A personal assistant allegedly defrauded an exclusive London school out of more than ?185,000 by duping parents into paying fees into her own bank account, a court in the capital has heard. Valerie Barber, 56, worked as a PA at Pembridge Hall School, in Notting Hill, when she allegedly stole ?186,392 between December 8, 2010 […]

The role of the personal assistant has evolved from the days of dictation and making tea. Admin skills are still a must, but modern PAs handle such a wide variety of tasks. In addition to being a great communicator and middle manager, you need to know your boss as well as he knows himself. Here […]

Hilton London Paddington offers PA Life readers the unique chance to win a two-night stay in vibrant London ? a city at the centre of the world ? and a world in one city. London?s history stretches back over thousands of years, and the city boasts four World Heritage Sites: the Palace of Westminster and […]

Food fads may come and go, but you just can?t beat a good steak dinner, writes Colette Doyle. Already hugely popular in its native South Africa and across much of the Middle East, the Meat Co chain?s first foray in the UK is located at that paean to consumerism, behemoth shopping mall Westfield London. Inside, […]

As the government continues to step up its focus on childcare provisions for working mothers and fathers, many feel that employers are neglecting those who balance their professional lives with caring for loved ones. That?s according to new research from My Family Care and enei, which found that UK businesses are not doing enough to […]

Good planning is vital to creating a successful event. Surely if you have planned everything meticulously, what could possibly go wrong? You?ve dotted every I and crossed every T.    Planning events can be fraught and often the cause of countless sleepless nights, worry and stress about how to ensure it is going to be […]

There is now growing evidence that our office environment can have a direct impact on our mental health. It?s no surprise that your job can leave you stressed, but when the office around you acts as a catalyst for such ill health, the longer-term effects could be dangerous. Research conducted by Professor Sir Cary Cooper, […]

As the personal assistant to Beyonc? – one of the most instantly recognisable and effortlessly stylish women on the planet ? you certainly wouldn?t envy Sam Greenberg?s daily task of choosing something to wear to work. From attending the Grammys in LA on a Tuesday to skydiving over New Zealand with ?Bey? herself on a […]

?Bond, James Bond? ? and a legend was born. The name conjures up the cinematic lore of villains, women, exotic locations, gadgets, one-liners ? and of course, the cars. On Tuesday 14 July, the London Film Museum Covent Garden opened its doors and rolled out the red carpet to 31 Club members for an exclusive […]

Years of reduced investment in training and development for UK professionals has led to nearly three in four businesses saying they are experiencing severe talent shortages, according to research carried out by specialist recruiter Robert Walters earlier this year. This lack of training has resulted in decreased productivity for nearly one in five firms (18%) […]

We all know the clich? – ?first impressions really do count?. But now, the statistics back it up. Just one mishandled call is all it takes to damage a company?s reputation in the eyes of the customer, according to new research on the role of the phone in shaping consumer perception by alldayPA. An overwhelming […]

?Bond in Motion? is the spectacular exhibition at the London Film Museum Covent Garden, featuring 007?s most iconic original vehicles and memorabilia, spanning 50 years. The exhibition will now be staying at the London Film Museum due to popular demand, with new exhibits planned for 2015, including vehicles from the latest Bond film Spectre. The property?s […]

When it comes to negotiating rates at venues and hotels, many have a strategy for negotiating the very best deal. Some take a hard line approach; others play venues, hotels and agencies against each other in a hope to secure to the deal. Some consolidate, whilst others don?t. Clearwater Events believes there are simple tools […]

Businesses with 250 employees or more must disclose the gender pay gap in their workplaces starting from next year, the Conservatives announced on Tuesday. Prime Minister David Cameron said in a letter to the Times that the move will “pressure” firms into boosting women?s wages, as he vows to eliminate the gender pay gap “within […]

In the past many would consider using a chauffeur-driven car as a luxury. That may still be true to some, but there are other huge benefits to using a chauffeur for business travel. Here, Chauffeur Drive London outlines the pros of private car hire. Compared to other means of transport, a chauffeur will take care […]

Much has changed since air miles and upgrades were the peak of perks for business travellers, according to the first-ever Business and Technology Travel Study by Egencia, the business travel company of Expedia. The results indicate that for travellers, mobile technology and constant connectivity are now the must-haves for productive and enjoyable business travel. Corporate trips […]

The demand for higher-level skills in British industry is set to grow in the years ahead, with sectors central to future growth, including manufacturing and construction, particularly hard-pressed. That?s according to this year?s CBI/Pearson Education and Skills survey published today.   The survey of 310 companies, which together employ over one million people, underlines the […]

Every company needs to have rules – a set of guidelines to adhere to. Problems arise however, when the office rulebook is continuously added to by the powers that be, and pernickety points that don?t necessarily need to be implemented, are. Dr. Travel Bradberry, co-author of Emotional Intelligence, highlights the 6 main rules that irritate employees […]