Communications technology in the modern age is advancing at an exponential rate and changing the way we communicate, both personally and professionally. With social networking and the ability to communicate with anyone anywhere in the world at our fingertips, the need for face-to-face communication would appear to be diminishing.   However, the value of meeting […]

In today’s corporate world, an increasing amount of a PA’s time is taken up planning travel. With the introduction of the Qi technology suite, Business First has designed simple-to-use tools to promote efficiency and, more importantly, save PAs valuable time booking business travel. The company’s iPortal is an interactive gateway with a wide range of […]

Some restaurants are fun, casual affairs where you might drop in to grab a quick bite after work; Hibiscus is not one of those places, writes Colette Doyle. You would no more grab a bite here than you would hope to snap up a bargain at a Gucci emporium, for dining at Hibiscus is a […]

As we progress through life, our likes, dislikes and habits change. The way we like to dress and visually present ourselves changes too. Our beliefs and thinking continue to develop as we mature emotionally and physically, and again, this is reflected in our choice of clothes and dressing style. How we like to look at […]

Luxury travel operator Orient-Express has launched a new portal that can be used by PAs booking events to find information on each of the company’s 45 hotel, train, cruise and restaurant ventures. The website, orient-express.com/events, has specifically been designed for corporate clients seeking inspiration in order to create bespoke events and incentive experiences with a […]

The modern PA is just as likely to find herself making trips to far-flung business destinations as her boss, so hotels are taking it upon themselves to provide improved safety for women travelling alone. The most popular measures put in place by hotels to ensure safety are: never read out a room number at check-in […]

Tips on mentoring and coaching were central to the latest Exeter PA network meeting, held at the new Hampton by Hilton, the site of the training academy for Flybe, the UK’s largest domestic carrier. The event attracted more than 60 delegates and included a tour of the new hotel and a visit to Flybe’s flight […]

PAs are an asset to their company and their bosses should definitely know it, asserts former White House Director of Events, Laura Schwarz (pictured). Given that nearly three quarters of respondents (72%) to last year’s annual National PA Survey said that they felt being a PA was undervalued as a professional career choice, Schwartz, who […]

Skills that empower PAs to delegate both upwards and downwards and that show assistants which steps to take to become strategic business partners to their bosses formed the basis of an interesting talk recently given by PA coach Lindsay Taylor of Your Excellency. This was one of the fascinating seminars at the Peterborough PA Network’s […]

The role of the PA has become “a bit like cloning your boss” and it is a function that is rapidly becoming more strategic and managerial. These were among the comments made by delegates attending the recent ExecSec Summit who took part in a series of video interviews conducted by PA Life Editor Colette Doyle. […]

It may sound like an oxymoron, but it’s an imperative part of day-to-day work that will help you excel in your current role. Vanessa Vallely offers insight into how PAs can manage their managers more effectively. 1. BE PREPARED If you are invited to join a meeting with your boss, always turn up fully prepared. […]

You may overlook the humble ream of paper as nothing more than a mere workplace staple, but those clever people at Conqueror have elevated this most basic of office accessories to haute couture. The paper was turned into a series of origami-style dresses created by up-and-coming British designer Joey Bevan, who was tasked with transforming […]

How on earth do you create the perfect event? New research hopes to help PAs by providing the answer to this taxing question. Looking at everything from what motivates someone to attend an event in the first place, to the importance of the venue and how much wine is ‘enough’, the survey aims to construct […]

World-famous retailer Harrods is to open a mini-department store at Gatwick’s South Terminal, offering an impressive range of luxury fashion, jewellery and accessories. The vast, 557-metre2 store will offer Gatwick shoppers new brands and products, including Michael Kors, Monica Vinader, Love Moschino and Armani Jeans. The selection of luxury products has been carefully chosen and […]

There has been growing discussion in the corporate world about cloud services, from Google’s Docs to Microsoft’s Office 365. Warren Heath explains what choosing the cloud means for your business. Traditionally, companies have had their email, documents and communication facilities looked after by internal IT departments. This has usually meant dedicating members of staff to […]

Go for low-GI foods, lots of protein and don’t worry too much about fat, it’s actually good for you and far easier for the body to process than sugar or carbs. This was the advice on what makes the ideal lunch straight from the mouth of über-inventive, Michelin-starred chef Heston Blumenthal when he spoke earlier […]

If you’ve been charged with helping to run your company’s social media activity, or want to make better use of it for your own networking purposes, you may want to turn to Twitter guru Deborah Lee. Deborah refers to herself as a ‘social media mentor’. She won’t take over a Twitter or Facebook account on […]

The conflicting beliefs of different generations are highlighted in the workplace, with younger employees not appreciating their older colleagues’ experience. In fact, many young people feel their careers may be “stifled” by the presence of late-retiring workers in the company. As a 21st century labour force must deal with a longer working life and smaller […]