We are pleased to announce that Cheryl Wood at Xerox is the lucky winner of a gastronomic experience for eight people, worth more than £2,000, at Belmond Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons with the Raymond Blanc Cookery School. “What a lovely surprise,” says Cheryl. “Now I face the dilemma of choosing who to take with me. […]

Bosses should acknowledge everything that their PAs do for them through a series of meaningful gestures such as writing a handwritten note to thank them for their contribution, publicly recognising their input at staff meetings and investing in their professional development by providing an annual training budget. These are just some of the ideas that […]

Research shows that a staggering 87 per cent of British employees will be looking round for a new position during 2014. Apparently, when they were quizzed on why they wished to move to pastures new, more than half (52.6 per cent) said it was because they didn’t get on with their boss. The other major […]

Hard work, enthusiasm and the right attitude all go a long way towards getting on at work, but having good, solid and CPD-certified qualifications is a sure-fire way to help propel you up the career ladder. With this in mind, PA Life is launching a series of training courses, beginning on 1 May with four […]

Entrepreneurs are being encouraged to hire a PA to reduce the amount of stress they have in their work lives and help run their company more efficiently. US website entrepreneur.com advises those who have devised a successful business brand to consider hiring an assistant to enable them to take their commercial activity to the next […]

Many travel and accommodation bookers are still wary when they hear the term serviced apartments, but new websites and online tools have made the booking process that much easier, as David Nicholson explains. If you haven’t previously booked a serviced apartment or apart-hotel, the process might seem rather daunting at first.   However there are […]

Having lived in Dubai for six years, I am well acquainted with the Jumeirah name, as it’s where the brand originated, writes Colette Doyle. For me it evokes sunny beaches, tropical cocktails and balmy weather, so I was intrigued to see what this British outpost would be like. Jumeirah Carlton Tower’s (pictured) location in swish […]

Booking serviced apartments for long-stay guests is a real no-brainer, in fact suppliers are expanding their portfolios exponentially to keep up with increased demand. Molly Dyson interviews industry experts to find out what this means for PAs. The serviced apartment sector in the UK is a relatively new one, so the concept is often overlooked […]

It’s not always an easy life being a PA and dealing with a demanding boss can be a stressful experience, as Matt Harrell can testify. He’s the personal assistant to Hollywood party girl and reality show star Lindsay Lohan and has been having a tough time of it lately. In the latest episode of docu-series […]

In this digital age, a surfeit of information can easily distract us from the task in hand, whether you’re an office employee or a home-based VA. From liking your friends’ holiday pictures on Facebook to reading trivial yet highly entertaining articles on Cracked, the internet can ruin our concentration and prevent us from finishing the […]

An Australian recruitment firm has put together a checklist of what it believes are the most essential qualities that employers look for when hiring a personal assistant. In at number one is having good organisational skills, which includes both those at a personal level and the ability to organise others. Next up is multi-tasking, which, […]

If location is everything then Napa at the Chiswick Moran is sitting pretty when it comes to attracting business travellers, writes Colette Doyle. The hotel is a minute’s walk from Gunnersbury Tube station, making it an ideal choice for those who have to catch a flight from Heathrow but don’t want to be stuck all […]

PA Life recently asked its readers to complete a short survey about its suppliers’ directory and offered a prize of membership to the exclusive PA Life Club (see more at palife.co.uk/pa-life-club). We are pleased to announce that the winner of the competition is Lyndsey Edwards, a PA at Boots UK. Lyndsey says she is delighted to […]

Liverpool-based personal assistant Dalya Bernstein has been named PA of the Year in the Pitman Training Super Achievers Awards 2014. She was picked by a high-profile panel of judges, including former White House Director of Events Laura Schwartz. With a high number of entries received for this year’s awards, Dalya (pictured), who is PA to an […]

Business travel costs can mount up quickly if they’re not effectively managed and one of the first things companies often try to save on is accommodation. Caroline Saunders explains how serviced apartments can provide a viable alternative to hotels   Serviced apartments are ideal for reducing business travel costs, whether it’s for a one-off business […]

This year’s EXECSec Summit not only promises to deliver a fascinating seminar line-up alongside the tried and tested formula of pre-scheduled appointments with suppliers, it will also present a 45-minute debate on the future of the PA role. Entitled “The PA profession – where now?”, the debate will be chaired by PA Life Editor Colette […]

PAs and other administrative professionals looking for their next permanent role have reason to be optimistic. A recent survey shows that there is a resurgence in the demand for personal and executive assistants, which is helping to drive average salaries up across the globe. The annual Salary Survey, conducted by specialist recruitment agency Robert Walters, […]

It’s always great when PAs are acknowledged for all the hard work they do, which is why recruitment company SecsintheCity has opened nominations for its PA of the Year Awards 2014. The awards recognise the dedication and professionalism of personal and executive assistants. Nominations are now open for four categories: PA of the Year, Legal […]