Congratulations to the January/February competition winners: Sharon Preston at Panasonic UK wins a one-night stay in an Executive room at the Charing Cross Hotel. We also ran a competition to win a Big Biscuit Box from Nestlé Professional and the fortunate recipients were Catia Lobato at Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, Janet Hopkinson at BBC South […]

Your CV is your ambassador in the competitive world of recruitment. When you apply for a job, it has to stand out. It’s not enough to just list your skills on a page; your CV must be legible, punchy and obviously suited for the position. If you’re not getting any interviews, the problem may lie […]

PAs should be regarded as an extension of the management team and need to gain more official recognition of the pivotal role they play in connecting a manager to both his staff and his clients. This is the message from Ana-Maria Valente, the founder of the International Year of the Secretary and Admin Assistant 2014 […]

Think of sherry and a fusty, overly sweet beverage beloved by maiden aunts everywhere probably springs to mind, writes Colette Doyle. The Sign of the Don urges you to think again, located as it is on the site of the original Sandeman port and sherry cellar. Upstairs, the bar has a buzzy vibe and downstairs […]

The name Marco Pierre White is synonymous with a great gastronomic experience and Marco Grill at Stamford Bridge combines his signature style with the relaxed atmosphere of a steakhouse, writes Molly Dyson. Circular booths with comfy leather seats frame the dining room and autographed images of celebrities hang on the mirror-effect walls, paying homage to […]

Personal assistants have once again been hitting the headlines, so we take a behind-the-scenes look at what they’ve been up to. In the US, the former personal assistant to a member of the Dave Matthews Band has been found guilty of fraud and sentenced to 18 months – half of which time he will serve behind […]

With Valentine’s Day upon us, those looking for love may not need to look any further than their workplace. A survey on the Acas website has found that three-quarters of employees have considered a romance in the office and more than half have actually embarked on a relationship with a colleague. As common as it […]

Sometimes being more productive and succeeding at work is as easy as a quick change to your normal routine. Whether you rethink your lunch breaks or aim to get out of bed earlier, these top tips have been proven to help you have a better day. Get the most out of your breaks A study […]

A trip on the Orient-Express makes a perfect corporate away day, as Colette Doyle discovers on a murder-mystery themed journey. What images come to mind when you think of train travel? Probably for many of us it brings to the fore that unpleasant and often overcrowded experience of getting into the office in the mornings. […]

The short winter days are having a profound effect upon the motivation and energy levels of the UK’s workforce, but employers are sticking their heads in the sand when they could be doing more to help. In a new survey of 1,000 office workers commissioned by flexible workspace provider Avanta Serviced Office Group, 84% of […]

Face to Face in the Workplace – Julie Cooper (Spring Publishing, £20) This is a great reference guide for understanding behaviour during one-to-one conversations in the workplace. Perhaps it’s not the first book a PA would pick up and use, but the topics it covers gives great advice for all sorts of outcomes and would […]

Showing Up: how to make a greater impact at work – Tim Robson (Capstone, £14.99) Although this book is written in an easy-to-read style, at first I found it hard to engage with the subject. I’m not sure I would have continued to read it under ordinary circumstances, but I’m glad I persevered. The idea […]

The UnAmericans – Molly Antopol (HarperCollins, £12.99) People have strong feelings towards short stories: they’re enjoyable because you can read them in one sitting, but frustrating because they leave you wanting more. I have always been in the latter camp, but reading this collection has convinced me that fully developed plots are not solely the […]

Boy, Snow, Bird – Helen Oyeyemi (Picador, £12.99) This is an intriguing tale of a mother, her stepdaughter and her daughter, their relationships with each other and their past. It is 1950s America and Boy Novak runs away from home and her abusive father. She ends up in Flax Hill, Massachusetts.   It is here […]

The Shock of the Fall – Nathan Filer (HarperCollins, £12.99) This book is quite simply stunning and was a worthy winner of the 2013 Costa Book Prize. Nathan Filer, in addition to being a successful author, is also a mental health nurse and it is his experience of, and insight into, the private world of […]

Reasons She Goes to the Woods – Deborah Kay Davies (Oneworld Publications, £8.99) Pearl is a disturbed girl, growing up with all sorts of issues. The journey on which the reader is taken is dark and sinister as we are exposed to this little girl’s working mind. She sees her father as the sole person […]

The Book of Job – Dale Stafford (The Principal Department, £19.95) In the author’s own words, this is a book “packed with priceless perspicuity about the business of people for people in business”. It’s a handbag-sized book with a limited-edition run of 1,000 so it feels special and the enthusiasm of the writer is obvious. […]

Strategic Partnering – Luc, Raphaël and Guillaume Bardin (Kogan Page, £24.99) Luc Bardin writes from experience – more than 35 years at some of the world’s foremost businesses ensures this book conveys both knowledge and gravitas. Bardin is committed to helping organisations build strategic value opportunities and his passion for doing so makes it an […]