replied: “If they’re basing their employment of me simply on my typing speed, it’s not a job I want.” The days when a PA was simply a typist are ancient history. I didn’t hear from that agency again.

At another, I had to make corrections to their application paperwork. I assume that it has not been updated. These are agencies that want us to have an eye for detail, and yet they can’t get their forms correct.

I find it amazing that some agencies don’t ‘walk through’ their processes and want to improve their business and know what is going right or wrong within their company. Any time I have given advice or a suggestion to improve, their face always

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OPINION

Sarah Sharp of SmartPA highlights the need for VAs and PAs to harness the power of technology and the importantance of adapting to change in order to make yourselves indispensable that is at our finger tips can ensure that we make ourselves invaluable and secure our future.

I am lucky enough to have the support of a forward-thinking network of PAs behind me. SmartPA is a forward-thinking company that shares my views. We are excited about technology that allows us to communicate in real time, anywhere in the world – technology that allows us access to limitless realms of information.

In the past, PAs have had to overcome change such as carbon paper, typewriters, computers, fax machines and the dotcom boom. Our predecessors have faced changes that they thought would threaten their livelihoods – but the PA role lives on.

You cannot deny or avoid it; death and taxes are no longer the only certainties in life – there is also change! Change is happening; we must keep up and adapt to ensure that the new emerging technologies do not threaten our livelihood.

Make technology your friend. Become indispensable.

I have been running my own virtual PA business for over a year now. It’s the best thing I ever did for my family life.

Family comes first and work fits in around it.

As a VA, I’m passionate about being organised; I know that’s what motivates me. In my business, I try to standardise all my organisation methods, which in turn means every client gets the same service whether it’s a corporate client or SME business owner. My work history before becoming a SmartPA Partner was mainly in banking. I was with Lloyds Banking Group for over 10 years. Having worked for one of the Big 4 banks, I understand the importance of moving with the times.

Technology has been attempting to replicate the role of the PA with artificial intelligence, and it’s easy to understand how some may feel that the days of the assistant might be numbered.

I firmly believe that we need to adapt and constantly upskill ourselves as we always have done in the past.

I personally think we live in an amazing era. The technology

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