Heels of Steel: surviving & thriving in the corporate world – Vanessa Vallely (Panoma Press, £14.99) Intrigued by the title of this book, I am pleased to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is actually two books in one. The first is an entertaining autobiography of the author’s journey from council estate tearaway to COO […]

The vast majority of office employees (72%) rate being happy in their job as one of the most important factors in their work life, but in fact just 8% feel they’re in their dream role and more than 40% of us waste up to four hours a week fantasising about what we could be doing […]

Writing a good executive assistant job description sometimes stumps employers because they don’t know exactly what will attract suitable candidates. Brian Daniel, former celebrity PA and headhunter to the stars, has written a guide to help businesses get applications from top job seekers. “It continues to amaze me that many employers don’t know how to […]

Congratulations to the November/December competition winners: Debra Jacobs at RBS wins a Paella Fella party for up to 20 people; Sophie Duffy at Town and Country Fine Foods gets a Redness Therapy facial at Fredrick’s Spa; Joanna Theodoulou at William Hill enjoys a VIP stay at a De Vere Hotels location (pictured); and Silvia Murador, […]

Chotto Matte is one of the capital’s most exciting venues, serving incredible Nikkei cuisine and cocktails within a stunning environment. Now it’s offering PA Life readers the chance to win a cocktail masterclass worth £450. Kurt Zdesar, the founder of Chotto Matte, (and the man who brought Nobu to London) launched the restaurant during the […]

In celebration of another successful year, Butlins Conference & Events team is offering you a chance to win a family break for two adults and two children, or a live music weekend for two adults including a relaxing spa experience at one of its three seaside resorts in Bognor Regis, Minehead, or Skegness. On a Butlins […]

The Rocket restaurant chain’s newest venue in Holborn has announced the launch of two stunning, recently refurbished conference rooms. To celebrate the latest addition to the portfolio, Rocket is offering one lucky PA Life reader the chance to win a £100 voucher to spend at the restaurant. Whether you’re looking to arrange a product launch, […]

Win an evening at Namco, complete with karaoke for up to 20 guests, champagne reception, one-hour boutique bowling and £10 free tokens each (bumper cars, arcades and simulators). Namco Funscape is London’s unique corporate venue with three floors and 35,000 square feet of spectacular multi-player games, team-building activities and interactive simulators. The venue has a […]

ACC Aviation provides bespoke charter flights on all types and sizes of aircraft, from private jets and helicopters to large commercial planes. And now, the company is offering three lucky readers the chance to win a helicopter flight over London. This fantastic prize includes an aerial sightseeing tour of the city’s most iconic landmarks during […]

Deliveroo brings a variety of high-quality, super-tasty restaurant food to your office, quickly and reliably. Right now, it’s giving PA Life readers the chance to be a hero at work and win £500 worth of food. The company partners with thousands of London’s best-loved restaurants, including Gaucho, Ping Pong, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Busaba Eathai and […]

It’s great when PAs are recognised for their hard work and can add an award to their career achievements. One such executive assistant is Laura Taylor, who is celebrating her new title of Leeds’ Best PA. Laura, an EA at Deloitte, was chosen for the win by local car hire firm Arrow Cars. The company […]

With the verdict now in and the Italian sisters who worked as personal assistants for Nigella Lawson having been cleared of fraud, we take a look at what else PAs around the world have been up to recently. While high-profile clients can be demanding, working for them can also bring its own rewards, as Walter […]

In the recent economic downturn, many companies were forced to make employment cuts to save money. It would appear that no matter how deep these cuts go, however, executives are unwilling to let go of their valued assistants. With organisations continuing to shed staff, the role of the PA has proven to be one of […]

The Ritz (pictured) is a byword for opulence and dining here is something to which all bon viveurs aspire, writes Colette Doyle. Luxury comes as standard, as frock-coated waiters cater to your every whim and each patron, whether they have a title or not, is made to feel special. If you like understated minimalism you […]

The workplace of the 21st century is one where change is virtually the only constant factor. PAs are increasingly required to adapt to new processes, adhere to new rules and change their approaches to projects in order to keep up with the pace. This can seem rather daunting at first, but change is something we […]

Today’s office environment is more hectic, more stressful and more demanding than ever before. PAs are at the forefront of this, often having to work for two or three bosses, taking on a variety of diverse responsibilities and managing projects and teams. In the midst of all this, professional training – and especially IT training […]

Executive assistance is the third-hardest area to find qualified employees for and strong communication skills are most in demand when it comes to hiring admin staff. The findings come from a Salary Guide produced by recruitment specialist OfficeTeam, which also shows that administrative hiring in the UK is gaining strength year on year. Candidates with […]

Performing well at an interview is a skill that can be learnt, so here are some suggestions for success next time you’re face to face with a recruiter. • Match your skills to the job specification Interviews often start with an open question such as, “Tell me about yourself”. Many candidates fall into the trap of […]