We asked Ashley Archer, Personal Assistant to a Finance Director at Standard Chartered, about her career journey, the challenges, highlights and why she loves her PA role 14 years in. “My name is Ashley, I’m from Essex and have worked as a PA in London for approximately 14 years. I’m a regular gym goer and […]

We sat down with Rachel Tonge, UK Vice President & General Manager at American Express Global Business Travel (GBT), to talk about her role and the company’s ambitions for 2022… How did you first get into the world of business travel? Business travel really found me. I was keen for a career change, having worked […]

Following huge investment, 2022 is shaping up to be a busy year at Butlin’s, so we sat down with Nick Tipper (pictured), its Head of Conferences and Events, to find out more… What does Butlin’s recent conferences & events relaunch mean for your clients in 2022?  Butlin’s has always been about bringing people together. Our […]

We sat down with Kerry Wright, Head of Group Sales at Lime Venue Portfolio, to discover how the company’s Meetings for Change initiative can help take away your eco-anxieties… Tell us about Lime Venue Portfolio and why you’ve undertaken the Meetings for Change initiative. Lime Venue Portfolio is the UK’s largest collection of diverse venues, […]

Stacey McEwan (pictured, right) works as an Executive Assistant at a London-based consumer goods company. She tells PA Life about navigating the pandemic as an Assistant, the biggest challenges she’s faced and slipping back into high heels… How did you get your current job? I was temping and was contacted about a two-week placement. 14 […]

Eighteen months ago no-one could have foreseen the profound changes a global pandemic would inflict on our working and home lives. Orlaith O’Brien, EA to five executives at tech giant Endava, recounts how she has adapted… Tell us about your role. I work for a company called Endava, an information technology and services provider. My […]

Sarah Damani runs a successful Alchemy Virtual Assistance (VA) Hub where she supports multiple business owners with their PA, marketing and administration under the trusted and award-winning Alchemy brand. She became an Alchemy VA Hub Manager in December 2019 – three months before COVID hit – and rose above the challenges of the pandemic to […]

Editor of PA Life Hayley Somerscales spoke with Niamh Smithers, Senior Executive Assistant at ESW and PA Life Star Award finalist for PA of the Year 2020… During the interview Niamh shares how she became an Executive Assistant, her current responsibilities, personal development, having dyslexia in the workplace and her advice to others with dyslexia. […]

IQ-EQ recently announced the appointment of Caroline Bagshaw as its new Group Chief People Officer. Caroline’s HR career to date spans more than 26 years and a diverse range of industry sectors, including technology, pharma and financial services. She has 18 years’ experience in regional and global HR leadership roles, and PA Life spoke with […]

Take That’s former management assistant talks of how life after working for the band has inspired her to help a new generation of Virtual Assistants. Sarah-Jane Heath (known in the business as SJ) spent many years at the top of her profession, travelling the Globe with one of the UK’s most successful boybands, Take That, […]

How has the pandemic and lockdown changed the role of an EA? PA Life spoke to Orlaith O’Brien, EA at Endava… How did you get your current position? I was contacted by a lady in the recruitment department via LinkedIn. (In fact my previous position was via LinkedIn also!) I wasn’t actively looking at the […]

Karen is the PA to Andy Tookey, the Managing Partner of Baily Garner, a construction consultancy covering a majority of the UK with offices in both Eltham and Birmingham. PA Life spoke with Karen about how she secured her current position and her thoughts on PA Life Club… How did you get your current job? […]

At the PA Life Star Awards, Romy Ashmore was awarded Multi-Tasker of the Year 2020. Romy is an Executive Assistant at RM Results and in March 2019 was offered the opportunity to undertake training to become a mental health and well-being champion. PA Life spoke with Romy to find out more about her experience and how she felt […]

At the PA Life Star Awards, Jade Fearon was awarded Rising Star 2020. Jade is a Personal Assistant at DWF and adapted well into working from home. During lockdown she seamlessly transitioned into working for a new team, and remained a positive voice for other support staff during a very uncertain period. PA Life spoke […]

At the PA Life Star Awards, Kirsi Swinton was awarded PA of the Year 2020. Kirsi is an Executive Assistant and Assistants Network Lead at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. In 2020 Kirsi published her first article Who Decides the Value of an Assistant, followed shortly by a second article ‘The Problem with Politeness: Why straight-talking as […]

Natalie Reeves was awarded VA of the Year 2020 at the PA Life Christmas Party incorporating the Star Awards. Natalie is a Virtual Assistant who has managed to grow her business NJR Virtual PA during the pandemic. Natalie has done this whilst juggling a 4-year-old starting school and a 1-year-old who is with her full […]

Last week the PA Life Star Awards took place and Chris Holland was awarded PA Life Club Member of the Year 2020. Chris is currently an Executive Assistant at Nimrod Capital LLP, but has experience working for a variety of organisations such as the NHS and financial institutions. Having worked in a range of roles […]

How is the pandemic and lockdown affecting PAs, their professional situation and personal lives? PA Life spoke to Karen Crowley, PA at Baily Garner, Claudine Martin, PA at the Ministry of Defence and Lisa Neath, Executive PA at Sulzer… Are you still working from home? Karen Crowley: I have been working from home for the […]