Hidden deep beneath the Royal Mile lies Edinburgh’s best-kept secret – a warren of hidden closes where real people lived, worked and died, known as the Real Mary King’s Close. For centuries their stories have remained untold, but now PAs can book the venue for corporate entertainment. This unforgettable five-star underground attraction is one of […]

Feel Good: how to change your mood and cope with whatever comes your way – Dr Shane Pascoe and Dr Graham Law (Capstone, £10.99) This is a practical and well-written guide to help you understand why you feel the way you do and how to deal with your own moods, as well as other people’s. […]

The Edge: how the best get better – Michael Heppell (Hodder & Stoughton, £13.99) This isn’t a book about living on the edge. It’s about having “the edge”, defining your own unique selling point and what makes you brilliant. With just one look at the content list, you’ll know this is worth a read. It […]

Gone for Good – David Bell (Penguin, £7.99) A quarrel results in Elizabeth Hampton not speaking to her mother for weeks and events take a tragic turn when the police call to say she has been found dead. When she arrives at the scene, it transpires that she was murdered. The rising energy of this […]

The Language of Flowers – Vanessa Diffenbaugh (Random House, £6.99) This novel is based around the romantic Victorian language of flowers – the symbolic meanings people placed on specific plants to convey emotion to loved ones. It’s a beautiful story about Victoria, a girl given into care, and the profound difference a foster mother made […]

We are pleased to announce that the winner of a private cookery class for 10 people at Jenius Social (pictured) is Alycia Hatt from Macquarie Capital. She is joined by Alison Mawdsley, who will enjoy a one-night stay at the new Tommyfield Hotel Rooms in Kennington. Meanwhile, Fiona Forbes from the University of the Highlands […]

At this year’s ExecSec Summit, PA Life Editor Colette Doyle led an informative debate on the future of the PA profession and the factors that could influence how the role is developing. Here, we provide an overview of the panel discussion. PA Life Editor Colette Doyle opened the session by asking the panellists if they […]

Office workers across the UK will be familiar with the age-old dilemma of objects going missing from their desks. New research reveals that the occurrence is widespread and costs businesses a great deal of money. It also highlights some of the more unusual items to be stolen from companies. The study was commissioned by stationery […]

The City of London is known for its swanky restaurants and cocktail bars that cater for resident high-class bankers and business people, but it’s also home to some of the capital’s most interesting niche eateries. La Tagliata is tucked away on a quiet side road away from the buzzing atmosphere of Liverpool Street and is […]

So your boss has asked you to book an interesting location for your company’s next function? PA Life takes a look at some of the options available around the UK to help you organise a memorable corporate event Stanbrook Abbey (pictured)Callow End, Worcestershire WR2 4TYamazingvenues.co.uk/venues/stanbook-abbey/ discover-stanbrook-abbey/Spaces available: The abbey features 14 recently refurbished function rooms, […]

According to leading biology experts, it’s time to introduce a few live plants around the office, as employees can reap numerous benefits from maintaining an affinity to nature. In addition to improved health, a bit of greenery can also increase staff productivity. The research, which was gathered from various biology practitioners around the world by […]

Have you been tasked with planning your company’s Christmas party this year? Stuck for inspiration on themes, catering, or venues? Help is at hand with the launch of the latest edition of the PA Life Party Planning Guide. Featuring 60 pages of suppliers who can help with food, drink, themes, furnishings and those little finishing […]

A complete awareness of the function of leadership, the diversity of work on offer and having control of your own career development are just three of the reasons that make the role of the PA uniquely privileged. According to recruitment agency Hays, which recently surveyed 536 top EAs face-to-face, unless you aspire to become the […]

The Colonnade Hotel offers you the opportunity to organise the perfect event, from a small board meeting to a wonderful celebration. With the help of a dedicated team, the meeting or party you wish to hold will be sculpted and created to meet your every need. Plus, the venue has all the facilities to make […]

Appropriate catering is one of the most important factors that generates value for an event and leads delegates to feel satisfied about their time spent away from the office. However, it’s not all good news, as food actually appears to be a bone of contention between delegates and organisers. According to the Value of Satisfaction […]

Japanese restaurants can be intimidating, aloof places with arcane menus and stratospheric prices. Benihana offers a different experience, combining delicious and accessible dining with realistic pricing in a fun and friendly atmosphere, writes Colette Doyle. The space at the Piccadilly branch is capacious yet welcoming, filled with a buzzy vibe. The set-up is quite theatrical, […]

After the outcome of the recent referendum on independence, Scotland remains part of the UK but is still different in many ways – the country has its own parliament, laws, education system and language. At the Hilton Glasgow City Centre the Morblas restaurant takes its name from the indigenous Gaelic and translates as “great taste”, […]

Have you ever thought of trying to get those creative juices flowing at 443 feet? The London Marriott County Hall has and now it’s offering an exclusive package for its corporate clients. I was invited to the launch of the Perfect Meeting last night, which included a preview of the activities available on the iconic […]