Finding a chauffeur company is easy, but finding the right one for your company is not so straightforward. Peter Nixon is your guide to making an informed decision, while Neil Cunningham provides some handy hints on car hire You may think you know the travel needs of your business inside out but don’t forget to liaise with colleagues and other…
read moreYou may feel your career has reached a standstill, but you can get back on the right track during a weekend designed to get it rolling again, as Nicole Holgate reports What is it?Mark Pearce set up A Life at Work after transitioning from a corporate HR career to creating his own business and studying psychotherapy. He found that one…
read moreA new study by recruitment specialist Robert Half reveals that 67% of HR directors are more willing to negotiate salaries with job candidates compared to this time last year. However, if your company isn?t budging on a pay rise, try asking for perks that benefit your career and personal life instead. Rather than a bigger pay cheque, negotiate a flexible…
read moreHappiness in your job comes from being in the right environment and a large part of that is to do with the co-workers that surround you. In fact, a new survey by Barclays has found that the one thing most likely to make people happy in their job is getting on well with colleagues (26%). This finding was closely followed by…
read moreThe most successful PAs are able to deal with new people on all levels, manage events and talk to large groups with no apparent concerns. Although we call this confidence, what these impressive people actually have is high self-esteem; a firm belief in and respect for themselves and their abilities. Self-esteem is the opinions and beliefs you hold about yourself.…
read morePA Life Editor Colette Doyle interviewed representatives from the Association of Celebrity Assistants at last year’s Office show in order to get an in-depth look at the role of a high-profile PA. Molly Dyson reviews the key points of this revealing session PA Life Editor Colette Doyle began the interview by asking the participants, Deborah Shaw, former President of the…
read moreLondon restaurants are going up in the world – quite literally, writes Colette Doyle. Long-time stalwarts such as the Paramount at Centre Point have been joined by newcomers including Sushisamba at Heron Tower and Aqua at the Shard. And now there’s City Social, (pictured) located on the 24th floor of Tower 42, close to the City’s Liverpool Street. The latest…
read moreWhat do a pyjama-wearing employee, a sleepy member of staff and a client with bad personal hygiene have in common? They all feature in the embarrassing stories collated by AirConUK.co.uk, which has been canvassing input from office workers up and down the country. One client of the air conditioning and fitting company recalls a female colleague who used to come…
read moreWhen your job requires you to spend long hours sitting at a desk, physical exercise and a balanced diet are both essential to keep you healthy. PA Life has some great ways to get everybody at work involved in keeping fit We all know that keeping fit has multiple benefits for our general wellbeing. Working out has been clinically proven…
read moreFinding a chauffeur company is easy, but finding the right one for your company is not so straightforward. Peter Nixon is your guide to making an informed decision, while Neil Cunningham provides some handy hints on car hire You may think you know the travel needs of your business inside out but don’t forget to liaise with colleagues and other…
read moreContinuing professional development can be just the boost your career needs, but what are the essential trends within training that PAs need to be aware of? PA Life Editor Colette Doyle quizzes the education experts “The 21st-century office has witnessed a dramatic transformation in working practices brought about by changes in technology and developments in management techniques. As a result,…
read moreWhen you’re faced with a long commute to a job you’ve fallen out of love with, it can be tempting to set up your own business as a virtual assistant. Before you make the leap, take time to consider the pros and cons, advises Susan Moore Freedom to chooseRunning your own business is hard work, but the benefit is you’re…
read moreWhen you meet the PA to a high-profile CEO, you don’t expect to hear that she took a break early in her career to pursue an entirely different profession. Christine Hampson, who is currently the management assistant to the CEO of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), did just that after starting as a secretary at a law firm, but…
read moreIf the pressures and stresses of the workplace are getting to you, it’s time to learn how to slow down your mind and really relax, advises Jain Wells. While the ancient practice of mindfulness meditation is commonly known for its ability to induce a state of deep relaxation, its real purpose is to cultivate present-moment awareness – an invaluable state…
read moreHaving 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 Knightsbridge mirrors the equally upmarket…
read moreHave you ever imagined what it would be like to shrink down so small that you could swim in a glass of champagne? It’s an extravagant daydream, I know, but I got to see what it might feel like last night at the launch party of “Dive into a glass of Veuve Clicquot” at the Andaz Hotel Liverpool Street. The…
read moreAt last year’s Office show, PA Life Editor Colette Doyle led a debate on the importance of continuing professional development (CPD) to the PA community. Here we review some of the points raised by the panel. As a starting point, Colette asked the panel what they felt was the best way for PAs to continue their own professional development on the…
read moreIf there’s one question Eleanor Marshall gets asked a lot it’s whether she meets celebrities at work. She smiles at this and admits she usually has to act coy when it comes up in conversation. “By the nature of the job, we have bands and artists in the studio just about every day, but it’s not professional to ask them…
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