The EXECSec Summit is the ideal event to source new suppliers. With a schedule of dedicated meetings and a series of informative seminars, you’re sure to come away with everything you need to succeed. Molly Dyson has all the details. The days of simply taking notes and writing letters are gone for PAs. Now you’re also expected to be business savvy and have the knowledge to source new suppliers for your company. Between managing your executive, getting your own work done and ensuring the rest of the office is running smoothly, it’s difficult to find the time to research a new TMC, corporate gift provider or venue.
Just as the role of the PA is changing, so too is the way you do your job. Whereas you may have once spent every spare moment scouring the internet, now you’re more likely to call on your fellow PAs for ideas. The EXECSec Summit provides an environment in which to network with your peers and meet suppliers without having to wait for a response.
Now in its sixth year, the summit puts delegates in direct contact with a range of suppliers through an itinerary of dedicated meetings. When you register, you choose the companies that are most relevant to your search. Then, at the event, you’ll be given a schedule of 30-minute time slots in which you’ll sit down in turn with a representative of each business. This gives you a chance to discuss your needs and find out what solutions they can offer, without any pressure to make a commitment.
In order to give each PA attending a chance to meet the suppliers they choose, space is limited to 70 delegates. Early registration includes free accommodation, meals and refreshments. The summit offers an efficient and stress-free way to see what’s new in the industry and make profitable connections and partnerships.
In addition to the abundance of networking opportunities, the event features a complimentary seminar programme designed to give PAs the skills they need to succeed.
Established, award-winning assistants such as celebrity PA Donna Coulling and Hays PA of the Year Leeanne Graham will be speaking about networking and how to succeed as a personal assistant, while top education companies Pitman Training Centre and Your Excellency will teach you how to optimise Microsoft Excel for your needs and the benefits of being assertive at work. PA Life Editor Colette Doyle will be chairing a panel discussion entitled “The PA profession – where now?” and visitors can to take a moment to relax at a pop-up spa provided by wellness company Cloud Nine, which will be giving massages guaranteed to help you feel energised for the rest of the day.
Delegates and suppliers alike have given plenty of positive feedback on the summit, providing testimony to the effectiveness of the set-up. A representative from Crabtree & Evelyn calls it a “useful event to meet new suppliers and network with other [executive] PAs sharing knowledge”.
An attendee from American Airlines agrees, adding: “As a PA, it is difficult to find spare time. To be able to take a day out of the office and network, meet with suppliers and attend seminars all in one location is priceless.” Likewise, a delegate from Speedo calls it a “well-organised event” and “a great opportunity to network and meet with suppliers who want to work with [assistants]”.
A PA from Molnlycke Health Care mentions the “number of quality suppliers”, while another from Maritime Asset Security and Training (MAST) says: “It will make my career as a PA so much easier.”
Suppliers also attest to the benefits of attending the event, with retailer John Lewis calling it “a good way to meet face to face with prospective buyers in a professional but relaxed way” and Harrods Corporate Gifts adding to this by saying it “made some good contacts [in a] friendly atmosphere”.
A representative from Aviator hotel in Hampshire says: “I feel the relevance of the meetings for both suppliers and delegates is fantastic,” while De Vere Venues thinks “the quality time enables relationships to be built immediately” and says the summit is “an event not to miss”. A PA at Fintrax sums up the event, saying: “It’s two days out of the office very well spent.”
Seminar programme
Seminar one – Shilpa Wymer Pitman Training Centre
Excel – 17 power tips for super PAs
Microsoft Excel has become an essential and powerful tool in many roles. Shilpa teaches PAs how to master the programme, showing them the staples of how to make it work for them, as well as a lesson on managing a large amount of data.
Seminar two – Donna Coulling celebrity PA
Networking and contacts – building your little black book
You no doubt know how important connecting with other PAs can be in this changing business world. Donna talks about how to build a contact list and shows you the most effective ways to network.
Seminar three – Lindsay Taylor Your Excellency
Your leadership journey with Your Excellency: Assertiveness
PAs need to have a certain level of authority in the way they act and present themselves. Lindsay teaches you how to communicate assertively with words, tone and body language and talks about the benefits of being self-confident.
Seminar four – Nikki Farr Four Pillars Hotels
Negotiating hotel contracts
Without a TMC, the job of negotiating a better deal with a hotel is left to the PA. Nikki walks you through some key points on dealing directly with properties, covering topics such as knowing your budget and reading the details of a contract to ensure you’re getting exactly what you need.
Seminar five – Leeanne Graham, ACEVO
Determined to succeed
Leeanne won the 2013 Executive PA and Hays Recruitment PA of the Year Award and she visits EXECSec to talk about her success and share her tips for being the best assistant you can be.
Seminar six
No information was available at the time of going to press. Please check forumevents.co.uk for updates closer to the event.
Welcome to Heythrop Park Resort
This year’s EXECSec Summit is taking place at the impressive Heythrop Park Resort, which incorporates the De Vere Venues Heythrop Park Hotel and the Crowne Plaza. Located on the edge of the Oxfordshire village of Enstone, and easily accessible from the M40, the resort is only a 90-minute drive from London and Birmingham.
The modern, purpose-built Crowne Plaza features a state-of-the-art conference theatre with built-in audio-visual equipment, flexible seating and on-site technical support with space for up to 400 delegates. It also offers a stunning ballroom that can accommodate up to 450 people and a further seven meeting and event spaces.
A total of 197 stylish guest rooms feature designer touches along with comfortable bedding. The contemporary Brassey restaurant provides formal dining options, or you can choose the more relaxed surroundings of the Mezz.
Linked to the Crowne Plaza is an 18th-century mansion house, which has recently been added to the De Vere Venues portfolio. The newly refurbished Archer and Shrewsbury wings feature bedrooms and meeting rooms with distinct characteristics and plenty of ambience. Complimentary wifi and natural daylight in its event spaces provide a productive environment, while free tea, coffee and refreshment stations keep the brain alert.
After a long day of meetings, delegates can take advantage of the property’s leisure facilities, including a health club and spa with a 20-metre indoor heated swimming pool, sauna and steam room, plus a gym and fitness studio kitted out with the all the latest equipment. Guests may also enjoy a round of golf at the on-site 18-hole course.
Essential details
EXECSec Summit 2014
Dates: 31 March-1 April 2014
Venue: Heythrop Park Resort, Oxfordshire
Registration from 8am-8.45am; opening presentation at 8.45am
Face-to-face client meetings: 25 minutes each with group networking breaks (first meeting at 10.35am)
Gala dinner with entertainment: Monday 31 March at 8pm
For more information visit forumevents.co.uk, or contact Laura Spratt at l.spratt@forumevents.co.uk, or call 01992 374053
