Blacklane is a new chauffeur-booking portal that is available in a variety of convenient platforms. It was launched in the UK earlier this year and offers service to customers in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Bookings for Blacklane’s chauffeur-driven cars can be made through its app, on the website, or via […]

The Institute of Administrative Management has been re-launched and is now accepting membership applications. Following its closure at the end of 2013, the organisation has been purchased by educational awarding body Industry Qualifications. Members of the IAM have access to a list of benefits that will continue to grow as the year progresses, including the […]

With a recent survey by the union Unison revealing that a third of women claim to have been bullied at work and the Chartered Management Institute reporting that bullying costs the UK £13.8 billion a year, we bring you some tips on how to react if you find yourself in this unfortunate situation. Firstly, pay […]

CityHawk offers a new approach to restaurant booking, giving PAs the power to spontaneously discover and reserve a table at London’s best restaurants with three taps on a smartphone. Launching in the capital, the app presents a shortlist of hand-picked nearby restaurants, from well-known favourites to hidden gems, all with real-time availability. CityHawk learns from […]

The head of a virtual assistant agency has spoken out about the most common mistakes that executives make when interacting with their EAs. Failing to delegate properly is the number one error, with managers getting too caught up in admin tasks, such as scheduling meetings or processing invoices, which should more properly be left to […]

The latest Exeter PA Network seminar has proved to be a success for the group, with more than 60 management assistants attending the event at the Mercure Southgate Hotel in Exeter. The seminar was styled as a celebratory event aimed at raising awareness among the regional PA community of the various awards that are open to […]

If you pride yourself on having a deep, gravelly voice and imagine that this will help you be taken more seriously in the workplace, then you may need to think again. New research has shown that women who have a low-pitched, creaky tone of voice are considered both less competent and less educated, plus less […]

Monaco’s impressive tourism credentials easily wow even the best-travelled visitor, as PA Life Editor Colette Doyle discovers. Built on a hill with a palace perched on top, and home to a romantic love story involving Hollywood royalty and a dashing prince, Monaco is a real-life fairytale destination. The principality may be small in size, but […]

Malaysia’s capital is full of life, sights and cultural experiences. PA Life Editor Colette Doyle is your guide. Kuala Lumpur is a cosmopolitan melting pot, bringing to life the tourism authority’s catchy slogan, “Malaysia, truly Asia” and effortlessly blending influences from indigenous Malay, Indian and Chinese culture to spectacular effect. It is also the world’s […]

Nelson Mandela’s personal assistant has exposed the power struggles that went on within his family over the last few years of the much-respected South African leader’s life. In her memoir, Good Morning, Mr Mandela, Zelda La Grange points the finger at his oldest daughter, Makaziwe, who apparently attempted to stop some of his old friends […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]