EXECUTIVE PA MAGAZINE MAR/APR 2015 EXECUTIVEPA UK EDITION | THE LONGEST ESTABLISHED & LEADING MAGAZINE BRAND FOR PROFESSIONAL PAs www.ExecutivePA.com Mar/Apr 2015 £8.99 When PAs turn bad The lone ranger Theft, fraud, dishonesty... PAs have been making headlines for all the wrong reasons They may be in the minority in offices, but male PAs are making waves What does your working day involve when you’re PA to the boss at Crystal Palace Football Club? THE BEAUTIFUL GAME INSIDE EVENTS + TRAVEL + TECHNOLOGY + VENUES + NEWS + CAREER providing you with a better option Comprehensive ensive corporate travel services and account management support Applehouse arrange and manage corporate travel for a diverse organisations. Our clients have access to range of companies and organisations a dynamic infrastructure that allows them to achieve significant and measureable cost savings, process efficiencies and time savings. All this without compromising on quality, flexibility and personalised service. With an innovative and fresh approach to business travel, Applehouse is able to cater for your professional and personal travel requirements anywhere in the world. To find out more, call 0800 408 8011 or email: [email protected] www.applehousetravel.co.uk FOREWORD March/April 2015 EXECUTIVEPA THE MAGAZINE FOR PROFESSIONAL PAS AND SECRETARIES ENQUIRIES EDITORIAL [email protected] ADVERTISING 020 7236 1118 [email protected] MEMBERSHIPS & SUBSCRIPTIONS 020 7236 1118 [email protected] CONTACTS EDITOR Cora Lydon [email protected] PUBLISHER & UK GENERAL MANAGER Andrew Organ [email protected] ADVERTISEMENT MANAGER (UK) Stephan Pavlovic [email protected] SUBSCRIPTIONS Sam Anderson [email protected] ASIA PACIFIC James Brome +61 (7) 3839 4911 [email protected] Here at Executive PA Magazine we’re all about waving the flag for PAs and trumpeting the important role they have in businesses across the country. But, that’s not to say that all Personal Assistants are doing their bit to raise the image of the profession. On page 22 we look at some of the assistants who have defrauded and stolen from their (often high profile) bosses – some of the sums they steal are eye-watering and say a lot about how much trust and autonomy is placed in a PA. This issue we’re also taking a closer look at organising AGMs and some of the PAs on our reader panel give us their top tips for making it happen effortlessly (or at least look that way) – take a look on page 32. Finally we have the usual mix of interviews (on page 8 we speak to Clare Hurford, PA to Crystal Palace Football Club owner Steve Parish), office trends (has you company embraced the idea of activity-based working – see page 14) and more. We hope you enjoy the issue and do take a look at some of the fantastic reader events we’re running in the coming months, from page 34. Cora Lydon, Editor, [email protected] CHAIRMAN Russell Peacock PUBLISHED BY Solutions Publish LTD 21 Godliman Street, London, EC4V 5BD EUROPE www.ExecutivePA.com ASIA www.ExecutivePA.asia AUSTRALIA www.ExecutivePA.com.au PRINTED BY Buxton Press Annual subscription: £53 Copyright 2015 Solutions Publish All rights reserved; no part of this publication may be copied or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publishers. While every care is taken in the compilation of this publication, the publishers can not accept any responsibility for any inaccuracies or changes since compilation, or for consequential loss arising from such changes or inaccuracies, or for any other loss, direct or consequential, arising in connection with information in this publication. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply recommendation by the publisher. This publication is produced from sustainable sources and is a recyclable product. We encourage our readers to reduce waste by recycling. Circulation audited by Audit Bureau of Circulation MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM 03 CONTENTS March/April 2015 16 12 44 08 FEATURES 08 PA Profile Clare Hurford is PA to Steve Parish – co-owner of Crystal Palace Football Club – and talks to Executive PA Magazine about her role 14 Beyond hot desks What’s the future for workplaces? We take a look at Activity Based Working to see if it has legs 22 When PAs turn bad Heard the one about the PA who defrauded their boss out of millions? Probably – as PAs are making headlines more frequently than ever before 44 The lone ranger Take a look around the office? How many male PAs do you spot? We bet a very small number, if any. Executive PA Magazine looks at why male PAs are underrepresented and why that should change 46 PA Vs PA This issue 2015 PA of the Year UK goes head to head with her Australian counterpart 04 MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM INTERACTIVE 34 Executive PA Magazine reader events We have some fantastic events lined up this issue so do come along and meet us AWARDS 12 Executive PA Magazine Awards We find out more about the award-winning bashes organised by the winner and runner-ups for Best Organised Event at the Executive PA Magazine Awards SOCIAL MEDIA Find out what our social media-connected PAs are discussing on Facebook or keep up-to-date with us through Twitter, LinkedIn or via ExecutivePA.com ExecutivePA.com facebook.com/ executivepa twitter.com/ PAofTheYear linkedin.com/ Executive PA Magazine Executive PA Magazine | ExecutivePA.com 41 25 31 48 REGULARS WORK VENUES 06 In box 28 Venue menu All the news, views and information you need TRAVEL 25 Soaring high In a world where image is everything, could hiring a private jet for the boss, give your company the edge? PRODUCTS 16 Office solutions Executive PA Magazine explores some of the products that should be in your office Find out what’s happening in venues across the country 31 Five of the best horseracing venues Get business off to raring start with a venue immersed in the sport of horse racing 32 Make your AGM go with a zing It’s your job as a PA to make sure attendees want to be at your company’s AGM – here’s some ideas to make it more appealing and run smoothly 41 Executive PA Magazine reader reports Did you join us at one of our reader events? This issue we report back on our most recent events 19 Technofile with Tim Stackpool Could you be about to be replaced by a robot? Our tech expert looks at the raft of AI personal assistants CAREER 48 Reader panel We get opinions from Executive PA Magazine readers – this is your page for your thoughts 50 Career News, views and essential information for boosting your career MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM 05 INBOX Keep up to date with the latest news surrounding the role of the PA IN BRIEF RESEARCH Mobile office PAs are helping to boost the economy – new research reveals that commuters typically spend an average of 33.5 minutes working on their journey to and from the office, worth hundreds of millions of pounds. WORLD EA jobs slashed SURVEY Executive Assistant named as one of the top 25 best jobs in UK Some of you may go into work and feel rather smug that you have one of the best jobs in the world – and now, if your job title is EA, it’s official. Glassdoor’s inaugural Best Jobs in the UK for 2015 report has identified the top 25 roles determined by three key factors: earning potential, career opportunity rating and number of job openings. And it’s the role of Executive Assistant that sneaks in at number 21 (numbers 1-3 being: Marketing Manager, Finance Manager and Mechanical Engineer – which let’s face it sometimes a PA has to be all of these things and more!). The position of EA won its place for: 1 Average base salary: £29,612 Although this is a base salary we know many of you have far higher earning potential – with variations based on industry and geography. 1 Career opportunity: Rated 3.3 by Glassdoor The very nature of the EA role means you have a wide-ranging skill set which can be useful when it comes to landing a promotion or taking on more responsibility. 1 Job openings: 1,613 Good EAs will always be in demand and exceptional EAs will always find new jobs. Despite budget cuts, most companies know they can’t do without their support team. NEWS 06 MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM SALARIES Money talks 39 per cent of people say they’d start looking for a new job if a pay rise isn’t forthcoming in the next 12 months (source: Glassdoor). However, in the PA profession we see a great deal of employee loyalty with many readers saying they love the good relationship they have with their boss. TECHNOLOGY PA’s racism claim thrown out Sabina Jagasia, a temping personal assistant at Unilever’s Kingston offices, has lost her case for racial discrimination and bullying against the company. The PA had two temporary stints at the multinational organisation and both times she claims she The Premier for Prince Edward Island, Wade MacLauchlan, has announced that he’ll be reducing ministerial executive assistant positions, after reducing the Cabinet to just eight. Current EA numbers are to be slashed by more than half. was harassed and bullied. The case was rejected after Unilever’s lawyers argued that she could “not in any way substantiate any of her statements”. Miss Jagasia will now have to pay almost £5,000 in court costs to her former employer. Easy browsing From April 21 it should get a lot easier to do research on the go for both you and the boss. Google is making changes to the way it ranks websites in search results – giving preference to sites that are easy to read on mobile devices. PA PROFILE VIEW FROM MY DESK Lydia Bacon, PA to UK Head of Tax and London Head of Tax at Mazars LLP What have you done today? After checking my emails over a cup of strong tea I have (amongst other things) finalised travel arrangements and created a presentation for the UK Head of Tax’s quarterly office visits; assisted in the directing of a recording of our pre-Budget video for our website; registered my Partners for an international conference; finalised menu choices for a private dinner; researched travel options for various visits in the UK and across Europe; finalised details for quarterly department UK Partner conference and searched for options for our London departmental social. NEWS PA to the first lady passes away The former PA to Jacqueline Kennedy passed away in March 2015. Providencia Paredes worked for the Kennedys for 17 years and stayed by her boss’s side following the President’s assassination. Paredes has previously spoken out about that difficult time in November 1963, explaining that it was she who packed the first lady’s outfits for the Dallas trip – including the pink suit she wore on the day of the killing. Talking to The Washington Post she said “I just wanted to be near her,” explaining that she kept herself busy in the White House by organising clothes and accessories just in case she was needed for anything by Mrs Kennedy, after the shock of her husband’s death. NEWS Reader pens PA bible What’s in your top drawer? My drawer layout is a little different to standard drawers but this is what is on the top shelf: P&C task folders; project folder; company guidance material e.g. forms, codes, corporate hotel information, tube and train maps; cans of energy drink; spare notebooks; labels. What do you love about your job? Clichéd I know but the variety! Also the ability to get involved in many aspects of the firm from HR to marketing, despite being a large organisation and having dedicated departments for this. I also quite like the unknown aspect and the constant changes on each day. It gives me a sense of achievement when I manage to pull things together. What challenges do you face in your role for 2015? I want to strengthen my network with other fellow professional PAs and move forward in my role in a more strategic way, both of which will not be easy in such a demanding role. Angela Garry: reader and PA contributor to Executive PA Magazine, the world’s most connected PA on LinkedIn and now author of a new book, guiding readers through the tough job of being a PA. Brave PAs is billed as a guide for PAs, EAs, secretaries and administrators working in education but actually the book has plenty of advice to offer anyone in the PA profession. The book focuses on some of the core skills that every PA needs, as well as those talents which will make you outstanding in the role, and offers sound advice honed from Angela’s 24 years as a PA in education. MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM 07 PA PROFILE THE DREAM TEAM When Clare Hurford’s boss took up a new challenge, so did the PA – managing the working life of Crystal Palace Football Club’s co-owner, Steve Parish BY KAREN GLASER MOST OF US FOLLOW a football team because of local loyalty or family influence. But Clare Hurford supports Crystal Palace because of Twitter. The online social networking service is the reason she became PA to the football club’s co-owner, Steve Parish. Not that she knew this about Steve when she applied for the job of PA to the CEO of a global design and production agency. “The job was at Tag Worldwide which Steve used to own. At the time, I was a freelance stylist on various magazines and covered for assistant fashion editors. But I have a degree in creative advertising and I was keen to work in the advertising industry. “One hour after I had applied for the job on Twitter, the recruitment agency rang to ask if I could go for an interview that evening. It was a Wednesday, and the following Monday I started work as Steve’s PA.” It was 2012, and at the end of the year Steve left Tag, having sold the company a year previously. Clare went with him. Steve had already bought Crystal Palace Football Club in 2010, but Clare says that as the club was in the championship at the time, his involvement with it was minimal. 08 MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM Now, of course, his involvement with Crystal Palace Football Club (CPFC) is maximal. And Clare’s is, too. But in her case, the beautiful game is a new dimension in her life. “I went to my first football match, an FA cup game, during my first week at CPFC. My dad is a rugby man and we didn’t have a local football team where I grew up, so I didn’t really have a reason to like football. But I do like the game now. And I also like the exciting world of football.” FASHION MEETS FOOTBALL A couple of hours before that first game, Clare went out and bought herself a new outfit: a pair of black trousers and a white shirt, both from Zara. She wanted to look stylish, but not too avant-garde for the occasion. Her background in fashion means her clothes can seem a bit edgy in the rather conservative, male-dominated world of soccer. “People in the office will often say things such as – ‘those are rather loud trousers you are wearing today, Clare!’ And it is true, leather trousers are not the norm in this world.” For at least one day every fortnight, though, the leather breeches hang neatly in Clare’s wardrobe. On home matcht “I want a PA who can be me in a meeting, who is an extension of me, if you like – and Clare is that person.” APRIL/MAY 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM 09 PA PROFILE sdays, which take place once every two weeks, she works as a mys- tery shopper at Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace’s football ground: and for this exercise to work Clare must not stand out from the madding crowd. “I get there two hours before kick-off and observe the stewards and the turnstile staff to see if they are polite and knowledgeable. Then I’ll go to the restaurant, have a meal and review the catering staff: are drinks poured properly, is the place clean and tidy? I also chat with waitresses and hostesses in the various lounges. The object of mystery shopping is to improve customer service and, where appropriate, to reward staff. And the exercise works because the club employs casual staff who don’t know who I am. Though for extra cover, I still dress as plainly as I can!” DUTY CALLS Gym-toned Steve, meanwhile, generally wears fitted clothes, says Clare. Her job doesn’t involve buying his threads, but she does research pieces of furniture for his apartment, currently under renovation, and when asked to describe her boss’s taste in interiors, Clare doesn’t hesitate: “modern contemporary, quite Mayfair.” Similarly, Steve’s friends and fans also turn to his PA for advice on gifts for him. “He likes teas, so I always advise people to buy him Earl Grey or green tea. I think it’s the best bet for a man who has everything.” Clare’s more unusual PA duties have also included buying bedding for Steve’s daughters, aged 21 and 16, and she has, on a couple of occasions, cleaned the Crystal Palace chief’s bathroom. “It is fair to say that sometimes I feel like his mum!” Not when she is reporting on the activities of Crystal Palace’s membership programme at the club’s monthly management meetings, though: “I have to deliver a report on the programme to the other department heads, and at that moment I am also a department head.” Which pleases Steve greatly. “I want a PA who can be me in a meeting, who is an extension of me, if you like – and Clare is that person,” he says. “In fact, I don’t really see her as my PA. I think of her as an EA.” But not as an EA who takes liberties: “We are a small team here and intimacy can breed familiarity. But not in Clare’s case” notes Steve, who appreciates that Clare is never late for work and she doesn’t do things such as take Fridays off. “She always maintains the correct level of professional distance.” 10 MARCH/ APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM THE PROFESSIONAL PA Far from being late for work, Clare is regularly in contact with Steve until midnight, and checks her emails from 7am daily. “Our phones are always in our hands, we are constantly on Whatsapp,” she says. But always being contactable is, she concedes, a downside to the job, as is carving out time in the week for herself. “Being so organised for Steve, means I never have any time to organise my own life. So, my mum has become my PA – it’s she who sorts things such as eye tests and repairing my smashed iPhone screen which, incidentally, Steve has been telling me I should sort out for weeks.” The fact Steve can tell Clare to ‘sort’ her iPhone out is, surely, a measure of their close working relationship. Clare prefers the word ‘honest’ to describe their rapport. “That’s why things work so well. He treats me as a colleague rather than as someone who is subservient to him.” To onlookers, though, this honesty can sometimes be mistaken for something else. A staff member once asked Clare if she saw Steve privately. “No, I do not,” was the unequivocal reply. Just occasionally, though, the duo has disagreements, which do recall wife-husband spats. “Once Steve couldn’t find his keys, was in a bit of a panic about it, so I went to his flat and found them,” recalls Clare. “When I told him, he denied responsibility, saying ‘Oh, you must have put them there and not mentioned it.” But set against the excitement of working in a fast-paced environment where rubbing shoulders with Bono, Michael Buble, Billy Bragg, Bill Nighy, Jo Brand and Eddie Izzard, among other big-name Crystal Palace fans, is all in a day’s work, such relationship blips are just that. “We do get a lot of famous people in our boardroom, and although I’m not really the star-struck type, it is certainly a privilege to hang out with people who are older and more accomplished than me,” says Clare. Older is the operative word. Aged just 26, Clare has plenty of time to add to her already considerable accomplishments. As Steve puts it: “I just cannot believe how young she is.” E AWARDS 2015 Event horizons Get an event wrong and it can be a career stopper, as any PA knows. Hazel Davis speaks to the winner and runner-ups of the Best Organised Event category, sponsored by Center Parcs, in the Executive PA Magazine Awards 2014 THE DREAM TEAM WINNER Name/role: Lauren Bushby, PA to director of quality and PA to Experts by Experience national lead Event: Choice Support’s 30th Anniversary Style: A celebration of 30 Years of Choice Support including talks, activities, awards and a gala dinner. Venue: The Grange Hotel, St Paul, London Budget: £60,000 The details: The event was for people with a wide range of needs including physical, sensory and learning disabilities as well as eating and drinking problems. We wanted the event to be a fivestar, inclusive experience for all of the guests. How did you choose the venue? We enlisted the help of an amazing organisation called The Conference People. They were really helpful and made selecting a venue quick and easy by providing a detailed selection of locations within our price range. What was the biggest challenge? Making sure that the event was ‘accessible’ in all senses of the word threw up many challenges for me and the planning team. For example, we worked closely with the hotel staff to rethink signage, as many people attending did not read. We had to work alongside the chefs to work out how we could let people chose their food and still have it prepared and presented in a way that they could eat and be served at the same time. We addressed most of these obstacles by including people with disabilities on our planning team and this led to us sourcing diverse entertainment that would not segregate anyone. How long did it take you to organise? Nine months. Top tip? Delegation and having a great team behind you. 12 MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM You can probably remember the thrill of the London 2012 opening ceremony. You can probably also remember the will-they, won’t-they of whether the organisers could pull it off, especially since the Beijing Summer Games ceremony of 2008 was described as “the greatest ever”. No pressure there then. But, they did it. So how do you pull off an event that surpasses your critics’ (and fans’) expectations? We find out from the experts just how to create a show-stopping event that people will talk about for years to come. Identify talent Put yourself in the shoes of a potential delegate. It sounds obvious but have you actually done it? What would make YOU turn down all other invitations to attend something or even nominate the event for an award? Would it be a venue you’ve always wanted to go to? A speaker you’ve always wanted to meet? A chance to dress up to the nines and spend the night in a top-class hotel? Jim Duffy is CEO of Entrepreneurial Spark, and regularly organises events for entrepreneurs. For Jim, the speakers and the interactivity of an event are the key ingredients. “The quality of speakers is the deal breaker for me on what makes an event really great,” he says, “Although we've recently organised speaker events with Levi Roots, Kanya King OBE and Sir Tom Hunter, it doesn’t need to be a big name but you do need someone with something interesting to say and a new take on things.” Jim says he uses video clips during his events and tries to make everything as interactive as possible: “At a recent event we left yellow rubber ducks on each place setting, and showed a video about the differences in the workplace between soaring eagles and quacking ducks. Delegates are still talking about it now and many have the ducks on their desks to remind them of the key message.” Visualise venue success The venue is crucial. Of course your attendees need to be able to get to the event but once they are there, are they going to Instagram themselves standing outside if it’s a chain restaurant with a special offers night? Emily Garnham, MD of London-based Rhizome PR, says, “A client of ours organises two awards ceremonies per year and each time it has been held at a slightly more spectacular venue. This year it was held at the Gherkin, where the view at night is breathtaking. The first thing guests did was rush to the win- 2014 AWARD SPONSORS dow to take photos and admire it. A stunning venue definitely results in more RSVPs.” And don’t forget to encourage guests to facebook, Twitter and Instagram with your hashtag to create a buzz around the event. THE DREAM TEAM Finer details Once the venue and speakers have been confirmed, there are other, more subtle ways to get the bums on seats too. “Small quirky details mentioned on the invitations also helped get the crowd through the doors,” says Emily, “there was a flavoured mist machine, as well as an iPad caricaturist and a magician walking around and interacting with guests.” And, of course, the food. Are you still talking about the meal you had that time you went to that awards ceremony? We know we’re still raving about the catering for last year’s Executive PA Magazine award ceremony. “Really don’t underestimate the need to generously feed and water your guests,” says Emily, “Substantial canapés are important. If it’s an evening event most people will have come from work and skipped dinner.” Don’t leave the food as an afterthought. The meal is not only where people refuel enough to get up on the dancefloor/stage but also where your guests mingle with each other and talk about what a brilliant do it is. Don’t give them the opportunity to bitch about the food. Hire the best chef you can and if budget allows, get a well-known cook or brand to do the catering. E THE DREAM TEAM RUNNER-UP Name/role: Anne Donovan, EA to CFO and events manager, Just Eat Event: World Party 2014 Style: Conference and party RUNNER-UP Name/role: Jane Boon, director’s PA Event: Kier Group Head Office annual Christmas party Style: Banquet-style dinner for 400 people Venue: Wyboston Lakes Budget: £20,000 The details: The evening consisted of a three-course dinner followed by a disco. All guests received three free drinks vouchers which I sent out to each guest before the event. This year we had a lot of extras for staff to enjoy, including two photo booths (one Marryoke) a caricature artist, giant Jenga and Connect 4 and a luge, which proved very popular towards the end of the night… What was the biggest challenge you faced and how did you overcome it? Getting menus and money from people, as space was limited. The only way around this is giving strict deadlines. Venue: Beaumont Park Estate, Old Windsor How did you choose the venue? It offered the best deal and could accommodate 400 people, which in Bedfordshire is very hard to find. Budget: Confidential How long did it take you to organise? Eight weeks. The details: The Just Eat World Party is attended by 800 employees from 13 countries. It develops over four days leading to an all-day teambuilding and party on the Friday. Top event tip? Always read the small print and always get a second opinion. What was the biggest challenge? The biggest challenge is in the sheer scale of the event. This is resolved by strong planning, constant clear communication and teamwork internally. Selecting the best suppliers in the industry. How long did it take you to organise? Six months, including building and leading a team of more than 40 employees to help run the project alongside their day jobs. Top tip? Ensure feedback forms are sent out, both to enjoy the good bits and learn from the negatives. In it to win Have you been behind the scenes at an awe-inspiring event? If so there’s no time to waste. Nominations for the 2015 Executive PA Magazine have now opened. If you’re a PA who’s organised a stand-out event we want to hear about it. Visit www.executivepa.com/awards/ for more details and how to enter any of the five award categories. MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM 13 Beyond hot desks Activity-based working may become the norm in some offices, says Graeme Ditchburn, academic chair of organisational psychology at Murdoch University, Perth WORK Office space is one of the largest costs associated with running a business, which is why hot desking, where employees choose from available work sites rather than having an assigned workspace, has gained popularity since the 1990s. As greater collaboration is an essential ingredient in the creative process, it is one of the arguments in favour of the adoption of hot desking in organisations. But research on information processing suggests that employees need space to concentrate without distractions, and that interruptions inhibit creativity. Open workspaces may actually undermine creativity by normalising group behaviours towards structures and boundaries. Frequent desk relocations can also waste time and generate extra work, and the noise associated with open workspaces can mean more distraction, mental workload, fatigue and stress, all of which can negatively impact productivity. One of the major criticisms of hot desking is that it reduces the chance for employees to express their identity and personality at work, which in turn can erode job satisfaction, commitment and engagement, factors that have been shown to be positively associated with performance. It has also been suggested that hot desking may contribute to a sense of loss and marginalisation. When managers take control of an individual’s workspace, workers can feel psychological discomfort and begin to identify less with the organisation. But there is good news: regular online communication helps maintain organisational attachment in hot-desking environments. The bad news is that employees are wary of surveillance systems, which may even lead to counter-productive behaviours, such as putting in only as much effort as they feel inclined to. There is also evidence to suggest hot desking can result in distinct social structures and even indifference between 14 MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM employees who settle versus those who move regularly. Negative health implications associated with hot desking are often exaggerated, though perhaps rightly so. Multiple-user keyboards have been found to have five times the amount of bacteria of single-user keyboards. Pros and cons But, while the negative effects of sedentary office jobs are well established, it’s just possible that making employees walk around to find an available desk, find each other, and perhaps find themselves, could be good for the health. It is apparent from the literature to date that different job roles need different environments. Hot desking works best when there are clearly defined inputs, outputs and set goals. There is also evidence to suggest that employees have different preferences, for example, goal-orientated environments align most closely with the preferences of conscientious individuals. For organisations and managers this means fitting the person to the job and to the workspace. Get active Activity-based working (ABW) is one possible solution gaining momentum worldwide. This moves beyond hot desking, with multiple areas tailored to work tasks, such as ‘hubs’ for team working and collaborative areas for brainstorming and meetings. Undoubtedly, some of the challenges associated with hot desking will continue to be evident with ABW, and the question as to whether the benefits outweigh the costs will still need to be answered. It is possible ABW environments will become the norm in certain sectors, and that there will be workspaces to fit the needs of every work role and every employee. Global companies such as Google and “Open workspaces may actually undermine creativity by normalising group behaviours toward structures and boundaries” Microsoft have experimented with ABW, closely followed by companies in the professional services sector such as PwC and KPMG. Companies in the financial sector, such as BankWest, the Commonwealth Bank, Macquarie Bank and NAB, have also started to adopt ABW. Lately, more government departments in Australia have been getting in on the action, often using office refurbishments to integrate the shift towards ABW. While the jury is still out regarding the financial return of ABW, there are other benefits, including less sedentary behaviours, attracting talent, and retaining high performers. Ultimately, it is about matching individual employees and specific work tasks to work environments and technologies that support those activities in order to enable greater efficiency and effectiveness. E *This article was originally published on The Conversation. " !" """ "" " "" """" """ " " """" """ """ """ " " "" " "" Get ahead of Christmas Book now and get 10% off all Christmas packages Located in the heart of Kensington, The Copthorne Tara Hotel London Kensington offers an extremely convenient location, with easy access to High Street Kensington underground Station. The hotel has 745m2 of event space provides the facility for groups between 20 to 300 delegates which can provide a perfect venue for your Christmas event as well 833 comfortable guest rooms. Use the code XMAS15 when you book and confirm your event with us before 30th June 2015 Please contact the Events Team on 0207 872 2912 [email protected] *Terms and conditions apply and minimum numbers are applicable* MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM 15 OFFICE ESSENTIALS Andrea Ashfield takes a look at the latest essential kit for your office FURNITURE Sitting pretty tAccording to a study by the Institute of Sport Sciences at Johannes-Gutenberg University, the way we sit when we’re at the office can have significant impact on our ability to concentrate. The research compared the brain activity of those sitting on traditional office chairs to those using the more flexible Swopper 3D stool, which is ergonomically designed and allows freedom of movement. The results showed that those using the active chair produced more alpha, beta and theta brain waves, and felt more alert and productive throughout the day. The Swopper stool is available from aeris GmbH. INFO www.aeris.de SOCIAL NETWORKING A meeting of minds vIf your diary is jam-packed and organising meetings is a seemingly impossible task, it could be time to start using a social scheduling tool like Doodle. This handy service makes it easy to find a date and time that suits everyone without the need to email back and forth. Simply send a link with a suggested meeting slot to everyone that needs to be included and each person can respond accordingly. Doodle will also automatically sync appointments to your calendar and will eliminate the risk of events that clash. INFO STATIONERY Print it out uBrother has launched two new desktop label printers to replace its best-selling 18mm and 24mm models. The new versions can print in a variety of styles that are useful when you need to provide easy-to-read instructions or labels around the office. Each has a high-res LCD screen and colour display, while a large keyboard makes typing easier and faster. Users can also access Brother’s Ptouch Editor software, which enables you to create bespoke labels with images, fonts, logos and barcodes. INFO 16 www.brotherlabelling.com MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM www.doodle.com STAR APPS TECHNOLOGY In the field tLogic Instrument recently unveiled two new rugged seven-inch tablets that can withstand even the most adverse weather conditions. The two Fieldbook devices, one with Windows and one with an Android operating system, can deal with extreme temperatures, dust, shock and vibration, and can easily be integrated into existing IT infrastructures. There’s also a rugged docking station that can be used in equally tough environments, which could be useful for those who travel as part of their work. INFO www.logic-instrument.com Minicabster FREE ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| This useful app makes booking a minicab easy and safe. It can be used in Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, London, Liverpool, Manchester and Nottingham, and has the biggest footprint of any UK cab app. Users can choose the service that suits them best when they book one of 14,000 available cabs, whether it be the cheapest, most luxurious or even an eco-friendly electric car. All cabbies have been background checked, giving you peace of mind when you travel. INFO www.minicabster.co.uk TECHNOLOGY Speak up sPhilips has released two new digital voice recorders to help with dictation on the go. The Pocket Memo 7800 and 7820 models promise crystal clear audio quality and can easily be operated with one hand. Both are made from lightweight stainless steel and come with SpeechExec Pro Dictate software, which makes it easy to record and transcribe. There’s also an accompanying iPhone app that can be used to dictate and securely send memos, emails, reports and documents remotely, so you can still be productive when you don’t have the Pocket Memo to hand. INFO www.speechlive.com The Green Alchemist FROM £9.99 PER MONTH INFO CHARGERS www.elementgreenrecycling.co.uk ScanBizCards £0.79 Hidden extras tSwedish furniture giant Ikea has come up with a range of desks, work lamps and tables with built in wireless charging spots, enabling users to stay constantly connected. The new Home Smart range aims to make it easier and more discreet to charge your phone, while the lack of cables keeps your office neat and tidy. There is also a new charging pad with three ports that is ideal for busy offices, and a range of wireless covers for some iPhone and Galaxy devices. Prices start from £30. INFO |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| This innovative new web app aims to make recycling more financially rewarding for businesses. Simply input your company’s postcode and the weight of your recyclable materials to find out how much they are worth. This waste can either be auctioned to nearby couriers or you’ll receive a quote for collection. The app also lets you sell office furniture and electronic goods. The Green Alchemist promises to help businesses reduce the amount of rubbish they produce and save money, and can also assist with negotiating better contracts with waste management companies. ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| This clever scanning app provides a more efficient way to manage your contacts. Simply scan a business card and your iPhone and Outlook address books will be automatically updated with the relevant information. It can also sync with multiple devices and has cloud backup, and can be used in conjunction with Evernote, LinkedIn and Salesforce. The app gives users an easy way to capture contact details and there’s no need to manually type them in or keep physical business cards on your desk. INFO www.circleback.com www.ikea.com MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM 17 Is your boss flirting with Siri? The future may lie in Artificial Intelligence (AI) – but could PAs ever be replaced by technology? By Tim Stackpool TECHNOFILE © Apple With the arrival of Siri as a feature of the iPhone 4S on October 14 2011, technology PR agents and publicists have been trying to convince the market that an app touting artificial intelligence can now bring personal assistant services to the palm of everybody’s hand. Historically, Siri was due to be available to all mobile platforms, including Blackberry, Windows and Android, but all those plans were knocked on the head as soon as Apple bought Siri outright. Now, other apps including the simply named ‘Assistant’ have filled the gap for many Android users, while ‘Cortana’ is the preferred AI for mobile Microsoft devices. But have these applications put a dent in the employment opportunities for real-world personal assistants? While it is true that lovers of mobile technology make use of these AI services, a casual survey by Executive PA Magazine found it difficult to identify users who believe the experience matches that of a real PA. No competition for PAs Mark Adams* works for a major multinational finance corporation and shares a real world PA with a number of other executives. “When Siri first arrived, there was some pressure put on us to test whether the AI app could replace the flesh and blood assistant in the office, and quite plainly it can’t.” Although the apps do learn your preferences with use, expecting a level of reasoning still appears to be too much to ask. “If I need to alter some international travel arrangements, like changing or extending a stopover, I can leave it to our office PA to organise,” he said. “The best I can ask Siri to do is to dial our travel agent.” No one in the survey had found their real world PA to be redundant in favour of an AI app. Put to good use The situation was a little different when asking if any personal assistants themselves were using an AI app to assist with their work. None admitted directly to doing so, but some did indicate that they use other apps as a way to keep on top of their workload and to be more productive each day. The apps most favoured include features found in most of the popular AI versions. Google NOW, EasilyDO and DragonGo rated a few mentions, as well as Maluuba which is actually marketed as a personal assistant app. Under further scrutiny, AI PA apps undertake ‘actions’ that you would otherwise have to do by tapping information into the phone in order to achieve a result, as opposed to undertaking ‘duties’ required of a real world PA. Because of this, the term Digital Personal Assistant is used as the closest definition or description of what the app appears to do, rather than accurately indicating that it acts as a replacement for a real world position, which ultimately it doesn’t. The apps offer certain online assistance to smartphone users who might not, due to financial reasons or otherwise, be able to ask someone else to undertake. What does the future hold? The threat faced by real world PAs however, comes from the rise in the virtual assistant, being a remotely located real person offering services online or over the phone. Kyri Theos, Australian Country Manager at Elance-oDesk says "Businesses spent $941 million hiring online via Elance.com and oDesk.com in 2014. Taking advantage of casual outsourcing will be increasingly critical for profitability and competitive survival." Virtual assistants of this nature might eventually fill the gap in expectation left by the shortfall in capabilities of artificially intelligent mobile applications. E *name changed by request. INFO Tim Stackpool is a technology specialist and commentator reporting for magazines, TV and radio in the UK, Europe, USA and Australia. Tim has been an Executive PA Magazine Australia columnist for seven years. MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM 19 READER OFFERS COMPETITION COMPETITION Win a FREE Team building Experience at The Lensbury Win an Apple Watch The Lensbury is a 4 star hotel, conference centre and premium leisure club located in 25 acres of grounds on the banks of the river Thames. It is the perfect location for your teambuilding activity and with our river frontage is particularly suited to water based challenges such as raft building and dragon boat racing. If you prefer the dry land, there is plenty to keep you busy with our giant garden games, treasure hunts and the new Earth Ball which has recently been introduced into the UK. There are also extensive leisure facilities offered at The Lensbury including 19 tennis courts, a 25 m indoor pool, large gym, squash courts, sauna, steam room and spa. After all that activity, why not relax in one of The Lensbury’s restaurants or private dining rooms for a dinner or barbecue and then stay the night in one of the beautifully refurbished bedrooms. You could also combine your teambuilding experience with some business and hold your meeting or conference at The Lensbury. We have over 30 meeting rooms in our modern, contemporary conference centre. For more information, please visit our website at www.lensbury.com, call Kathy Lambert on 0208 614 6567 or email [email protected] quoting ‘EXECPA’. HOW TO ENTER Enter our prize draw to win a teambuilding experience of your choice at The Lensbury for you and your team this summer. Choose from Raft Building, Earth Ball, Treasure Hunt, Retro Sports, Tennis or Dragon Boat Racing. (Terms and conditions apply). To enter visit www.lensbury.com/ offers/a-teambuilding-experience 20 For more exclusive offers visit www.ExecutivePA.com MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM Butlins Conference & Events are giving you the chance to win an Apple Watch. We understand how challenging it is to create great events. That’s why our three seaside resorts are set for the 21st century, making them the ideal place to bring out the best in people, all in one location. Investing over £175 million, we can offer a spectacular range of venues, beautiful accommodation and unforgettable teambuilding activities to motivate and inspire your team. Along with our great food and dining options and friendly service, you won’t find better value. We provide one point of dedicated service – your very own event manager – to see every little detail from start to finish and to make sure everything goes smoothly for you. All of which adds up to an easier, more enjoyable event for you and your delegates. Find out how you can bring out the best in your people at Butlins visit Butlins.com/events HOW TO ENTER To win, simply answer the following question: Where are Butlin’s three seaside resorts located? Please send your answer, along with your name and company details to: [email protected] Terms and conditions: The prize is a 38mm Apple Watch Sport (screen size 272 x 340). The prize is non transferable and offers no cash value or alternative. The prize is subject to availability and we reserve the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice. Closing date for entry will be 31 May. After this date the no further entries to the competition will be permitted. Winners will be chosen by 19 June 2015. The winner agrees to the use of his/her name and image in any publicity material. Any personal data relating to the winner or any other entrants will be used solely in accordance with current UK data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party without the entrant’s prior consent. Apple Watch is a registered trade mark of Apple and this promotion is not sponsored or supported by Apple. All rights are reserved. VENUE PROFILE Promotional feature Twickenham Stadium: ‘The Home of England Rugby’ Fact: the first international game, England v Wales, was witnessed by 20,000 spectators and took place at Twickenham Stadium on 15 January 1910. Role on 100+ years and the capacity crowd is now 82,000! The Home of England Rugby, Twickenham Stadium is hosting two QBE Internationals in 2015 – England v France (15 August) and England v Ireland (5 September) – these offer a unique opportunity to experience rugby union at its best, with full hospitality entry level prices of £399+VAT per person. The RBS Six Nations is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. Some of the rivalries in this tournament date back more than 140 years, which simply adds to the sense of occasion. Ireland were victorious in 2015 and their captain, Paul O’Connell, was awarded RBS player of the championships. The 2016 RBS Six Nations will commence on 6th February. Fixtures have been confirmed and England’s first match at home will take place on Saturday 27 February, when they will play Ireland. Twickenham Stadium is located in South West London, accessible by both road and rail. Within walking distance from Twickenham Station (accessible from London Waterloo, Clapham Junction, Reading, Ascot and Windsor & Eton Riverside). It is the largest stadium in the world devoted solely to the sport of rugby union and the atmosphere generated by capacity crowds has to be experienced to be believed. It is also one of London’s premium conference and event venues with 25 large dedicated spaces and rooms, many providing attendees and delegates with a view of the famous playing field that has inspired the national rugby team. A survey conducted by Keith Prowse in July 2014 among more than 300 directors, managers and partners confirmed the value of ‘face-to-face marketing’. 66% of the respondents agreed that it plays a crucial role in engagement levels. Almost half agreed that hospitality packages are a beneficial means of creating an inspirational setting, which can of course lead to better relationships and interaction amongst guests. E INFO For more information on the finest in rugby hospitality which means fantastic seats and unmatched service – with a range of packages priced to suit customers, family or friends alike – please contact Keith Prowse on 0845 602 8989, or email [email protected] All match-day hospitality from Twickenham Experience contributes to the continued investment in English Rugby. Further details can be found on our website: keithprowse.co.uk/rugby_twickenham-rugby-hospitality MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM 21 When PAs turn bad... With access to eye-watering budgets and high levels of trust and autonomy, is the administration profession being pulled into disrepute by a small proportion of dishonest PAs, asks Karen Glaser WORKPLACE “I THINK IT HAPPENS WHEN people cross the line between being a PA and a mate, when that area is grey. The selfjustification goes something like this: she’s my friend, so she’d lend me the money anyway. But even if you do have the kind of friendly boss who buys you handbags or pays for your teeth to be whitened, so what? They are gifts. It doesn’t mean you can spend your boss’s money without telling her. There is one word for doing that. Theft. ” So says Maureen Henry, PA to the CEO at APSCo, about the growing number of her fellow PAs who steal. Yes, growing. Unless you read the newspapers blindfolded, it is impossible not to notice that, these days, employees who are caught with their hand in the till are, more often than not, personal assistants. Joyti de Laurey, former PA at Goldman Sachs, was jailed for stealing £4.5million from her bosses HIGH PROFILE PAS Precisely how many is unknown: no official research has been conducted on the phenomenon. But according to the industry experts Executive PA Magazine spoke to in connection with this article, we are unequivocally talking about less than one percent of the 226,000 PAs (and other secretaries) working in the UK – though that could, of course, equate to 2,000-plus people. Those cases which reach the papers, more often than not are PAs working for very wealthy individuals, in some cases celebrities (see our hall of shame opposite), a significant number of PAs who steal from the boss are private PAs to high-net worth individuals. PAs such as Michelle Knox-Brown, of Clapton, who used her boss model Erin O’Connor’s credit card to pay for holidays to Morocco, India, Spain and America. And Carol Hawkins, former PA to U2 bassist Adam Clayton, who was found guilty of embezzling £2.2 m pounds from him over a four-year period. And Kristy Watts, personal assistant to best-selling author, Danielle Steel, who plundered the American novelist’s credit cards and bank accounts to the tune of £500,000. PAS AND POWER But what actually turns a PA bad? Even if a PA has a chequered employment history in the profession, she still knows the difference between right and wrong. Clinical psychologist Linda Blair thinks the reasons are as varied as the personalities and backgrounds of those PAs who break the law. “Where there is access to wealth beyond what one has, there is temptation. But the reasons for giving into temptation, to taking risks and breaking the law will depend, as always, on a mix of personal characteristics, 22 MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM upbringing and current circumstances. ” Occupational psychologist, Professor Christopher Lewis agrees, but thinks something else might be afoot, too. “If the role of a PA can give ambitious people access to wealth and influence, that someone from their background would never normally get near to, a minority of individuals will want to grab a piece of that for themselves.” Do some PAs have too much power? Is the temptation to defraud there because of a mix of personality traits combined with the trust of bosses and access to their money? Not according to Hannah Rowe, executive assistant at audio visual consultant Double Negative Visual Effects. “The role naturally requires you to be responsible and trustworthy. If you don’t have those personality traits, then you can’t really be a PA!” If it is now normal for PAs to have access to their bosses’ bank accounts, it follows that said bosses and employers will only want to employ PAs who are pillars of integrity. Quite right, too, says Maureen. As she says, “I am a PA. I work in a position of trust. The boss’s money is not my money. Period.” E The PA Hall of Shame 6'0" 6'0" 5'6" 5'6" 5'0" 5'0" 4'6" 4'6" 4'0" 4'0" 3'6" 3'0" STOLE STOLE STOLE £4,000,000 £500,000 STOLE STOLE £4,500,000 £1,000,000 £165,000 3'6" 3'0" 2'6" 2'6" 2'0" 2'0" 1'6" 1'6" 1'0" 1'0" 0'6" 0'6" 1 Kim Roberts VICTIM The Dowager Countess Bathurst CRIME Kim stole antiques worth £500,000, including a Picasso sketch, from the countess’s Cirencester estate and her London home. Kim claimed the items were gifts from the boss, despite working for her for less than a month. Kim was also charged with stealing a £10,000 Volvo, allegedly taken from previous employer, Emily Olympitis. VERDICT Kim was charged last November and the case goes to trial shortly. 2 Tong Sze-kiu VICTIM Balram Chainrai, former Chairman of Portsmouth FC CRIME The former PA used the boss’s credit cards to run up bills of around £4m – largely spent on beauty treatments and branded items. Tong was accused of applying for credit cards in the boss’s name at four different banks, as well as falsely using 55 cheques signed in Chainrai’s name. VERDICT Tong pleaded guilty of 16 charges of theft and fraud between 2001 and 2010. 3 Joyti De Laurey VICTIM Three of her bosses at Goldman Sachs bank CRIME Of the £4.5million she stole, she is reported to have spent it on, amongst other things: 11 UK properties, a seafront villa in Cyprus, luxury cars, ringside seats at the Lewis/Tyson boxing match in Memphis, first class flights, a speedboat, designer clothes, luxurious holidays and flying lessons for her thenhusband. VERDICT Joyti was handed a seven-year jail sentence but was released in 2007 – just half way through her jail term. 4 5 Charles Lodi Renata Shamrokovam VICTIM VICTIM The Hollywood actor Luke Wilson Todd Meister, former husband of Nicky Hilton CRIME CRIME The actor is suing his former PA, accusing him of making almost $90,000 in unauthorised purchases on his credit card, stealing personal property worth $75,000 and identity theft. Charles had been added as an authorised signatory on Wilson’s credit card and used it to fund first class flights, wedding expenses, golf and ski equipment and holidays. VERDICT Wilson filed the lawsuit in March this year and is now requesting a jury trial. The Ukrainian assistant stole nearly $1million – and reportedly spent it on trips to Aruba, Canada, France and Italy. A court ordered Renata to repay the money to her former boss or face jail, so she launched a Kickstarter campaign to try to raise funds – which proved unsuccessful. VERDICT Shamrokovam pleaded guilty to grand larceny and at the end of 2013 was jailed for up to three years. MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM 23 @flysmartjets facebook.com/SmartAviation linkedin.com/company/ smart-aviation-limited Soaring high Private Jets: only achievable for the super rich or are the benefits far reaching? Could this be the ultimate way to impress your clients, asks Maria Fuller TRAVEL Private jet charter, perhaps misguidedly, conjures up images of the rich and famous, A-listers and business oligarches enjoying the trappings of their wealth, flying VIP style wherever and whenever their itinerary demands, regardless of costs. But this is no longer an exclusive club – chartering a private jet can be a justifiable option to consider if your boss has an extensive travel itinerary. But it also has its other uses. In today’s competitive market, making a good impression is paramount – but does arriving by private jet give off the right or the wrong impression? “We have often flown for corporates who are trying to make an impression on their clients,” reveals Wendy Courtenay, Business Development Director at Private Jet Charter. “For example, a luxury car company, launching a new model flew 50 owners of the current model to Nice to showcase the new car. The aircraft was branded on the livery with its company logo and inside the aircraft anything that could carry the corporate logo was branded. So the headrest covers, coasters, napkins, even the gin and tonic swizzle sticks!” she explains. “The prospective owners were welcomed on-board as if the corporate company owned the plane. It’s impressive. It gives the client the impression that they are dealing with a top end company. The ‘captive audience’ were treated to an onboard sneak peek preview video of the new car and on-board announcements add to the hype. Plied with first class catering and Champagne, I would say definitely yes, deals are closed on this sort of stuff.” Sarah Longhurst, Digital Marketing Executive at Smart–Aviation agrees: “One of the bonuses for chartering a jet for company business is that anything, within reason, is achievable in order to promote the company (or product), and provide a lasting impression. If the customer asks we will do our best to provide it. Crew can be asked to wear company branding on badges or accessories e.g. scarfs for flight atten- “We are seeing more and more companies using our services for regular travel between business locations saving them huge amounts of time and money.” dants. Depending on the size of the company and budget the outside of the aircraft could even be liveried with your logo. Another plus for the personal touch is that the flight crew can personally greet clients in the executive terminal, escort them to the jet, and welcome them on board on behalf of your employer.” But, is a private-jet using image the one you really want to project? In these financially constrained times and with environmental issues still being a big part of a company’s ethical ethos, flying in to meet a new client by private jet purely to give off a certain impression may backfire. “Whilst there is a small element of prestige being a factor in the decision making process for business aviation users in the USA, Russia and Asia, there is strong evidence to suggest that the opposite is true in Europe,” explains Director of Centreline Air Charter, Phil Brockwell. He believes that the good impression comes from having the business nous to see the benefits of a private jet for what they really are. “The strength of the financial and time saving benefits of chartering private aircraft to do business far outweighs any other consideration. We are seeing more and more companies using our services for regular travel between business locations saving them huge amounts of time and money. The prestige comes from businesses being seen to behave in a ‘savvy’ way when it comes to travel.” There may not be conclusive evidence that hiring a private jet will sway your clients to sign on the dotted line, but for time-poor execs it can certainly make good business sense. E MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM 25 TRAVEL PROFILE Promotional feature Centreline Air Charter Centreline Air Charter (CAC) has been providing aircraft charter and management services since its inception in 1998. Today CAC is an organisation of over 50 passionate professionals focussed on delivering the highest levels of service in aircraft charter, aircraft management, aircraft acquisition, aircraft maintenance and crew training. The company is uniquely vertically integrated, which is the key to providing a boutique service with the backing of a significant organisation. Second best – no that doesn’t work for us either The difference between scheduled flights and a private jet is clear to see: Flying between the right airports at the right times. Never missing a connection. Knowing that your privacy, comfort and security are all taken care of. Imagine the freedom of knowing that no matter how much your meeting or dinner runs over your aircraft will be waiting for you – we work around you. But what sets the best private air charter apart from the pack? For people who fly regularly with Centreline, the answer is ‘everything’. Because every little detail is important. From engineering to catering; from flight planning to piloting the aircraft to its destination; we insist that everything is done just right, so that every customer experiences Centreline at its best. And if you are considering chartering a private jet, you will find that very few measure up to our best. Our Aircraft Centreline Air Charter operates a fleet of modern 6 seat Citation Jet 525 (CJ525) aircraft and is one of the largest operators of its kind in Europe. The CJ525 is probably the most reliable light jet ever built, the perfect European City hopper for 16 passengers. The CJ525 offers a greater range 26 MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM than other small jets, comfortably carrying 6 passengers from the UK to Spain and Italy and 4 passengers to the Canary Islands with 1 fuel stop. The key passenger benefits of the Centreline Air Charter CJ 525 1 Has the highest on time departure statistics than any other aircraft in its class 1 Provides a very smooth ride due to its ability to climb to an altitude above turbulence 1 Comfortable cabins with toilets and power for laptops 1 The separate baggage holds are plentiful and remote to the cabin so that sporting equipment can be carried 1 All Centreline aircraft are DEFRA approved for the carriage of pets on the Pet Passport Scheme. E INFO For more information or to obtain an instant quotation, please contact us on +44 (0)1275 474357, fax: +44 (0)1275 476539 or email [email protected] EVENT PROFILE Promotional feature Engaged to succeed Expert advice on engagement to boost meetings success – the latest industry thinking at Exclusively Corporate @IMEX The latest views on innovation and engagement, the power of creativity and future trends are just some of the key topics covered by leading experts as part of Exclusively Corporate @IMEX this year. Taking place the day before IMEX in Frankfurt (19 – 21 May), Exclusively Corporate is a dedicated education and networking event for corporate meeting and event planners. The event takes place in the inspiring setting of the newly renovated Kempinski Gravenbruch and runs from Sunday 17 May to Monday 18 May. Exclusively Corporate is the perfect opportunity for PAs to join other corporate meeting planners from across the world to exchange ideas, share expertise and best practice. Attendees can expand their knowledge of organising business meetings and events, as well as meet industry experts and other professionals in exactly the same position. The focus for this year is engagement – both internally and externally with suppliers, customers and other stakeholders. Meeting planners play a crucial role in facilitating and enabling engagement via live events, and creativity and innovation are both key tools to boost the engagement experience. Delegates can learn from experts and their peers about how to leverage creativity and innovation to create meetings and events that truly engage audiences as well as adding significant value to the business for whom they work. Following a ‘meet and greet’ dinner on the Sunday evening hosted by Starwood Hotels & Resorts, the comprehensive education programme launches on the Monday with a keynote by Kevin Kelly, internationally acclaimed motivational speaker. Kevin is set to reveal the power of persuasion and how to deliver higher levels of engagement, as well as the secrets behind some of the most successful brands on the planet. Delegates can tailor the education programme to suit their individual requirements with tracks on engagement & innovation and technology & negotiation, as well as a dedicated strand for senior corporate executives with more than 10 years’ experience – Executive Meeting Forum (by invitation only). What the business gurus are saying about innovation and engagement will be explained by leading business experts from Bookbiz as part of the engagement strand. This is followed by Innovations in Destination Selection – The Routes Story by Gerard Brown, Head of Future Events at UBM Live, Routes and Airport Cities. Mike Dominguez, Senior Vice President at MGM Resorts International reviews what is on the horizon for the meeting and event industry as part of the technology and negotiation track, followed by an interactive workshop exploring how to use LinkedIn to engage. This valuable day of education is rounded off by an interactive World Café discussion session – an open forum to dis- cuss the topics raised during the day. As an opportunity to exchange ideas, share expertise and best practice, keep upto-date with event management trends and developments, learn from peers and make valuable new contacts, Exclusively Corporate @IMEX is unparalleled. In short, this will be the most valuable time you spend out of the office this year! Only corporate meetings and events buyers, planners and co-ordinators can attend Exclusively Corporate to ensure that dialogue remains confidential. However, the chance to meet and do business with suppliers soon follows when the IMEX show itself opens on Tuesday 19 May. With over 3500 exhibitors there is no shortage of new venues, hotels, ground handlers, event agencies, airlines and other suppliers to discover. In total, suppliers from 157 countries are showcased at IMEX, representing a chance to meet and do business with new contacts from all corners of the world. E INFO Interested in attending? Visit http://bit.ly/1lnZ42I or Email [email protected] MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM 27 VENUE MENU Want to know the latest venue to unveil a new look or fling open its doors? Read on.... HEREFORDSHIRE Go wild If you’re looking for something different for delegates, how about the latest offering from Dewsall Court, Herefordshire, who has teamed up with Wild Hare Events to create the ultimate Great British Safari. Suitable for up to 20 guests, your delegates will spend two nights in the 10-bedroom corporate retreat of Dewsall Court and two nights under canvas. But forget everything you think you know about camping – this is luxurious, spacious Lotus Belle style tents furnished with queen sized beds with memory foam toppers. A range of tailored-made activites can be included to suit your objectives, including foraging, canoeing, preparing meals outdoors and trekking with an ex-SAS soldier. INFO LONDON www.dewsall.com; 01432 276 724 LONDON Urban retreat opens Set sail for success The heart of the London’s East End is the location for Z Hotels’ 4th London property. Z Shoreditch offers guests 111 rooms, with room rates from just £59 a night. The new hotel is located in The Bower, a new landmark quarter near Old Street which will be home to offices, restaurants and retail outlets. Rooms will be equipped with 48" LED HD TVs with full Sky sports and movies as standard, power showers, luxury bed linen and free WiFi throughout the hotel. The hotel stays true to the company’s ethos of providing an ‘urbanite stay’ experience with affordable luxury in a desirable location. Plus there’s free cheese and wine for overnight guests in the Z Café. The original Thames dining cruise experience, Bateaux London, is celebrating after it was awarded the ‘welcome’ accolade by VisitEngland. The win is in recognition of its outstanding customer service – Bateaux London has now joined a prestigious list of 46 attractions to receive an accolade from the country’s national tourist board. The cruises offer a great way for delegates to see some of the capital, with an itinerary that takes in iconic landmarks like the Houses of Parliament, INFO www.thezhotels.com; 020 3551 3700 MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM INFO www.bateauxlondon.com; 020 7695 1800 EDINBURGH Conference and events venue to open As part of a £1.5million revamp of the old Edinburgh University languages building, the Royal College of Surgeons is opening a brand new conference and events venue, offering three unique event spaces. Set to open in May, it’s part of the famous Surgeon’s Hall Museum and will have three floors of purpose-built space to suit everything from a small private 28 the London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London, as well as offering a range of fine dining options. boardroom meeting through to a theatre-style event in the auditorium for up to 160 people. The building will be accessed from the famous pillared entrance opposite Festival Theatre, leading through the private gardens and into a lobby area with cloakroom. INFO www.surgeonshall.com; 0131 527 3434 IN-BRIEF Venue with a heart brings welcome news If you’re keen to support venues that actively care for its employees then the news that Barnett Hill is to pay its staff a living wage will be welcomed. The Surrey-based hotel and conference centre has been accredited as a Living Wage employer, committing to pay staff at least the hourly wage of £7.85 – significantly higher than the national minimum wage of £6.50. New hotel for Barcelona EDINBURGH New serviced apartments Reinforcing its position as the largest serviced apartment provider in Scotland, Fountain Court has opened a new property in Edinburgh. The Royal Garden Apartments include a mix of 30 one- and two-bedroom apartments, bringing the company’s total number of apartments to 210, across seven properties. Situated just a stone’s throw from St Andrews Square, the apartments on Queen Street are opposite the Scottish Portrait Gallery and offer panoramic views of the Firth of Forth from its upper floors. The location is ideal for business travellers with an almost door-to-door service from the airport to the apartments via tram. INFO www.fountaincourt.com; 0131 622 6677 GLASGOW Brewing up great events Great conferencing is all about the food and drink – so you can’t go wrong with a booking at the new Innovation Suite at Wellpark Brewery. Opening its doors just a few weeks ago, the fully operational brewery, has launched a unique conferencing facility situated in Glasgow. Home to Tennent’s Lager, the brewery has been inviting members of the public into the brewery since 2013 but it’s the first time it’s targeted corporate clients. With a meeting room that can accommodate 12 delegates plus a lounge area which can seat up to 45, the facilities include presentation screen, conference call capabilities, free onsite parking – plus the Tennent’s Training Academy Cook School is on hand to provide catering or even mini master classes. INFO www.tennentstrainingacademy.co.uk; 0845 166 6060 International travellers will be able to stay at the new five star hotel, ME Barcelona, from 2017. From Meliá Hotels International, the hotel will offer 173 bedrooms, innovative dining options, business and social areas and the very latest technology. Great gardens Northcote has opened the doors to its Garden Lodge, bringing the hotel’s capacity from 18 to 26 guestrooms. The Lodge comprises seven spacious bedrooms and one stunning Master Suite, each with individual terraces. The Garden Lodge can be hired as individual rooms or as a complete site for up to 16 delegates. Starred for success The Catering & Conferences team at St John’s College, Cambridge, is celebrating after it won Two Stars in the Sustainable Restaurants Association Awards. The win highlights the college’s effort to source food more sustainably, to engage with the local community and its commitment to environmental good practice. Back to its roots Gordon Ramsay Group is returning to the very restaurant where the celebrity chef’s career first took off more than 20 years ago. Opening in April at 11 Park Walk – the former site of Ramsay’s Aubergine restaurant – is maze Grill, serving up signature rare breed steaks, fish and poultry as well as an extensive selection of sushi and sashimi from a dedicated raw bar. MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM 29 Beautiful Bouquets of Baby Clothes New baby gifts – Maternity leave gifts Can’t wait till the next issue? » news » discussions » event pictures » offers » competitions Lindt Chocolate Bouquets Staff and client gifts for any occasion Quote EXECPA to receive 10% discount Tel: 01495 303030 www.theflowerstork.com register now at: ExecutivePA.com like our page: facebook.com/ executivepa Follow us on LinkedIn RECEIVE 50% OFF YOUR 1ST ORDER – register by email: [email protected] 30 MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM Five of the best: equestrian venues Ready for a day at the races? Take a look at this selection of venues with a horse-racing connection. By Andrea Ashfield VENUES 2 Ffos Las, Carmarthenshire Since it opened in 2009, Ffos Las has built a strong reputation for corporate and racing events. The course is nestled amongst 600 acres of stunning Welsh countryside, and has eight hospitality boxes for small meetings, and seven function rooms that can cater for up to 500 people. The venue can also organise public events for as many as 15,000 guests and trade fairs for 1,000 delegates. Packages include room hire, tea and coffee, lunch, free parking and WiFi. INFO 1 www.ffoslasracecourse.com Aintree, Liverpool If you’re looking for history and a sense of occasion, head to Aintree. This famous course has been home to the Grand National since 1839, and has been graced by a host of famous winners including Red Rum. This Jockey Club venue also has corporate facilities that are perfect for team-building days, award ceremonies and gala dinners, with up-to-the-minute AV technology also available. Aintree has five self-contained grandstands, 14 meeting areas and 43 adaptable boxes, and it can accommodate as many as 600 guests. Food is also important, and clients can choose anything from canapés to a full five-course dinner. The racecourse is easily accessible by road and is also served by its own train station. INFO 3 www.aintree.co.uk Royal Windsor, Berkshire If you’re looking for a venue with good transport links, Royal Windsor is ideal. Located just an hour from central London and 10 miles from Heathrow, the racecourse offers stateof-the-art facilities set against a tranquil backdrop with spectacular views. The venue, which is set within 165 acres of countryside on the banks of the Thames, has 23 meeting rooms and can play host to conferences, training courses, team-building events, corporate fun days and awards dinners. Free WiFi and AV equipment are available to help events run smoothly, while good food and wine are also part of the package. It is also possible to arrive from Windsor by water taxi. INFO www.windsor-racecourse.co.uk 4 Chelmsford City, Essex Located within easy reach of the capital, this brand-new racecourse opened earlier in the year, and already has 58 fixtures lined up for 2015. It boasts a full range of facilities for corporate visitors, and has a large, flexible space available for hire. Chelmsford City can accommodate two conferences at once, and can host product launches inside or outside its hospitality suite. Situated on the ground floor, The Fairwood Restaurant and Lounge can play host to as many as 250 people and offers diners a glimpse of the final furlong, while The Club Restaurant serves modern British cuisine and has panoramic views over the course. INFO www.chelmsfordcityracecourse.com 5 Macdonald Berystede Hotel, Ascot Set within beautiful wooded grounds in the Thames Valley, the Macdonald Berystede Hotel and Spa has recently undergone a £1million upgrade. Named in honour of a famous Derby winner, the hotel’s Hyperion restaurant has been completely redesigned, and is noted for its superb cellar. The hotel’s Diadem bar, named after another well-known thoroughbred, has also been redecorated and now has an equestrian theme. The 126-bedroom property is close to Ascot racecourse and Wentworth golf course, and has 14 meeting rooms, an 18-metre swimming pool and a luxury spa with outdoor hydro pool. INFO www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/berystede MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM 31 14 ways to make sure your AGM goes with a zing There’s more to an AGM than a bunch of folk turning up in suits and looking bored for two hours. Here’s how to make it go swimmingly by Hazel Davis EVENTS READER PANEL TOP TIPS 32 MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM Jade Hockie, VA Seema Shah, EA, Sportech plc “I’ve found that a lot of the shareholders who attend the AGMs tend to be older, so it’s important to ensure that the venue and meeting room are easily accessible.” “Always keep a stock of pens! With shareholders having to sign in when they arrive, you’ll be surprised at how many pens go missing!” 1 The key word here is ANNUAL. This means you have a year to plan your AGM. Don’t take this lightly. Many large companies start planning their AGMs this far in advance. When choosing your date, remember to take into account any parttime staff and people working remotely or likely to be out of the country. it be sufficient to stand up and shout? Plan the lighting carefully too. Are the existing lights dimmable or too dim? Do you need to light up the speakers? Will the lights have an impact on concentration. Try and get this sorted well in advance so you’re not faced with a room full of sweating, squinting execs. 2 You might be tempted to think that the food is an after thought, after all, the meeting is the important bit. But, mealtimes may be the only chance delegates have for a real break so it’s worth spending a little extra on your food and drinks bill to keep everyone happy. Have bottled water and glasses available on all seats, so you don’t have to spend time fetching and carrying throughout. Once you have chosen the date, make sure you send regular prompts to remind people of the importance and what their input is expected to be. 3 Visualise how it’s going to look before you think about choosing a venue. Have a rough idea of how many people you want to attend, how long it’s likely to take and what you want the room to look like. Do this before you find a location and this will help you get the perfect one. 4 Choosing the right venue is incredibly important. So important we have given it three tips of its own. The first, from Bethany Forvargue, PA to the board at Data Interchange plc, is to “choose a room with air conditioning or, if it has to be windows, that’s quiet when the windows are open.” Make sure you visit the room at different times of day to determine what sort of noises you might have to contend with. “Mealtimes may be the only chance delegates have for a real break so it’s worth spending a little extra on your food and drinks bill to keep everyone happy.” 5 Ensure the venue is not off-putting to any members. Some people may not feel comfortable meeting in a pub, for example. Ensure clear routes of access so people aren’t embarrassed if they need to use the facilities. 6 Always arrange a visit to your chosen venue in person, as a space can look very different in its online pictures (don’t we all?). Take a ‘I’ll believe it when I see it’ approach to anything you’ve been told. And make sure you visit at least three different venues. Remember to check for things like public transport access, parking, wheelchair access, cloakroom facilities and local eateries in the vicinity. 7 Check what tech is available. Do delegates need to plug their laptops in? Are there plenty of extension leads? Is there WiFi? And if there is WiFi, do you want people to be emailing while they are supposed to be paying attention? Consider how you want questions answered. Do you want a roaming microphone or will 8 9 Consider enforcing a no-mobiles rule. By doing so you’ll ensure you have a captive audience with mimimum distraction – but a phone ban may not make you the most popular person. If you do push ahead with this be sure to send round the venue’s emergency contact number well in advance. 10 Now to details. Any PA will tell you that AGMs hardly ever run to strict timings. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t at least try. In addition to the agenda, make sure you have a run sheet ready, with an order of business clearly outlined. Do this as far in advance as you can but be aware that things are likely to get changed as you go along. Tot up exactly how much time you need to allocate to each speaker but also make sure you let people know whether they can interject with ‘prepared’ impromptu speeches. 11 Consider having an external chair. This could be someone who hasn’t got an agenda and doesn’t know who anyone is. This ensures that the AGM becomes less about controlling an outcome, and more about about ensuring people stick to the timetable. 12 Encourage written submissions. If attendees want to make a submission then ask them to get something down in writing for you to photocopy and distribute beforehand. This will make things flow better and also allow participants to prepare their responses. 13 If you have the capacity, consider taking multimedia minutes. This has the advantage of ensuring that if there is any suspected misrepresentation, any problems can be cleared up simply by watching the footage back. 14 And finally, if budget allows, reward the attendees with a post-AGM trip somewhere. There’s nothing like knowing there’s a theatre trip/night of dancing in the offing to get people motivated to contribute. E Alison Reid, PA, NPS South West Carlene Rowe, PA, Concern Worldwide UK Sally Procter, EA, ey “Put the most important items at the start of the agenda as people are more attentive at the beginning of a meeting.” “From the outset have a checklist of everyone and everything that you need to prepare for your AGM – eliminates having lots of info on different papers/ emails – makes life much easier when referring to one main document.” “Always consult don’t just assume!” MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM 33 READER EVENTS Your invitation to network at our exclusive reader events Present your best self Come along and join Executive PA Magazine at the IoD – where Dr Mandy Lehto, executive coach, author and corporate trainer, will be talking about personal presentation 4 JUNE Steeped in history and elegance, 116 Pall Mall is home to the IoD and is a Regency Crown Estate building, ideal for both business and entertaining. The stunning architecture and beautifully decorated rooms all receive natural daylight and are fully air conditioned. These first class facilities teamed with superb catering, are guaranteed to provide you and your guests with a truly unique and memorable event. Whether your event is a private meeting for 10, a conference for 300 or a dinner for 250, 116 Pall Mall offers versatile space with immaculate service and client care. PAs using this venue can liaise with their own personal account executive to lighten the load. They fully understand the needs of a conference and events organiser and can liaise with all the relevant personnel and provide the attention to detail and peace of mind needed to ensure that your event is a success. READER EVENT On Thursday 4 June you’re invited to come along to the venue to hear Mandy talk about personal presentation and advise on the best colours for individuals to wear in the workplace. Mandy writes for Psychologies magazine and the Huffington Post, and has been featured in the Sunday Times, Psychology Today, e-Financial News and on CNBC. Her clients include Nestle, Rothschild, Bulgari, HSBC, Harrods, Deloitte 34 MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM and CitiGroup. She has coached, mentored and trained CEOs, lawyers, investment bankers, screen play writers and entrepreneurs. It’s also a chance to get an early viewing of this year’s venue for the Executive PA Magazine Awards – 116 Pall Mall, home of the Institute of Directors. To apply to attend please visit www.executivepa.com/events-directory/reader-events. READER EVENTS Paddington Bear treasure hunt at the Hilton Hotel On Thursday 14th May 2015 a select number of PAs will get to experience the new addition to Hilton London Paddington including a ‘Find Paddington Bear’ treasure hunt 14 MAY Hilton London Paddington, one of London’s grandest Victorian hotels, has offered unrivalled hospitality since 1854 in an iconic location. In January 2015, the hotel unveiled a new chapter in its rich history with the addition of an exclusive wing. Signalling a new era of premium business hospitality, the development combines the grandeur of British Victorian architecture with Art Deco interior design. The 56 new ‘GWR Tower Rooms’ offer spacious, elegantly appointed accommodation with separate areas for work and relaxation. GWR Tower guests can also enjoy first class service in the dedicated ‘Tower Lounge @ Paddington’ at the top of the new wing. Oded Lifschitz, UK area vice president, Hilton Worldwide, said, "The opening of the GWR Tower Wing begins a new Your invitation to network at our exclusive reader events chapter in the hotel’s illustrious history. Its character is defined by its proud heritage as the gateway to London, with the Great Western Railway and Heathrow Express making it a superb base for business. We look forward to offering a warm welcome to guests seeking outstanding accommodation in a fantastic location.” Ideally situated for guests, Hilton London Paddington offers a full range of facilities. Opened in 1854, this Art Deco hotel has 419 individually crafted guest rooms, including 35 suites. Adjoined to Paddington Station by footbridge this is one of the best-connected hotels in London. The hotel is just 15 minutes from Heathrow Airport via the Heathrow Express, making it an excellent hub for UK and international travellers. What is more, with four London Underground lines on its doorstep, guests can enjoy fast, easy access throughout the capital and beyond. Within this elegant Art Deco building are the cosy Brasserie restaurant, the chic Steam Bar, and a well-equipped gym with separate cardiovascular and free weight workout zones. Choose from 15 pillar-less function meeting rooms, including the 350 seat Great Western 1 that features a Foyer and Atrium for private networking events with a dedicated cloakroom and restrooms. With prime access to the city, delegates are very well connected. READER EVENT Come and join us on 14th May at the Hilton London Paddington and take part in a Paddington Bear treasure hunt. The event will start from 6pm and there will be drinks and canapés so you can be suitably refreshed ready to start the Paddington Bear hunt. Around the hotel will be a number of Paddington Bears and it’s down to you to find them. If you spot one, it’s yours to keep – but we’ll also have a gift for every reader who attends. To apply to attend please visit www.executivepa.com/events-directory/reader-events. MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM 35 First stop for events! London Transport Museum. Perfect for lavish dinners, cocktail receptions, awards evenings, networking events, product launches, presentations, meetings and team building events all right here in the heart of Covent Garden. 2IÀFLDOYHQXHIRUWKH ([HFXWLYH3$0DJD]LQH awards 2014. For all enquiries contact the venue hire team on 0207 565 7292/3 or email [email protected] READER EVENTS Your invitation to network at our exclusive reader events Center Parcs welcomes PAs Center Parcs is offering an exclusive reader review opportunity at its newest Village, Woburn Forest, where PAs can trial the accommodation, try out the activities and check out the event spaces for themselves 1 JULY Recognised as being a unique choice for corporate events and team building, Center Parcs offers distinctive expertise in the conference industry. Events at Center Parcs make delegates feel appreciated, the unique environment is ideal for companies that value well-being and its unique offer is perfect for event organisers craving somewhere different for their next conference or away day. Center Parcs Woburn Forest boasts a new and contemporary dedicated conference and events facility. This can accommodate up to 400 delegates theatre style and 400 people for a gala dinner. The Venue is the hub for all meeting and event related activity in the Village, and has been designed to meet the needs of individuals ranging from meeting planner to trainer and award organiser to association arranger. The Venue’s collection of rooms offers space for breakout sessions as well as exhibition stands, and the private entrance affords groups anonymity and security whatever the needs and objectives of the event. Alongside The Venue’s dedicated conference offering is a wide range of team building facilities including over 100 activities, from water sport based activities to aerial adventures and Aqua Sana spa. Center Parcs’ specialist accommodation, which step up from one bedroom apartments to four bedroom executive lodges, are a proven method to engender networking amongst delegates. Situated across the woodland site, the apartments and lodges offer the highest standards and a welcome change from the traditional hotel bedroom. The unique selling point of Center Parcs is the ability to accommodate large numbers of delegates in a forest setting. The outdoor environment provides alternative options to a regular conference. The wide choice of activities and restaurants onsite also sets Center Parcs apart from competitors – everything is offered in one memorable village location. READER EVENT On July 1 this overnight visit will include a full introduction to the events spaces as well as getting the chance to take part in some of Center Parcs’ popular team building activities such as target archery, mission international and back to school. The afternoon is concluded with a relaxing two-hour spa session before dinner in on-site restaurant Shearing House, followed by bowling and drinks. Attendees will also be able to test out the Woodland Lodge accommodation. To apply to attend please visit www.executivepa.com/ events-directory/reader-events. INFO http://events.centerparcs.co.uk/home/index.html MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM 37 READER EVENTS Your invitation to network at our exclusive reader events Create memorable events at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort Big kids will love the LEGOLAND Windsor Resort just as much as small ones – don’t believe us? Come along and find out for yourself with this special reader event 14 JUNE Truly memorable conference and event experiences are now on offer at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort. Home to an interactive, LEGO®-themed Hotel the Resort offers state-ofthe art creative meetings and conference facilities in its corporate LEGO Suite with exclusive executive bar and lounge, plus a range of inspiring LEGO-themed team building exercises and fun experiences right across the Park. From brand new ‘Build a Badge’ ice breakers, to ‘LEGO Creator’ building challenges and Park team ‘Quests’, to private evening receptions under the sea in Atlantis or a medieval style banquet in the Knight’s Castle. LEGOLAND offers a phenomenal backdrop and scope for uniquely creative tailored occasions guests will love to remember. You could even have the whole Resort just to yourselves… READER EVENT On Sunday 14th June Executive PA readers and their family or friends (two adults, two children) are in for a truly awesome day out at the LEGOLAND Windsor Resort. On arrival at the hotel at 10am, join the business events team for breakfast in the corporate LEGO Suite. After trying your hand at a unique LEGO ice-breaker, take a look at the incredible themed Hotel bars and restaurants. Then at 11.15am head in to enjoy the Park itself for the rest of the day – armed with an ultimate fast track for all the family. To apply visit www.executivepa.com/ events-directory/reader-events. 38 MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM READER EVENTS Your invitation to network at our exclusive reader events Swing Low Sweet Chariot Readers are invited for cocktails and canapés in the Royal Box at Twickenham Stadium 23 JULY One of London’s premium conference and event venues, Twickenham Stadium is home of England Rugby and offers event-organising PAs excellent facilities and a wealth of flexible interior space. Whether you’re looking to organise a small meeting, a personalized training seminar or have grand plans for a large-scale business conference it can deliver – and even provide delegates with a view of the famous playing field that has inspired the national rugby team, as many of the spaces offer fantastic views. For an unforgettable atmosphere the purpose-built South Stand Conference and Events Centre is perfect, superbly equipped, with complimentary WiFi. The Live Room can host up to 550 guests in a tiered seating auditorium, with integral PA system, lighting rig, wide range of AvV equipment plus adjacent Green Room. In total there are 25 large dedicated conference spaces and rooms all serviced by the dedicated, talented and professional staff at the venue. For this summer how about something totally different and highly memorable? Between 22 June and 4 July you can book a pitch-side BBQ for delegates. Alongside the pitch which has seen its fair share of excitement and sporting triumph, you and your guests can enjoy a private BBQ with a choice of menus. READER EVENT On 23 July, Executive PA Magazine readers are invited to Twickenham Stadium. The evening will kick off at 6pm with cocktails and canapés in the Royal Box. At 7.15pm you can enjoy an access-all-areas tour and get behind the scenes of one of the UK’s landmark sporting venues. Then you can enjoy time networking with fellow colleagues. To apply to attend please visit: www.executivepa.com/events-directory/ reader-events. MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM 39 READER EVENTS Your invitation to network at our exclusive reader events Elegant dining at Kettner’s Executive PA Magazine readers are invited to experience fine dining and some of the best Champagnes in the world in Kettner’s 1920s style bar 10 JUNE Originally opened as a restaurant in 1867 by Auguste Kettner, (chef to Napoleon III,) Kettner’s became infamous as the rendezvous of choice for deliciously colourful characters of the time, renowned for hosting incredibly risqué parties. Oscar Wilde dined here and Kettner’s is mentioned as his venue of choice in his trial notes. Agatha Christie and Bing Crosby were also celebrated regulars. King Edward VII courted his mistress, Lillie Langtry and even ordered a secret tunnel to be built between Kettner’s and the Palace Theatre, where his mistress Lillie Langtry performed. The rumour is that the lovers would take the tunnel to meet at Kettner’s during intermissions. The 8 elegant private dining and events rooms are adaptable in their uses and there is a space to fit most budgets. They can individually hold between two and 120 people or an entire floor can be hired for events requiring a larger capacity. 40 MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM All private rooms have a dedicated waiter, Wi-fi, iPod connectivity and additional AV if required. “BEST FOR PRIVATE DINING. NOW, AFTER A LOVING FACELIFT, KETTNER’S SHINES AGAIN.” Harpers Bazaar READER EVENT Kettner’s reputation for private dining is matched by it’s reputation for serving the best Champagnes in the world. We’re pleased to invite a group of Executive PA Magazine readers to come and experience both the dining and some of the incredible Champagnes served in the 1920s style bar on Wednesday 10th June from 6.00pm til 8.30pm. To apply visit www.executivepa.com/events-directory/reader-events. INFO www.kettners.com READER REPORTS Every issue we’ll report back from the last issue’s reader events – were you there and captured on camera? THE EVENT WHERE: Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London WHEN: 19 March 2015 BRIEF HIGHLIGHTS: PA of the Year, Katrina Arratoon spoke about the strategic value of the modern PA, sneak peak at rehearsals in the auditorium of the recently refurbished theatre. EXECUTIVE PA MAGAZINE’S INSIDER CONTACT: Georgie Smith, Events manager 020 7863 8065; [email protected] MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM 41 READER REPORTS THE EVENT WHERE: Copthorne Tara Hotel, London WHEN: 5 February 2015 BRIEF HIGHLIGHTS: Chinese New Year celebrations, traditional musical dance displays, Chinese fortune teller, calligraphy, authentic Chinese cuisine, prize draw with £1000s of prizes EXECUTIVE PA MAGAZINE’S INSIDER CONTACT: Elena Frison, Account Director; 020 7872 2444; [email protected] 42 MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM Every issue we’ll report back from the last issue’s reader events – were you there and captured on camera? READER REPORTS Every issue we’ll report back from the last issue’s reader events – were you there and captured on camera? THE EVENT WHERE: Moti Mahal Restaurant, London WHEN: 24 February 2015 BRIEF HIGHLIGHTS: Fantastic three-course Indian banquet including Macchi, Paneer Mutter and Khumb Aloo; carefully considered wine pairings, opportunity to network with other PAs EXECUTIVE PA MAGAZINE’S INSIDER CONTACT: 020 7240 9329; [email protected] MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM 43 THE LONE RANGER Male PAs are still in the minority in the UK. Karen Glaser explores why so few men enter the PA profession CAREER 44 MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM “IN THE MAIN, male PAs are either straight but quite camp, or they are gay. Why? Because these men are generally more adaptable and less egotistical than the average bloke – and a good deal more so than an alpha male.” If this seems a controversial statement, it is probably important to at least bear in mind the biography of the person who made it: one Craig McCarthy who is both gay and a male PA. “Most of us work as private PAs to individuals who are usually either creative and disorganised, or neurotic and rich,” continues Craig. “To work with these kinds of people you need bags of emotional intelligence, something which the typical straight man can arguably lack.” If he is right, Craig’s theory could explain why the industry is so female-dominated. According to the Recruitment and Employment Federation there are currently around 226,000 working PAs and secretaries in the UK, of whom roughly three per cent are men. If, as is agreed by both Whitehall and gay rights charities, around six per cent of the overall population is gay, the staggeringly low numbers of male PAs makes some numerical sense. Not according to Elizabeth Wakeling, however. She is head of Secretarial Studies at Beckenham College, a judge on last year’s Executive PA Magazine Awards and the author of academic research on male PAs. “It’s all down to reverse sexism,” she says. “Like nursing and librarianship, the PA industry has always been stubbornly female. And there is no inherent reason for it.” JOBS FOR THE BOYS But there are extrinsic reasons, she says. “Teachers and career advisors don’t recommend the industry to boys. And when you do get individual boys who want to be PAs, they are allowed rather than encouraged to become so. The initiative always comes from them. forward. I am open and clear with my boss and, when needs be, I am also forgiving. You have to be a bit in love with your boss so you can help them better and forgive them if they show you their difficult traits." Like the overwhelmingly majority of male PAs, Vincenzo entered the industry by accident rather than design. “My friend immigrated here and after two months she still hadn’t managed to get a mobile phone contract, open a bank account or perform the other admin tasks that setting up home in a foreign country entails. Within a few days, I had done it all for her. She was so impressed she told me I should become a PA.” Over in his native Italy, Vincenzo’s They may be members of a small father was less than impressed with his club, but some male PAs work with qualified lawyer son’s change in career. the biggest names on the planet: “But he has since accepted what I do and the whole family likes hearing about the Reggie Love: PA to Barack Obama nice places and parties that my job Sarbdeep Swan: PA to Daniel Craig, entails. They think my job sounds very he also worked for Madonna (often glamorous and doing things such as while jogging in the park). mixing cocktails for politicians at a pri- Gavin Williamson: Parliamentary vate party certainly is just that. However, private secretary to the Prime unblocking the toilet is anything but!” Minister, David Cameron Other male PAs face raised eyebrows when they mention what their job is. “I have to explain that, no, I am not a secretary: more of a project manager” says Kevin, a PA to a senior advertising executive. “There is always stigma when men do what are seen as typically female jobs,” says Elizabeth. “If you are a male primary school teacher, some people will even presume you are a paedophile, for goodness sake.” BROTHERS ARE DOING IT FOR THEMSELVES POWER PAS “It’s all down to reverse sexism. Like nursing and librarianship, the PA industry has always been stubbornly female. And there is no inherent reason for it.” “And when they are in the industry, male PAs often face discrimination from recruitment agencies which presume their clients only want to employ women candidates.” Conversely, the fifty-odd men Elizabeth has interviewed for her research do not feel isolated by their female colleagues. “Most said they felt respected and liked by their female counterparts, and that they enjoyed socialising with them,” she explains. And according to Craig, once they are through the door, male PAs often find it easier to gain the respect of their bosses: “It’s not fair, but I think simply being male buys you respect in this industry. Gay or straight, men are seen as more businesslike, logical and better at planning. “I also think female PAs, like women in any industry, are more easily intimidated. One of the stand-out moments of my 20-year PA career was when I walked out on my boss. Instead of firing me, she came running after me, saying: no one has ever stood up to me before.” TRAITS OF A MAN Vincenzo Ianniello thinks male assertiveness works particularly well with female bosses. “I think there is invariably some rivalry between women. The male-female dynamic is more straight- Andy McGrath finds it all utterly ridiculous. He is PA to head of television at ITV, Peter Fincham, and thinks he has “one of the best jobs in TV. Getting to see how someone at that level operates is a real privilege.” Ironically enough, he thinks television may explain why people persist in seeing the PA role as female: “Think of all those images of woman sitting at a desk typing.” It is all a misnomer, he says. “My job requires trust, discretion, and strong organisational and communication skills – and those qualities are certainly not the preserve of either gender.” He also notes that across the pond, particularly in LA, male PAs are more commonplace, proving, in his view, that gender is actually irrelevant to the job. History seems to bear that out. For there are two industries where personal assistants have been consistently male: banking and the military. Men working as PAs in these sectors are also invariably private about their work: it is extremely rare for them to give interviews. If they were less secretive, we might discover how those male PAs feel about making their boss a cup of coffee. “In general, it is women PAs who struggle with these more menial tasks,” says Elizabeth. “Men see making the coffee as managing the boss, as making the start to their day smoother, whereas though women often like to look after their boss, nurturing someone at work also makes them feel insecure. They worry about performing tasks that could be seen as demeaning.” Vincenco puts it like this: “I am here to do whatever my boss asks or needs – without losing my integrity or dignity, of course.” For him, unblocking the loo entails neither. What it does surely test, though, is his adaptability and ego. E MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM 45 “Recognition by the industry, my peers, bosses and colleagues really validates what I do and inspires me to keep pushing boundaries.” gle with the team – so not only am I not strapped to my desk for hours on end but I get into the business locally and internationally. Loads of great stuff comes off the back of that, like building solid relationships with our in-country teams, plus a deeper understanding of what our core business is and the challenges the teams are facing. It's really nice to feel like I am part of the business.” What does your typical day look like? “Well tomorrow I’m... going through mine and my boss’s inbox, writing a job spec for a new PA hire. In the afternoon I'm sorting out a photo shoot with The Times in the office, we've got a Board Call in the afternoon, and I've got some one-on-one catch ups with some of the PA team. I’ll also start planning a few offsites we've got coming up.” KATRINA ARRATOON EA to CEO and COO, Just Eat What do you enjoy most about the company you work for? “I think having the ability to develop my role in to what I wanted it to be. Moving my role away from being an administrative function to having a strategic purpose.” “I love that Just Eat is a phenomenal success story and a really exciting place to work. There is always something cool happening, whether it's a big event, project or media engagement. We don't take ourselves too seriously but all care passionately about the business and want it to succeed. For all the long hours and hard work, we get to do lots of really fun stuff too.” How did you get nominated for the Executive PA Magazine: PA of the Year Award? Has your role changed since you first started and if so, how? “I nominated myself actually – I figured that I'd had a pretty amazing year with Just Eat. We'd floated on the London Stock Exchange, I'd grown my role to include so many additional responsibilities, and I could see it only getting bigger and bigger – I thought I was in with a good chance of winning!” “My role has grown massively! I guess that's partly because when I started we had just closed our Series C round of funding and now we're a FTSE 250 listed company. I was one of three in the admin team and now am one of seven in the London office alone. Initially my role was very administrative and a typical EA role. Now it's higher level and has a more strategic focus. What sets you apart from other Executive Assistants? How has winning the award changed your life? “Well it has changed my life in a few ways actually. Most importantly it has given me so much confidence in what I do everyday. Recognition by the industry, my peers, bosses and colleagues really validates what I do and inspires me to keep pushing boundaries. I've been asked to do a few public speaking events, which is great fun and gives me the opportunity to meet lots of brilliant PAs/EAs and learn from them.” What do you enjoy most about your role? “Wow there are loads of things I love about my job it’s hard to narrow it down... but I guess I really love being at the heart of everything. I am a public figure within the company and a key cultural contributor. I travel to most of our markets and meet and min46 MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM What did you want to be when you were growing up? “Actually I had no idea and I guess like many of us, fell into a career as an EA.” What advice would you offer other Executive Assistants? “Be present and involved in absolutely everything. If you are arranging meetings and offsites, attend them. If your boss is speaking at an event, go to it. Be integrally involved in everything that you can be. How else will you get to know exactly what your boss has got going on? This can be hard to juggle, but if you can manage it, it will give you a deeper insight into the company and the challenges faced, and the aspirations your boss has for the business.” In this issue we task the UK Executive PA Magazine: PA of the Year to interview her Australian counter-part and vice versa INTERVIEW What do you enjoy most about your role? “I enjoy all facets of my role, but what I enjoy most is being able to work in partnership with my CEO and helping him achieve the goals of the business. I also enjoy working in a large multinational customer-focused company and working with a diverse range of people from those in the mailroom up to Board level.” What does your typical day look like? “Unfortunately, most EAs and PAs will tell you that they do not have a 'typical' day. If I look back on the week that has been, it would involve checking my and my CEO's inboxes, forward planning the diary for the next few weeks, sourcing briefing notes for meetings, preparing a detailed itinerary for two visiting executives from our Hong Kong and Switzerland offices, coordinating an internal top leaders conference for 75 people and finalising an agenda, guest speakers and travel information pack for a broker conference in Switzerland in April.” What do you enjoy most about the company you work for? LARISSA AUDITORE EA to CEO, Zurich Financial Services Australia “I am very fortunate to work in a company that promotes diversity and flexibility for all its staff. I enjoy the culture, and the values of the organisation are in line with my own personal values. Also, being a global company I get to interact and meet with people from all around the globe.” What sets you apart from other Executive Assistants? Has your role changed since you first started and if so, how? “I work with my CEO as a valued partner, rather than for him. I would say we have a balanced, team-orientated, partnership approach.” How did you get nominated for the Executive PA Magazine PA of the Year Award? “My CEO nominated me for the Award. Given it was Australiawide, I did not think I would have much of a chance to reach the final five, let alone take out the Award.” How has winning the award changed your life? “It has opened up doors that would not necessarily have been opened if I had not have won the Award. I have been invited to speak at various EA and PA Conferences this year and for someone who is often in the background supporting their CEO, it is a boost of self-confidence to present in front of a crowd of 200 fellow EAs and PAs. I am also very passionate about the industry in which I work and the increased value of EAs and PAs in organisations today. “I would like to use the Award as a catalyst to promote the industry and encourage school leavers and others in the community to pursue it as a career. It is also nice to be recognised for the work I do and there is a sense of pride when you hear your CEO say ‘Every day I see how much value her executive support adds to my role, and to our business and that has helped contribute to my and the business successes’.” “My role has changed significantly from when I first started out as a PA. I have gone from being a simple administrative resource to an EA who is more focused on the overall business, the strategy and how to help my CEO and his executive team achieve business success.” What did you want to be when you were growing up? “When I was growing up I wanted to be a primary school teacher. I completed two years of a four-year university degree and then enrolled in a Business Administration course. My parents kept telling me my attention to detail and perfectionist streak would be a waste in the education system and to become a secretary.” What advice would you offer other Executive Assistants? “Be open with your executive and start to work on a 'true partnership' model to become a valuable resource in your organisation. Be someone who undertakes more than administrative tasks – become involved in all facets of the organisation. Take ownership for what the company is trying to accomplish and have a strong commitment to the goals of the business. Know and understand the business you work in and most importantly know your executives '5 big rocks' (the 5 big issues, focus areas, etc that they are involved in). Be proactive and forward plan as much as possible. But the most important bit of advice is to set the bar high and aim to be the very best you can be.” E MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM 47 READER PANEL DISCUSSION March 8th was International Women’s Day – which businesswoman do you most admire and why? Jennifer Corcoran PA, Crédit Agricole “The businesswoman who I most admire in the UK is the amazing Vanessa Vallely, from WeAreTheCity.com. I first came across Vanessa at an event where she gave a highly motivating and inspiring speech. I consequently read Vanessa’s autobiography Heels of Steel and then entered a competition on WATC.com, winning a place on a course called ‘Project You’ which was run by Vanessa and it literally changed my life. She has been a true ambassador for me and I really appreciate how she is helping all women to find themselves. Despite all of her fame and acclaim (The Telegraph voted her one of the 100 most connected women in the UK) she is a wonderfully authentic, down to earth and extremely kind woman. She is the epitome of the super connector and despite time constraints she always makes you feel like she has time for you.” Erica Summers, PA, RICS “The businesswoman I admire most is Karren Brady, due to all she has accomplished in her professional career, and the fact that she juggles her professional life alongside her family commitments. I have been fortunate enough to hear her give a Keynote speech at an Office show a few years ago, and have read many profile pieces on her, which are always inspirational.” 48 MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM Ruth Kapea, PA Atlassian, Sydney “I most admire Australian businesswoman Sarah Wilson, author of the book I Quit Sugar. Her varied and distinguished media career, life experience and passion for health, wellness and nutrition are truly inspiring. She is a fabulous role model for women around the globe. I admire how Sarah has shared her findings on how to live well and embrace health while turning that knowledge into a successful writing career. She is also a great motivational speaker. Take the time to listen to her story, buy the book, and quit sugar!” Mark Mills, EA, Ogilvy & Mather Group “For me it has to be Katie Piper. An incredible example of a women who has clearly shown what can be achieved through hard work and determination. Not only is Katie an example of a life that women can follow, admire and respect but moreover she is an example for both genders that through trauma, pain and suffering can come the most incredible outcomes. From an aspiring model to now author, TV presenter, activist, philanthropist, fundraiser and not least of all a mum I believe that this women is an inspiration. From Katie’s life I can take a clear and important message to my own, never give up, keep striving for better outcomes and realise your full potential. Her message not only crosses boundaries but breaks conventional thinking.” Janice Anderson, EA, DST “In the spirit of International Women’s Day, I strongly admire Emma Isaacs – CEO of Australia’s largest network for women, Business Chicks. Emma is one of Australia’s leading female entrepreneurs and one of the reasons I admire her is for how she has developed the Business Chicks network into something where women of all ages and professions can come together to network, attend some (amazing) events with some of the world’s leading speakers (Richard Branson, Sir Bob Geldof, Li Cunxin, Diane von Furstenberg etc) and participate in relevant development workshops. I have also met her several times and she is one of the nicest people who is passionate about the development of women worldwide – the network is launching in the US this year and hopefully one day in London.” Katherine Thomas, PA, Soho Flordis International, Sydney “I highly admire Bonnie Low-Kramen, the PA to actress Olympia Dukakis for 25 years. She leveraged the skills and knowledge she gained into a successful career as an author, keynote speaker and trainer. She is committed to effecting positive change in the workplace, and as such, drives a culture of excellence among her peers. She truly shows the sky is the limit for PAs, and that our skills can open a multitude of doors.” Each issue our Reader Panel discuss the hot topics affecting PAs. Get involved by emailing [email protected] PA focus group You may remember back in October 2014 we invited a small group of PAs to come along to a focus group organised by Event Assembly at Pennyhill Park. Early in March this year, the group reconnected with an overnight stay at Fanhams Hall Hotel and continued dis- SOCIAL MEDIA Over on LinkedIn we asked: Do you work best in organised chaos? 1 Deirdre Anne, PA to Editor in Chief, Giornale di Brescia “One of my workplace ‘bibles’ which I’ve kept in my drawer for many years is The Personal Efficiency Program: How to Get Organized to Do More Work in Less Time by Kerry Gleeson. Love it.” 1 Elizabeth Kieti “I’m one of those people who works best in clutter, the moment I clean up I end up losing important documents. Like I always say, in my clutter, there is a system, so don’t interfere.” 1 Sharon McGregor, EA, Sofina Foods Inc “I like a clean and tidy workspace. I keep everything I’m working on in colour-coded files so I know what is the most pressing topic.” Join the conversation at: www.facebook.com/executivepa www.twitter.com/PAofTheYear www.linkedin.com/Executive PA Magazine cussions about improving event management practice for PAs. The day included a Google workshop and presentations from various industry experts and was rounded off with a karaoke battle and a banquet in the hotel’s stunning library. A picture paints a thousand words And what does yours say about you? In the last issue of Executive PA Magazine we looked at the topic of using a professional photographer to capture your profile picture for social media. Some of our readers were brave enough to send us their pictures to be critiqued by social media guru Graham Aiken. Graham established HNW Social Media Solutions in early 2012. His main focus is on helping people use LinkedIn and Twitter to raise brand awareness and engage with prospects and clients. Leah Gayle “The first is a little too distant – ordinarily it would look fine but when uploaded to LinkedIn her face will look too small plus someone’s been cut out of the picture. The second one is better, provided she can neatly cut out 007 from it!” Seyi Emerald Abiodun Graham says: “In the first picture he clearly looks like he’s doing something other than working! LinkedIn photos need to be a friendly, approachable and a professional headshot. The second is a professional looking photo but I see very few full body shots on LinkedIn. A head and shoulders photo works much better.” Emma Thompson-Murrell Graham says: “LinkedIn isn’t Facebook! Nor is it a place for selfies, which I think this first picture is! Keep it professional. The second image is absolutely perfect. It is just the right size, it is clear and it is friendly.” Executive PA Magazine offers support to networks Are you part of a PA network that would benefit from members receiving copies of the longest established and leading publication for executive support staff? Executive PA Magazine is able to provide current issues of this magazine for networking groups to offer to its members, plus special subscription offers. If you’re interested in this opportunity then please contact [email protected] and let us know more about your network and when your next event is to be held. MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM 49 CAREER All the career news and advice executive-level PAs need CAREER Do you have career FOMO? From worrying that everyone else is earning more than you to wishing you’d gone for that promotion, don’t let FOMO put your career on the wrong tracks. Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) may be a 21st century phenomenon but that gnawing anxiety that everyone else is doing better than you is anything but. “The underlying cause of FOMO is fear,” explains Dr Sallie Strickland, a clinical psychologist. “Humans seem to have a perceived need to keep up with what they ‘perceive’ others to have, and this is usually better or more desirable than what we have.” But, she cautions, the very real curse of FOMO could see your career stall: “FOMO keeps us from connecting and engaging with people, impedes us from achieving our goals and leads to anxiety including rumination and procrastination.” You worry: Being a PA is not a career When you met with your careers officer at school few of you will have declared you wanted to be a PA – more often than not it’s a job people gravitate to when they discover a natural ability to organise and keep order. But, being a PA is anything but a stopgap – the very best PAs have CVs to envy, significant budgets to handle and a great deal of responsibility. Just because you’re managing all of this for the boss, doesn’t mean it’s not a valid career. Decide and be clear on your vision and purpose of career success. Write it down. We’re betting it has little to do with job titles and everything to do with professional success. You worry: There’s no room for promotion You might start off as a admin assistant, move up to a be a secretary, be promoted to a PA and then reach the job role of EA – but what next? You may change industries which will open up a whole host of new opportunities, you may even use your skills to change direction, with the skill set of a PA being so vast, promotion is never too far away if you want it. “Moving jobs isn’t a bad thing – after all career mobility is what makes a CV and if it’s about progression and movement and learning new skills it’s a positive thing,” confirms John Lees, author of How to Get The Job You Love. “But job hopping because you think the grass is greener in a different role or industry is potentially career-destroying.” you that the people who get the promotions are the ones who can do the job, do it well, are a good fit with the people they work with and are prepared to work hard. But this doesn’t mean they want someone who will burn out after a fortnight. Make it a habit to leave the office on time at least three days a week and don’t sit in the office just for the sake of it – this will solidify your reputation as a PA who can look after themselves as well as others, can manage their time well and who has integrity and a sense of worth. You worry: If I leave the office on time I’ll miss out on promotion Ask any CEO and they will tell IN BRIEF 50 TRAINING SKILLS MATERNITY Time to retrain? Age matters Vodafone leading the way Nearly a quarter (23%) of the adult population say they plan to retrain in the next three years in order to find a new job, according to research from Pay4Later. The average amount they expect to spend on retraining is £8,500, with workers in London most likely to retrain and those in Wales least likely to. Across the board training budgets have been slashed – but it seems you’re even less likely to be offered learning and development opportunities once you hit 50. According to AXA PPP, 14 per cent of under 50s says they’ve not been given the opportunity to learn new skills in the past year, compared to 27 per cent of over 50s. Vodafone has recently announced that it will become one of the first organisations in the world to introduce a mandatory minimum global maternity policy. By the end of the year, women working anywhere in Vodafone’s companies in Africa, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific region, Europe and the US will be offered at least 16 weeks fully paid maternity leave, as well as full pay for a 20-hour week for the first six months on return to work. MARCH/APRIL 2015 | WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM WHERE WILL 2015 TAKE YOU? 2010 - New York 2014 Des ert saf ari - Abu 2013 - New Cale don ia Dha bi 2011 - M ila n 2011 at Duba i Confe rence 2010 - M anha tten, Ne w Yo rk 2010 - Raf fles, Singap ore 2014 at A 2012 - Al Aqar Beach resort rc el orM it al 2014 Executive PA Magazine keynote at office* 2010 - The Power of the Now open for nominations | PA, Mayfa ir, Lon don O rbit London to Manchester just 2hrs 9mins Contact your travel management company or book at virgintrains.com WINNER BEST RAIL OPERATOR
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