The majority of workers in the UK would prefer to be given the money it costs for them to attend their office Christmas party rather than actually go. Younger staff were more likely to want to keep the cost of the work festive ‘do’, with just over two-thirds (65%) of 18 to 24-year-olds saying they […]

These days you only have to look around at people on the high street to realise that the majority of them are busy with smartphones, tablets, or laptops and are probably connected to a wifi hotspot or their network data. It comes as no surprise then to learn that 86% of all job seekers use […]

We all know that feeling: waking up to the sound of our alarm as well as the rain pounding on the window and knowing when you draw back the curtains you will be greeted by a grey, angry sky. Hitting the snooze button and postponing the day for another 10 minutes seems like the best […]

PA Life magazine has been declared the Best Industry Publication for management assistants in the pa-assist.com Members’ Voice Awards 2014. The publication beat off competition from a number of other sources of information, including two other print titles that were also shortlisted. Commenting on the accolade, PA Life Editor Colette Doyle (pictured above with PA […]

A new meeting room booking system is set to revolutionise the reservation process for PAs booking events, offering real-time management and hassle-free service. The new Okanda online portal aims to streamline the time-consuming booking process for customers. It provides high-level functionality and a user-friendly dashboard thanks to the company’s knowledge of the issues that surround […]

How to Stress Less: simple ways to stop worrying and take control of your future by Benjamin Bonetti (Capstone, £10.99) This book is a great resource for anyone who wants to learn some easy ways to manage pressure in their lives. The premise is that we don’t “have” stress, we “do” stress; it is our […]

Walking Tall: key steps to total image impact – Lesley Everett (Self-published, £10.99) Although this book isn’t specifically targeted at PA’s, it’s a great reference and training book for any office professional wishing to update their appearance and enhance their personal brand. The author encourages you to take a look through your wardrobe and gives […]

Friendship – Emily Gould (Virago, £14.99) I read this book in the hopes that it would be a touching story about gal pals and found myself delving into the challenging tale of two women who have to grow up fast at the age of 30. While the situations faced by the main characters can be […]

The Cherry Blossom Murder – Fran Pickering (CreateSpace, £7.99) When a Tokyo-based Londoner finds a body under the blooming cherry blossom, she sets out to track down the killer and stop them striking again. This book is an enthralling romp through glitz, intrigue, theatre and sake, with a dash of the humble cup of tea […]

PA Life magazine has been declared the Best Industry Publication for management assistants in the pa-assist.com Members’ Voice Awards 2014. The publication beat off competition from a number of other sources of information, including two other print titles that were also shortlisted. Commenting on the accolade, PA Life Editor Colette Doyle said: “This award is a […]

Being persuasive involves convincing others to adopt a particular viewpoint or course of action and can be a very useful skill to have in the workplace. Here, we take a look at how you can win over both colleagues and management to become more influential in the office. First off, research shows that we’re far […]

The choice of venue can make or break an event and organisers often find themselves under a lot of pressure to get it spot on. Sales and Marketing Manager at BMA House Rowan Bennett has some top venue-planning tips that’ll ensure you don’t go far off track. When booking, consider holding your meeting or conference […]

We are delighted to announce that the winner of a £250 Harrods gift card (pictured) is Kelly Gatens, an administrator at Babcock International. Kelly is joined in her celebrations by Adam Russell of Ted Baker, who gets a private dining experience for himself and nine others at One Moorgate Place. Other lucky readers include George […]

Think of American food and what usually comes to mind is hot dogs, pancakes, ribs, burgers and anything groaning under the weight of its own carb-laden content, writes Colette Doyle. Avenue, (pictured) however, is a modern American restaurant that claims to “capture the buzz of the New York dining scene” and has about as much […]

PA Life is delighted to announced that both the magazine and its sister event ExecSec have been shortlisted in pa-assist.com’s Members’ Voice Awards 2014. ExecSec is the annual two-day summit organised by Forum Events for which PA Life acts as the official media partner. Commenting on the nominations, PA Life Editor Colette Doyle said: “These awards […]

Think of American food and what usually comes to mind is hot dogs, pancakes, ribs, burgers and anything groaning under the weight of its own carb-laden content, writes Colette Doyle. Avenue, however, is a modern American restaurant that claims to “capture the buzz of the New York dining scene” and has about as much in […]

Sometimes all you want for an evening business dinner is a comfortable and relaxed setting, yet one that still provides sophisticated food and entertainment, writes Molly Dyson. Boisdale does exactly that at its Canary Wharf location – founder Ranald Macdonald started the business to share his passion for Scotland, whisky, cigars and jazz. When my […]

A design-led hotel nestled in the charming French countryside could make the ideal location for that off-site team-building event or management get-together, as Colette Doyle discovers As soon as you set eyes on hotel Le Saint-James, set in the renowned culinary centre of Bouliac near Bordeaux, you can tell this is no corporate cookie cutter […]