Not a pretty picture ...

Chancellor George Osborne has announced public sector pay rises are to be capped at 1% for two years, in his update on the state of the economy. Public sector employment is also forecast to fall by around 710,000 up to 2016 - up from forecasts of 400,000.

Outlining his plans to MPs, based on economic forecasts from the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), Mr Osborne told MPs the UK economy was now forecast to grow by 0.9% this year - compared with 1.7% forecast in March and 0.7% next year, down from the 2.5% forecast in March.

Gareth Osborne said: “The Government seems to be doing what it can to achieve its strategy for recovery but I suspect the problem is like bailing out a holed lifeboat. With effort and luck it will keep floating but the situation is extremely desperate and we shouldn’t under estimate the time it will take and impact it will have. A whole generation is condemned to no work, no money and little comfort. We should all reflect on how we got into this bank-fuelled mess.”

For full details go to: http://www.paprofessional.com/index.php?id=994

APA

Four more join the diploma challenge in Leeds

This week has seen APA return to Leeds, its northern home, to stage the first round of the diploma programme in the city centre for 2012. APA also uses Manchester as a northern base but Leeds seems a popular choice for delegates from across the north-  the NW (including Liverpool and North Wales) and the North East and north Midlands.

Four new, experienced PA delegates from a mix of sectors; the public sector, academia and small business, stated work on the diploma programme by undergoing training in the PA Professional module (a standalone session for PAs with experience in the role or for those wanting a refresher or update or module 1 of the longer Diploma programme).

Pictured (L-R): Dalya Bernstein, Hayley Smith, Annica Murman and Helen Russell

APA

The Notorious Nine

In the wake of two more recent exceptional performances by PAs in the furtherance of their careers, Katie Manning and Catherine Dernulc joined the magnificent seven to create the ‘Notorious Nine’. Nine PAs who are setting the standard for other to achieve in PA-excellence; by passing their Diploma examinations at a ‘Pass with Distinction’ grade.

Carly, Laura, Emma, Kate, Lisa, Tara, Emma, Katie and Catherine

Congratulations to them all.
APA

Nothing inspires like a great reception

When I recently walked into the reception area of the headquarters of one the world’s largest hotel-owning groups I was impressed by the friendly greeting, helpful assistance and immediate recognition of my existence (if only my name) that I received from the reception staff. I felt welcome and wanted; no bad way to be relaxed for a first and important meeting with the company. The environment was light, airy, busy yet both professional and comfortable. I felt compelled to mention this as I was received by my host and walked into the meeting room; equally present.

Perhaps I should no have been surprised (given the nature of their role) to read – on the wall behind the reception desk – a company mantra – which read: “Nothing inspires like a great reception”.

At last, I thought, someone who gets the point of a first impression, and the need for great receptionists!”

Gareth, APA

Well done IHG.

Employment Law review

Announcing a consultation on changes to employment legislation, Business Secretary, Vince Cable said he wanted to help firms expand without making existing staff feel insecure. The key items within the consultation are expected to be:

·         a "call for evidence" on whether "micro-firms" can dismiss staff without their agreement and without them being taken to a tribunal if they pay compensation
·         a consultation on "protected conversations", which would allow employers to have frank discussions about poor performance with workers without fear that they could be used as evidence in a tribunal
·         a "call for evidence" on the length of time required for a consultation period on planned redundancies; it is currently 90 days, but the government is considering reducing that to 30
·         a requirement for all claims to go to the conciliation service Acas before reaching employment tribunal options for a "rapid resolution scheme" for more simple cases to be settled within three months

The business secretary also confirmed plans to make people work for two years before they could make a claim for unfair dismissal from April - up from one year at present. APA will be answering the consultation and now asks Members to submit comments to inclusion.

APA

CIPD appoints Sue Upton as Interim Managing Director

Jackie Orme

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development has announced the appointment of Dr Sue Upton as Interim Managing Director. Sue will be taking on the additional responsibilities alongside her existing role of CIPD Membership and Marketing Directo. This is a new role, recognising the long-term absence of Jackie Orme, CIPD's Chief Executive, who is undergoing treatment for cancer.

Sue Upton said: "All of our thoughts at the CIPD are with Jackie Orme and her family at this time. We've also been grateful for all the kind messages of support we've received for Jackie. My focus in taking on this interim role will be on working with all of my colleagues to ensure we deliver on the vision Jackie has set for the CIPD and the wider profession".

APA

Qualifications and Association membership pays

APA Director General Gareth Osborne has spoken, via the web, to a Canadian PA audience on the importance of professional qualifications; citing research that showed they could add tens of thousands of pounds to an employee's lifetime earnings.

 An independent study by CCPMO, commissioned by the major UK professional bodies, estimated increased lifetime economic benefit of holding professional qualifications to be highly significant. It also found that membership of a professional body would also result in increased additional earnings. In the case of a PA, the total could be in excess of £64,000 in additional income.

Osborne said: “Research highlighted the immense value added by professional qualifications – for individuals, employers and the wider economy. These qualifications have a multiplier effect as professionals use their knowledge and skills to maximise the learning and performance of the whole workforce. For PAs this means an increase in their own effectiveness (and productivity) and that of their Boss and their department."

He added: "A government's skills agenda cannot succeed without the contribution made by professional bodies and their qualified members. APA works hard to ensure that its qualifications are recognised as the must-have endorsement for a PA’s professional development. This, coupled with the availability of the Middlesex University PA Degree, developed with APA creates, a career pathway for PAs aspiring to be future business leaders."

APA

Catherine makes it nine

Gareth Osborne has today presented the Diploma in Personal Assistance to Catherine Dernulc, only the ninth holder of a Diploma at ‘Pass with Distinction’ grade. This makes Catherine one of a small group of elite PAs who achieved a very high score in their diploma course work, test and work assignments as assessed by the APA Panel of Members who score and mark these awards.

Gareth said: “Catherine performed exceptionally well on the course and the standard of her work assignments was very good. She is an experienced PA who demonstrated a combination of resourcefulness and common sense in finding near perfect solutions to the scenarios set. She has already recommended APA Training to other PAs in the business.”

APA

Pictured (L-R): Gareth Osborne, Catherine Dernulc and colleague Kelly Wise.

Vocational Training Fund for the New Year

Small businesses will be able to bid for a share of a new £250 million government fund for vocational training programmes in the New Year.  The initiative is part of a government scheme designed to boost economic growth and ensure that the UK workforce has the required skill sets.

Prime Minister David Cameron says: “I know times are tough, especially for young people, who are trying to get their foot in the door and launch their career. That is why I am determined to do all that we can to give people the very best skills, training and opportunities to succeed, and why despite tough spending decisions we are investing in record number of apprenticeships.’

Cameron says that there has been an ‘incredible take up of these apprenticeship places’ and that the government is taking action to make it easier to take on apprentices, giving employers the power to take control of the training so that the skills they need are met.

APA Director General, Gareth Osborne says: “Skills are central to the UK economy and our long-term competitiveness. We have been lobbying government hard to ensure they understand the role played by PAs in small businesses; where they are the enabling conduit for all executive plans and decisions, we are please that essential vocational skills may be recognised and even funded.”

APA

Sam sweeps the board

Samantha Herridge MAPA DipPA, PA to the Director of Strategy and Development at Elexon Limited, swept the board at the Mayfair PA of the Year Awards 2011 last week. The event was held at the elegant, five-star May Fair Hotel, close to Berkley Square, which was transformed into a glamorous 1930s-style club for the PAs and their invited guests.

London’s leading PAs enjoyed a medley of blues and jazz songs, while champagne was served courtesy of Harrods and watermelon vodka cocktails were shaken and stirred by mixologists.

After a careful selection process, a trio of experienced judges including Erik Brown (Mayfair Times), Tracy Finn (Harrods Corporate Service), and Donna Coulling (PA to Helena Bonham Carter, Sir Derek Jacobi and Rachel Weisz) selected Sam as the winner of the ‘Newcomer of the Year’ award and the highly prestigious ‘Mayfair PA of the Year’ 2011.

APA and all its members applaud Sam for her outstanding achievement.

APA

Photograph from the APA Archieve: Sam with her Diploma

7- 0 to the FA

Last week saw the presentation of Diploma (DipPA) certificates to seven members of the Football Association team at Wembley; who each scored an outstanding success.

APA Director, Emma Kernan-Staines, herself PA to Sir Trevor Brooking CBE, Director of Football Development at the FA said: “It has been a long-held ambition of mine to establish a career pathway for PAs here at the FA. With the support of department directors and the HR staff we now have a programme of progressive development that recognises individual PAs progress along that pathway. I am extremely proud of what we have achieved.”

Commenting on the awards Dr. Gareth Osborne of APA said: “Over a spring to autumn period of 2011 the FA team members have worked tirelessly on their work assignments and they have all scored well in their final Diploma examinations. They were great fun to work with and I now hope some will look towards the Middlesex University PA Degree programme as a future opportunity.” Details of the degree can be found at http://tinyurl.com/cobe7fd

APA

Pictured Left: Emma Kernan-Staines and Right: Gareth Osborne
Pictured with their Diplomas: Sarah Weber, Jordana North, Tania Saunders, Chrystal Nagle, Natalie Thomas, Claire Brewer and Susan Ahmed.

Moaning over

I have a bit of a history for criticising Peter Jones; the High Dragon, for his infatuation with his own celebrity status. I particularly damned his advert for ‘Money Supermarket’; where he was seen riding a shopping trolley around a store shouting ‘wheel’, A crass, ego-fuelled exercise and unworthy of his business expertise and status as an entrepreneurial role model. But things have changed.

At last I am pleased to be able to praise the jolly giant for his sympathetic handing and the easy, professional style he brought to interviewing Michelle Mone OBE (and Richard Reed of Innocent) this week on his new BBC2 programme. It was genuinely inspirational, informative and insightful. Now that’s more like it Peter.

Gareth, APA

(Image courtesy of the Daily Mirror)

Remembering

APA remembers today all those who gave their lives in the pursuit of peace and freedom and sends thanks to those serving in countries around the world to ensure we establish tolerance and understanding and overturn fanaticism; wherever it is found.

APA

Flexibility makes for a family friendly employer

Employers who offer flexible hours and allow regular homeworking are rated the most family friendly by parents, according to Workingmums.co.uk's recent poll of over 2,100 candidates.

According to the results 87% said that offering flexible hours was a key factor in terms of what made a family-friendly employer, whilst 83% said allowing some regular work at home was what mattered. 78% favoured offering part-time jobs and 75% said allowing holiday days to be taken at short notice to deal with emergencies such as sick children was what counted. Childcare help was important for 62% of parents, whilst benefits like extended maternity pay periods, networking and support groups and parenting courses all rated much lower.

The survey suggested that ‘flexibility encourages full time work and responses recorded that 79% said they would be encouraged to work full time if there was some home-working in their job. 72% said flexible hours would encourage them to work full time and 67% favoured working close to home.

APA fully supports the drive for increased flexibility in the workplace and greater home-working. This is perfectly possible for PAs using all technologies available to them without disruption to the task in hand.

APA

Are your winter strategies evolving?

Businesses should start planning now for harsh winter weather to avoid being caught out by sudden cold snaps as seen during the previous two years, says APA. The organisation is making the warning after predicted an end to the unseasonably mild conditions across the UK by the end of November.

APA warns that SMEs can be particularly vulnerable to the impact of freak weather and should start planning ahead by checking their premises are winter-proof, insurance is up to date, and contingency plans are well-thought-out in case staff can't get in to work. The past two winters have seen Arctic weather cause havoc for British businesses due to the disruption, and, according to early long range forecasts, December is likely to start with severe frosts with the chance of snow for many areas closer to Christmas.

According to data from a major small business survey, 13 per cent said they were ‘seriously' impacted by last winter's bad weather, and 37 per cent said they experienced weather-related problems of some sort. Figures also showed during the winter of 2010 that 34 per cent of workers experienced ‘significant problems' getting to work, with 10 per cent unable to get in at all at some point. Eight per cent of workers were prevented from going in to work at least once because their children's school had closed due to the bad weather.

APA recommends that PAs speak to HR to ensure strategies are in place or should establish their own. Remember, people are our most expensive and most valuable business asset.

APA

A 'Top PA'

Full marks go to Office Angels for a great day at the ‘Britain’s Next Top PA’ awards held on Wednesday this week. The event was professionally coordinated, superbly staged and the six finalists were all worthy winners.

OA had received 182 entries for this year’s competition and, in the first round of telephone interviews, specialist staff had found it difficult to create a shortlist from the strong field of PAs nominated for the award. The final 6 were testament to their efforts and gave the judges; seen below, a tough decision to make  during the full day of tasks, exercises and competence based interviews.

At the awards dinner, held at ‘Gordon Ramsey at Claridge’s’ the same evening, Helen Milligan;, former PA and ‘Apprentice’ runner-up (but we all know she was the real winner) presented the title of ‘Britain Next Top PA 2011’ to Lesley Knight, PA to the Chairman of Chiltern Railways. Lesley had been cited by colleagues for her dedication to her boss, her commitment to managing the team of PAs and facilitating their career development and her innovation within the railways industry.

Lesley was thrilled with the accolade, and said: “It is great to see Office Angels recognise PAs for the work that we do. It is a real honour to be named as winner, especially as there was such a high standard amongst the finalists, and I’d like to thank my manager for nominating me.”

APA members should make a calendar note for September 2012 to enter and win.

Shown are:

(back row L-R): Gareth Osborne, APA (Judge), Jonathan Sheppard, AirFrance KLM (Judge), John McKenna, Jayne Paterson and David Clubb, MD Office Angels.

(front row L-R) Karen Wilkins, De Vere Venues (Judge), Rachel Andrews, Anneliese Ainley, Helen Milliga, Lesley Knight ('Britain's Next Tp PA 2011) and Sally Huxham. 

APA