With a record hot summer forecast for the British capital, an increasing number of companies are choosing to hold their event outdoors this season. Event management agency Office Summer has noted a 15% rise in summer party enquiries for the London area so far this year. “Summer is the time for team-building and refreshing your […]

Stanbrook Abbey in Worcester was the home of a group of Benedictine nuns until 2009, when they moved to North Yorkshire in favour of a more eco-friendly building, writes Molly Dyson. Their relocation has benefited the events sector, as the property was purchased by Amazing Venues and turned into a truly unique setting for meetings […]

As an event organiser, you are sure to follow online marketing trends closely. But there are some important questions you have to ask yourself. How do you translate trends into strong communication that will impress your audience? Do you often run out of time and budget to devise unique triggers that will ensure that emails […]

Events & Hospitality QM is the in-house brand of Queen Mary University of London, which has more than 100 venues for hire from just £39 per delegate. The academic institution has three convenient locations in the City, Mile End and Whitechapel. The university’s iconic venues include the Octagon, (pictured) which can accommodate up to 500 […]

Country house Iscoyd Park is expanding into private events and targeting the corporate hospitality market. Home to the Godsal family since the 19th century, Iscoyd Park has received awards for its accommodation and is now emerging as a premium choice for bespoke corporate events. The Georgian property overlooks the borders of North Wales, Shropshire and Cheshire […]

As most of you well know, finding a venue in a city that’s nowhere near your office can be a challenging task, to say the least. That’s why I felt it was vital to attend the PA Life networking event at Stanbrook Abbey in Worcestershire. Well, that and the fact that the pictures of the […]

New research by Leeds Metropolitan University reveals a distinct and direct correlation between poorly equipped desks and musculoskeletal disorders, which can lead to serious longer term conditions such as mental health problems. A recent study highlighted that more than 80% of employees reported suffering from ailments as a direct result of not sitting correctly while […]

When most people picture a personal assistant they imagine a woman running errands for a high-flying, big-city exec. Rarely would you conjure up images of someone working around tractors and six dogs, one of which is her own four-legged companion. As a self-proclaimed country PA, Alison Ward has a thing or two to say about […]

Overall optimism among admin support workers in the US increased during the first three months of this year, rising nearly 4% to 51.3% compared with the previous quarter. Nearly a quarter (22%) of all employees believe that the US economy is strengthening, versus just 17% who felt the same last December. Almost three-quarters of admin professionals […]

There’s good news for administrative professionals, with research showing that secretarial and support vacancies increased by 25% between the first three months of 2013 and the start of this year. The rise in jobs was most noticeable in the Midlands and London, but numbers are up across the whole of the UK. The results were […]

Business travel technology is changing at a rapid pace. Many of the exhibitors at this year’s Business Travel Show revealed new time and cost-saving offerings for the corporate market. Here are some of PA Life’s favourites. American Express Global Business Travel (pictured): AX Connect already provides bookers with a way to pinpoint and communicate with […]

Brasserie Chavot exudes an air of Gallic sophistication from the get-go, writes Colette Doyle. The dark wooden panelling, subdued lighting supplied by an array of crystal chandeliers and the rich, red glow of the leather upholstered seating are all perfectly in keeping with its swanky Mayfair location as part of The Westbury hotel.   My […]

If you’re looking for something off the beaten track, Pantry at 108, located at The Marylebone Hotel, offers a quintessential English setting, writes Molly Dyson. The fresh interior design, with its light grey and white walls, wooden floors and plush red sofas, immediately puts me in the mood for the healthy, gluten-free afternoon tea we’re about […]

First up inside this edition’s overview of management assistants hitting the headlines is the PA who worked for premier league CEO Richard Scudamore. Former law student Rani Abraham has told UK media sources that she felt “humiliated and disgusted” by the messages exchanged between Scudamore and his associates. The emails allegedly made derogatory comments about women, […]

Every now and then you come across a restaurant that has a truly unique idea behind it. The Jones Family Project is my latest discovery; I was so blown away by the food at the tasting event I attended the other night that all I could say was “wow”. The restaurant is convenient for City […]

Participants at this year’s two-day EXECSec Summit have spoken to media partner PA Life about how useful they found the event. Mandy Brown from DHL International describes the set-up of pre-arranged appointments with suppliers as “much better [than the traditional trade show approach], as you’re not just milling around.   “It also avoids getting into an […]

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Indian food is a traditional curry with a side of pilau rice, writes Molly Dyson. Atul Kochar has forever changed the definition of one of my favourite cuisines with his signature dishes at Benares in Mayfair (pictured). Set in the quiet luxury of Berkeley […]

The PA Life Club has literally scores of fantastic promotions lined up with leading high street retailers, restaurateurs and other household name suppliers. Plus, you get 50% off the new PA Life training courses, invitations to select networking events and monthly competitions with great prizes. Now it’s your chance to win annual membership to the […]