Recent statistics show that 87% of employers could not do their job without their PA and more astonishingly, 62% of employers see PA roles as the equivalent to or higher than their management teams. With this in mind, there is no doubt that administrative professionals play a fundamental role in the backbone of businesses, yet more often than not go unrecognised and are often subject to stereotypical judgement about their career choice.
Administrative Professionals week – taking place 25-29 April – seeks to raise awareness not just across the administrative sector, but also across global business.
Yorkshire has its own community of PA and Admin Assistants called The PA Hub, who have joined forces in a network of peers to support and share best practice together, as well as taking the opportunity to learn and develop in their roles. This network is managed by Director Marion Lowrence, a former PA who has seen the need to cultivate personal growth in this industry for those who more often than not are not party to training and development within the workplace.
The PA Hub is now calling out across Yorkshire for entries for its annual ceremony, the Yorkshire PA Awards, and is looking for nominations from colleagues, friends and family, as well as individuals who really have excelled in their career. As part of Administrative Professionals Week, there is a social media challenge to #NominateYourAdmin for #YPA16 in a bid to highlight visibility of the sector and just how much the PA and secretarial role has changed; it’s no longer tea and typing, it is a career choice.
PAs underpin some of the world’s largest corporations, having to maintain the knowledge and expertise of their executives, think on their feet in most situations and be prepared to represent the business. Today’s PAs are middle managers, juggling everything from chairing executive board meetings to creating legal documents and chartering a private jet.
The Yorkshire PA Awards, which is now in its second year, will be held on 30 June at The Pavilion, Leeds United, hosted by BBC Presenter Tanya Arnold.
This year’s categories include:
- Yorkshire PA of the Year (+ runner up)
- Yorkshire PA Lifetime Achievement (+ runner up)
- Rising Star Award
- Yorkshire’s Best Team of PAs
- Best Internal PA Network
- PA Contribution to the Community
- Best Organised Event
- Social Media PA
- PA in Business Award
- Best Business Client
- Best Boss
- Employer of the Year
This year’s top award – Yorkshire PA of the Year – will be presented with two Aer Lingus return flights to New York flying from Leeds Bradford Airport to JFK as part of their prize. Marion Lowrence, Director of the PA Hub says: “More often than not, PAs put the hard work into managing executive travel and all of the last-minute requests and changes that occur based on the requirements of their executives and where they need to get to enable their businesses to grow. No doubt a challenging role, we’re pleased to be able to provide some R&R time to Yorkshire’s PA of the Year.”
The awards are free to enter and you can either self-nominate, or nominate someone you know who you feel could really become an inspiration to peers, deserves the recognition and confidence boost and could be a great ambassador for the industry. To enter, visit thepahub.co.uk/yorkshire-pa-awards-2016/.
