PAs on parade

PAs from around the country joined Gareth, Maggie, Faye and others at the third PA weekend ‘boot camp’ – a mixture of PA training, team building and downright fun; compete with a night stop at a ‘secret’ military location with a party and overnight stay in the Officers’ Mess.  The weather was good for the outdoor elements; including how to shake a following driver, and the event was scored highly by attendees.

Miriam Degardo MAPA said: “By the end I was shattered and was glad to be getting back to the office for a break but it was massively stimulating and showed me that I can tackle even the biggest challenge. I doubt many of my colleagues at work would have done any better than me and they regard me as the junior. Something I plan to change.”

Gareth said: “It was a lot of hard work and the input of the military instructors really tested the PAs. Everyone rose to the challenge and got an enormous thrill from the experience. We definitely plan to repeat the event later in the year.”

APA

'Not Bothered' attitude in the workplace

Corporate scandals are eroding trust in senior leaders and will have a damaging impact on employee engagement, warns CIPD. Quarterly Employee Outlook survey reveals a nation of employees who are simply 'not bothered' about their work

Only 36% of workers trust their senior leaders and more than half (58%) of workers display signs of having adopted a 'not bothered' attitude to their work. That's according to the CIPD’s latest quarterly Employee Outlook survey of more than 2,000 employees across the UK, which asks employees a number of questions to gauge their level of engagement in the work place and attitudes to working life.

The survey found that employees who display 'neutral' engagement are about half as likely to go the extra mile with regard to workload and hours than those who are engaged and nearly three times more likely to be looking for a new job. It also found a strong correlation between employee engagement and knowledge of the organisation's core purpose.

Peter Cheese, Chief Executive at the CIPD, comments: "Given the number of examples reported in the media in recent months of unethical behaviours and corrosive cultures overseen by senior leaders, it is perhaps unsurprising to see trust in the workplace eroding.

Gareth Osborne said: “This survey reflects a gut reaction to current media hype. If CIPD are suggesting that either Bob Diamond of Barclays or Nick Buckles of G4S have operated unethically then I think they are not supporting business. In both cases the individual organisations would have been under enormous pressure from government intermediaries to deliver (or give the impression of delivering) and both have been ‘hung-out-to-dry’.

“I would also like to distance PAs from the ‘not bothered’ culture. PAs spend most of their life going the extra mile and their bosses would be even more vulnerable to attack without them helping protect their brand and reputation.”

APA

A sunny training day in London

Yesterday saw the start of another journey towards the much-prized Diploma for a group of talented PAs from London, the East Midlands and Singapore.

On one of the rare sunny days this year the outstanding Melia White House Hotel again played host to Gareth Osborne and the group and provided a superb setting for professional training and a relaxing environment for breaks and lunch.

Gareth said: “The Diploma course continues to be the jewel in our crown and we are puuting on a host of extra dates to satisfy demand. People should always call the training team if they are interested in enrolment and not be fixated by the calendar of published dates; we can accommodate most needs and add extra locations and dates as volumes demand.”

"Many of the published courses for the summer months; especially tfull he Diploma, are technically full but we always try to not disappoint a PA with a lust for learning. and find a solution. With dates for the entry level PA Apprentice course and the specialist PA as a Manager programmes looming people should contact APA now for places on 0800 107 1030 or email training@paprofessional.com.

APA

Pictured (L-R) are: Alison Matthias, Claire Pickford, Aimee Bird, Denise Butts, Lucy Mott (from Singapore) and Janet Evans.

FTSE companies challenged to pay on time

APA has joined other professional bodies in throwing itself behind a new campaign which is calling for all of the UK’s top 100 FTSE companies to sign the PPC. Read more at: http://www.promptpaymentcode.org.uk/

The scheme is part of the wider ‘Be Fair - Pay on Time’ campaign conceived by Debbie Abrahams MP, which asks all firms to pay their suppliers as quickly as possible under the agreed terms and conditions set out at the start of the contract, and without retrospectively changing payment times.

A letter countersigned by a number of leading business organisations, including the Institute of Credit Management (ICM), good friends of APA, has been sent to the UK’s top 100 FTSE companies not already signed up to the PPC, inviting them to show their commitment to pay their accounts on time and help SMEs stay afloat as the country recovers from the recession.
Currently, just a quarter of the FTSE 100 companies have signed up to the voluntary payment code.

Gareth Osborne said: “The Prompt Payment Code is something all large organisations; public and private, should subscribe to. It asks nothing more than to pay suppliers as and when agreed. Sadly still too few of them actually do. They should be leading the way and not mumbling platitudes and shuffling away. There has always been a belief that large organisations should be role models; in terms of professional ethics and morals, modern times have started to suggest otherwise and it’s time they conformed.”

APA always pays invoices on time; or earlier where possible. PAs; especially those in large business, should ask internally if their organisation does the same.

APA

Sam becomes number 12

APA is delight to announce the award of its twelfth 'Distinction' grade pass in the highly prestigious Diploma in Personal Assistance (DipPA). The recipient, Sam McElhill, joins the PA Elite - known collectively as the 'Tenacius Twelve' - who represent just 2% of PA diploma holders who have taken this qualification with APA.
About her Diploma journey Sam said: "Achieving my diploma has given me a new found confidence, I feel I can be more assertive but in a constructive way and therefore colleagues take more notice of my suggestions. As part of module 1 I was able to bring back to the office the RYGB exercise and this has allowed me to understand my colleagues and the team dynamics in a different light. I am very proud of my diploma and the grade of distinction was unexpected but a wonderful outcome. Gareth and the rest of the APA team are hugely supportive and I am sure I would not have succeeded without their help."

Gareth Osborne said: "Sam definitely excelled on the diploma course. She absorbed information intelligently but never hesitated to challenge it when unsure of its relevance or impact on her own role. I think she is a PA to watch and expect she will be invited to a number of events. She joins a ery elite group."

APA

Diploma enrolments keep on coming

This week has seen Diploma delegates start training in London, the Midlands and Scandinavia and the summer months promise to be busy for Module 2 – the final taught session and the test, new dates are constantly being added.

Gareth Osborne said: “We now encourage Members to call us about locations and availability as the published schedule went out-of-the-window months ago; it still exists and is accurate but we have a host of additional dates, locations and even in-house courses where major clients allow us to accommodate additional individual delegates. Let’s call it a moveable feast.”

All those interested in booking a training place should contact Shelley young at APA shelley.young@paprofessional.com

APA will be launching a series of new and more adventurous programmes for senior and career orientated PAs in the autumn.

APA

Pictured (L-R) are: Caroline Date, Apple Sharpe, Tracey Henry-Yeo and Gemma McKenzie.

APA on 'Settlement Agreements'

APA has responded to the Government’s announcement on 'Settlement Agreements' suggesting it is a better option than others proposed but still no substitute for good business management or basic common decency

APA believes the government's proposal on 'Settlement Agreements'; as a method of releasing underperforming employees, merits careful consideration. Plans are still sketchy; with work still to be done, and will need to be studied hard when government publishes details of how it will work in practice.

Gareth Osborne says: “We agree with CIPD when it stresses that it is imperative that settlement agreements should be used to encourage better and more consistent performance management by employers, not as a substitute for it. It is important that the government exercises its duty of care to employers by not overselling or oversimplifying what it is doing here. Employers need to understand that settlement agreements tabled in the context of without prejudice conversations will do nothing to protect them from discrimination or constructive dismissal claims if they act improperly.

"In the final analysis, the simple message for employers is that, with or without 'settlement agreements' there is no substitute for good performance management. Get that right, and there is no reason under the existing law why you can't remove underperforming employees and replace them with the ones you need to drive your business forward.

As the great Jim Collins (author: Good to Great), a hero amongst APA trainers, said: You get the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus and the right people in the right seats”.

APA

All hail number twelve

The number of people who have taken and passed the Diploma in Personal Assistance is growing fast but finding those who achieve the ultimate accolade a ‘Pass with Distinction’ remains rare - less than 2%, making this achievement all the more exceptional.

Today has seen the scoring and announcement of only the 12th (twelfth) ‘Distinction holder.

Samantha McElhill FAPA DipPA (pictured left) of Silver Stone Search & Selection in Oxfordshire was thrilled to receive the news this afternoon from APA Director General, APA. Gareth said: “Sam was an exceptional participant, quiet and thoughtful but positive, professional and challenging when the situation demanded, I knew she would do well but was delighted when the judging panel (titled - the Panel of Members) scored her results and course assignments at distinction level. She richly deserves this success.”

Those who would like to follow in Sam’s wake should book their place soon for the exciting and prestigious Diploma in Personal Assistance by contacting training@paprofessional.com.

APA

Previously worn clothes

Staff members at PwC in Newcastle have donated their old suits to a charity for the homeless.

The old clothes will be used as part of a campaign to help disadvantaged and homeless job seekers return to work. Supporting the community is a key priority for PwC, and the firm has a number of activities planned to support local causes.

PwC said: “The Suit Amnesty campaign fits well with our objective to deliver help in the area of employability and we hope to be able to make a real difference to those that need it most. ”

Gareth Osborne of APA, who is well known for regularly taking barbed swipes at accountants and lawyers but resisted this time, said: “We’ll done to PwC I think this is a great initiative and really hope it inspires others to follow suit.”

APA

Tax back for business

Hundreds of thousands of UK small business owners may be due a sizeable tax rebate from HMRC, according to a number of tax specialists. Any company that owns commercial premises has a high probability of receiving a capital allowances tax windfall to the tune of thousands, or even tens of thousands of pounds.

Research from accountancy firm Deloitte confirms that in nine cases out of ten, capital allowances reports will uncover a tax rebate for the owner of a commercial property. To date, it is claimed that the rebates have been recovered in the region of  £25,000 net for smaller UK commercial property owners, with the biggest tax rebate more than £10 million net. Because claims can be made historically, estimates suggest that there is £65-£70 billion of net tax rebate lying unclaimed in the UK's commercial property stock.

Smaller businesses that own commercial property are most likely to be due a rebate as their accountants will often not understand the intricacies of capital allowances and how to uncover them. For obvious reasons, HMRC isn’t shouting about it from the rooftops, either.

Many accountants appear to be too embarrassed to approach their clients about the issue, as this is something they should have alerted them to years back. The truth is that often these allowances are too complex for smaller accountants to understand but a cheque from HMRC would be a real boost at present.

APA

Sweden 8, Norway 2, Finland 3, Denmark 2 ad England 1

The weekend saw PAs from across Scandinavia travel to Stockholm for an APA PA Professional training session at a famous corporate hotel and spa. With the extra ‘entertainment’ of England playing Norway late afternoon and the Eurovision Song Contest in the evening spirits were high and competition between the countries was well-fuelled.

Fortunately the PA training provided more than enough physical and mental challenge and by the time the football kicked-off friendships overcame rivalries.

Gareth Osborne joined Anders Magnusson to talk team dynamics and managing leaders under stress and for the end of day refreshments and euro singing. The Swedish contingent was euphoric about their nation’s success but it was a bad day for Mette and Kristanna from Norway who saw their country crash out in both events; even finishing lower than ‘The Hump’.

For all PA training dates, locations and details email training@paprofessional.com

APA

Diploma sunshine

As the summer sun reached London a new group of PAs completed their programme for the APA Diploma in Personal Assistance (DipPA) in the glorious surroundings of the Meliã White House Hotel near Regents Park.

The final stage of training for the diploma is a combination of validation of prior learning, a series of scenario-based team exercises to test understanding and the last teaching sessions ahead of the final skills test. Again the course was found to be challenging but rewarding and gave attendees valuable tools and techniques to use for the benefit of themselves, their businesses and their bosses.

“This was another strong group and reinforced my belief that PAs are special people and their skills massively misunderstood, not by their bosses but, by others around them,” said Gareth Osborne who mentored this group. “They are increasingly an integrated element of the success of any organisation and vital in enabling their boss to achieve his or her strategic goals. As their real duties become better understood the so will their status and reward. I never cease to be impressed by their talents and diversity.”

Pictured (L-R) are three attendees: Karen Lovatt (from Abu Dhabi), Nasreen Burke and Samantha McElhill.

APA

Fun, fun, fun

APA has joined a call to urged government to reinvigorate its efforts to tackle sickness absence on the back of publication of the EEF/Westfield Health 2012 annual sickness absence report, which includes the UK’s largest private sector business survey of sickness absence.

The overall absence rate remains unchanged from 2010 (2.2%) as has the average working days lost to absence at just over 5 days per employee..

The issue itself has become increasingly significant with 55 per cent of companies expressing concerns in regard to short-term illness and unmotivated employees. However, only 5 per cent of companies currently monitor the cost of presenteeism.

APA Director General, Gareth Osborne said: “With the economy still suffering from weak or no growth we need to improve our economic performance and this requires the engagement of staff. I believe the climate is depressing and it affects workers across the board. Employers have to work hard to make work fun, it is tough but they have to remember there are only four reasons to come to work; money · money · fun and money. If we are deficient of three elements we have to work enormously hard to make work enjoyable.

APA Members can find details in the Members’ Area of the website on ‘How to make work fun’.

APA

Young talent abounds

It’s always good to work with new and aspiring PAs but this week’s London group of ‘PA Apprentices’ has been especially pleasing and bodes well for the future of the profession. Everyone attending was hungry for knowledge, tips and best practice and Liz Clayton FAPA DipPA joined the group to share her experiences and tips to maximise the potential of their respective bosses. Uniquely APA introduced a short 1-2-1 session for each attendee with Liz to enable them to share problems.

Pictured (L-R) are: Laura Wainright, Jenni Arnold, Amy Johnson and Deb Kerr were amongst the 12 junior PAs on the course.

Perhaps one of the most powerful tools taught on the programme is the APA 1-2-3 system for email management and all agreed that it would allow them to focus on the mail that matters. Amy Johnson AAPA said: “We a e inundated with unsolicited emails and it takes a lot of time to weed out the rubbish. Gareth gave us a series of easy to remember tips to reduce the volume and increase the importance of the ones that matter most. I think the course will help make my life easier and give me more time to look after my boss.”  Jenni Arnold added “It was brilliant, the best training I have ever had.”

Gareth Osborne said: “This was one of the liveliest groups ever; full of passion, enthusiasm and a will to get it right for their boss, or bosses to be. I would employ every one of them!”

APA

Technology Stinks

Technical problems including email and internet failures have been voted the most stressful office issue for workers.

Some 31% of office staff find internet and emails breaking down the most annoying occurrence, according to a new survey. An unrealistic workload came in second with almost 18% finding that there aren't enough hours in the day to get through their tasks. 14% said that a bad commute is the most stressful part of their working day, coming third in the poll.

A spokesperson said: 'Many of us don’t realise how stressful the office environment can be as it just melts into the fabric of everyday life. It’s no surprise that internet malfunctions came top of the list. In today’s technology-driven age so much of what we do is totally reliant on being online we often feel lost and frustrated without it.'

Other items on the list included compiling end-of-period reports (11%) and people being late for meetings (9 per cent). Eight % went out on a limb to identify their boss as the most annoying thing about going to work, with 6% citing demanding clients as the main reason behind their working frustrations.

APA

New CEO @ CIPD

CIPD has today announced the appointment of Peter Cheese as its new chief executive.

He will take over at the helm of the institute from July 2nd, is best known for his long career with Accenture, where he was Global Managing Partner, responsible for the Talent and Organisation Performance Consulting Practice. Since leaving Accenture in 2009, he has pursued a portfolio of board level business interests, academic work, public policy engagement, consulting and platform speaking work.

Peter takes over from Jackie Orme, who announced in January that she was to stand aside for health reasons. APA wishes Jackie well and applauds an outstanding track record of achievement for CIPD under her stewardship.

Peter said: “I am excited at the opportunity to lead the CIPD in these pivotal times for business and employment. Now, more than ever, we need an HR profession that can help people and organisations to be the best that they can be.”

APA wishes Peter Cheese well and hope to have an ongoing relationship with CIPD and all HR practitioners.

APA

New Research Fund

Science Minister David Willetts is poised to announce a new £100 million investment fund to support the establishment of research partnerships between universities, businesses, charities and philanthropic donors. The Research Partnership Investment Fund will be open to universities in he UK looking for investment in long term capital projects which leverage in significant private funding.

Institutions will be given the opportunity to bid for between £10 million and £35 million per project, and should be able to demonstrate that that they can attract at least double the amount given in private investment. Each application will be judged on whether it represents good value for money, and how much it will build on existing research capabilities.

The Minister said: “Collaboration between universities, charities and industry is vital for our economy, and attracts significant private investment in our world leading research base. The new Fund will bring together leading institutions and organisations. It will support excellent projects, which could include the purchase of high cost equipment through to stimulating the development of a new research campus and encourage innovation, drive growth and job creation.”

 
APA supports the government’s ongoing commitment to innovation, technology, research and the universities.

APA

K9 stunts

I’m not usually a lover of talent shows but I have to say this evening’s final of Britain’s Got Talent not only proved that fact but also knocked the typical Royal Variety Performance into a cocked hat.

It’s great to know we can still muster a show with such diversity, ability and charm. Every act performed wonderfully and made me wonder what talent we have in the ranks of our membership. Could there be a case for ‘PAs have talent’ – why not write in and let us hear about your performance skills. I know for sure that Dalya Bernstein FAPA can knock out a good tune as she proved at the recent ExecSec Summit to entertain her peers.

Ashleigh and Pudsey were outstanding and worthy winners but frankly it was a tough call and everyone deserves a chance at stardom – perhaps they all need a good celebrity PA.

Gareth, APA

APA on the Queen's Speech

Gareth Osborne, Director General of APA gave the following thoughts on the Queen’s Speech. He said, ‘The proposed review of funding for business could offer some hope that there may be more financial support available on the horizon. The Speech did reveal a new Banking Reform Bill, to be published in June, which will possibly see a loosening of red tape for customers; hopefully individual and business alike.”

“Employment legislation is still applied too tightly in the UK and offers employers little room to manoeuvre. This constrains rather than encourages employment; which desperately needs to be stimulated. Some relaxation is possible without encroaching unreasonably on employee rights.”

He added: “Parental leave measures, which give parents more flexibility makes great sense and will allow them to determine how they use their allowances. However, the government should be careful not to use this as an opportunity to increase levels of leave. Sharing the allowance is fine, but putting heavier burdens on business in these tough times would cause severe difficulty.’

Overall, Osborne believes the government is right to place deficit reduction and economic stability at the forefront of their programme, but he adds, ‘We need to see measures pursued enthusiastically in practice, not just in principle to restore business (and employment) confidence.”

 
APA

Degree Taster

Today saw the realisation of the long-trailed Middlesex University and APA PA Degree Taster Day at the Meliã White House hotel in London’s West End.

Attendees where able to meet the degree course leader, Dr. Paul Griseri, and APA DG, Gareth Osborne as they talked about the development, content and delivery of this highly flexible and achievable degree programmes. It was explained that each programme is discussed with and tailored for each individual participant to ensure it accurately meets their precise need.

Paul gave a practical demonstration of the University’s extremely user-friendly online learning resource; the tool that enables this degree to be studied by PAs working from their office or at home, and he went on to deliver a section of one Module on Corporate Governance. The presentation sparked considerable discussion amongst PA attendees on a wide range of strategic topics and allowed Paul to tackle some challenging questions posed.

Place are currently available for enrolment in September 2012; which gives PAs plenty of time to attend the APA Diploma in Personal Assistance (DipPA) programme and gain exemption from one third of the BA degree course.

PA interested in learning more about the degree should contact APA on 0800 107 1030 or the University at pa@mdx.ac.uk.

APA (with Middlesex University Business School – working together for the professionalization of PAs)

Pictured (L–R) are: Joanne O’Rourke, Jackie Deveney, Leanne Homewood, Dr. Paul Griseri, Sukhi Kaur, Sam Herridge.

Singapore summation

APA Director Laura Richardson FAPA of Elexon Ltd recently flew out to Singapore to take part in the UNI Strategic World of Executive PA 2012 Conference (18-20 April 2012), and was part of a speaker line up that also included two very well-respected and award winning PAs - Victoria Darragh FAPA of Hays and Karin van Peursen from the Netherlands.

Victoria presented on the importance of networking; she gave an insight into how she set up the award-winning Hays PA Network and Karin spoke about the PA profession in the Netherlands. Laura shared her own views on the different roles top PAs perform and, from her own experience in marketing roles, the similarities between a brand manager and executive personal assistant.

The conference attracted some of the very best PAs from all over South East Asia and Australia who have reported gaining great value from their association with their European peers.

APA Members can see Laura’s full report in the forthcoming members’ e-newsletter.

APA

A taste of the future

Recruiters tell us that more and more employers ask for PAs with a suitable degree.

Next week, 10th May, APA will be hosting a Middlesex University Taster day for PAs to get a flavour of the Bachelors Degree in Business Administration for PAs, developed jointly with APA, and what PAs can expect and how, using the latest technologies, MU is delivering the programme for maximum effectiveness.

Attendance is free and the event, to be held at the outstanding Meliã White House hotel in London; opposite Great Portland Street tube, will run from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm and will include a sample lecture by course leader, Dr. Paul Griseri and present a fabulous opportunity for PAs to find out how to enhance their life and career potential through academic achievement.

All those interested should immediately contact shelley.young@paprofessional.com to reserve one of the strictly limited places available.

 
APA

Bad management prevails

New research from CIPD has found that three quarters of employers report a lack of leadership and management skills and too many managers have an inflated opinion of their ability to manage people. In response, the CIPD is urging Government and employers to recognise that just a small increase in capability amongst the UK's eight million people managers would make a significant contribution to productivity and growth.

According to it’s research, 72% of employers report a deficit of leadership and management skills*. However, CIPD's quarterly Employee Outlook survey of 2,000 employees, released today, also suggests that one problem in tackling this skills deficit is that many managers don't know how bad they are at managing people.

APA recognised this deficiency years ago and incorporated both leadership and management training in its Diploma programme; not just for up-skilling PAs but also to give them the tools to better support and encourage their bosses. Members can see more on this subject in the next APA e-newsletter.

APA

A sticky situation

Now call me Mr. Angry and I don’t often use this space to gripe but chewing gum is starting to take over my life. Within the last two weeks I have had it ‘thoughtfully’ left on the seat I used on a train into London; causing me to attend meetings all day with it stuck to my rear. I escaped the tube recently in Leicester Square to find a myriad of Council workers with high pressure hoses trying to clean thousands of chewed and ejected globules from the pavement in the rain (it becomes a very slippery substance to walk on when it has impacted) and yesterday I ended the day with it stuck to my shoe.

Now, am I just unlucky or are the latex masticators targeting me for some earlier crime against Wrigleys?

For me the best way to control irresponsible chewers is to tax gum; the Chancellor needs the money and the cleaning must cost a fortune, or do as they have done in Singapore, legislate against its import or sale (since 1992). If members have strong views (either way) please let us know.

PS. Does anyone know a way to get it off my suit!

Gareth, APA

Large v. small

Small businesses are still struggling to win public sector contracts despite the government's efforts to make it easier, research finds. The latest figures from a survey of 2,700 companies by the FSB reveal that 40% of small operators believe the tendering process for public sector contracts is too complex, while 37% think they are sidelined by public officials who believe bigger must be better. The findings come despite the government's launch of its Contracts Finder website designed to make it easier for small firms to find and bid for public sector work.

Although one in seven companies had bid for a public sector contract in the last year, 41% failed to secure any business from any of the bids they had submitted. Of those that had won contracts, only a quarter say they had found the Contracts Finder website useful, with twice that number relying on personal contacts and referrals. Two fifths of small businesses still want a simplified tendering process, with 38 per cent believing that public sector bosses should evaluate tenders based on experience and ability rather than on the size and turnover of bidding firms.

APA is calling for all parts of the public sector to agree to the range of measures to support small firms detailed in the Procurement Pledge published by the government last week. APA Director General Gareth Osborne says, “There is some evidence that government is trying to break the large business strong-hold on public sector contracts but clearly more must be done. Without a true culture change across the public sector the initiatives will have little impact.”

APA

Weekend Workout

This weekend saw another in the new ‘APA Weekend Workout' training sessions for PAs from across the UK.

Delegates, with partners, checked in at the Country House Hotel for a full days training on Saturday followed by a joint evening meal and a free day on Sunday for a relaxing late breakfast (served until 2pm) or free access to enjoy the leisure facilities and sporting activities before departure that afternoon.

All enjoyed the event; marking it a massive average score of 9.25 out of ten, and Lara Endicott said: “This was the perfect combination of business and pleasure. The company paid for the training and accommodation but our partners had the opportunity to be nearby, enjoy the social element and relax while we worked. Everyone got on wonderfully together. It was an inspirational way to learn and the training was outstanding.”

Sue Browne added: “I’ve been a PA for over twenty years and have never been made to feel so special before. I will return to the office with a new lease of life

Pictured (L-R) are: Helen Gibson, Sam Grimes, Lara Endicott, Jenny Shipman, Joanne Al Desima, Susan Browne and Anni Helmond.

APA

In love?

APA wants to find out if you love being a Personal Assistant. When you get up and out of bed is it with a spring in your step?  Or do you come across that Sunday night feeling one too many times?

It’s hard not to come across inspirational speakers and anecdotes that tell us ‘if you love what you do then it’s no longer work’ etc. Steve Jobs gave a speech and some advice to the graduates at Stanford College: 

“You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it.”

And as we progress through our working life we are always reminded to check if we’re on track, or do we need to make a change to ensure we’re doing a job that gives us satisfaction, fulfilment and reward.  The School of Life, based near Euston even offers a ‘How to find the job you love class’ to try and help establish what you want from your working life.

Then there is also the fear, am I in the wrong place and just too afraid to make the leap?  Throw in some news headlines telling us about rising unemployment rates and this can increase the fear factor or even leave no option.  If you feel you need an extra push, books like ‘who moved my cheese’ tell us we should avoid getting stuck with ‘old cheese’. This is handed out on the APA diploma course.

So, tell us, do you love being a Personal Assistant?

Katie Manning FAPA

Jubilee is no holiday

Nearly two thirds of small businesses are refusing to give staff an extra day’s holiday to honour the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee this summer. Some 62 per cent of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) plan to either open as usual or force staff to take the extra day off out of their holiday entitlement, according to a poll by business support specialist.

Around three quarters say they are against the government using additional bank holidays as a way of celebrating national events such as the Jubilee and last year’s Royal Wedding. The government has moved the Whit bank holiday back a week to June 4 and declared a special bank holiday on June 5 to create a four-day weekend marking the Jubilee.

Most people don’t begrudge the celebration of 60 years as Monarch but these are companies that are already hard-pressed to make ends meet and simply cannot afford another day’s lost business.

While most businesses still aim to close or operate on reduced staff for the day of the bank holiday itself, many employers are not bound to give staff the day as paid leave.

APA

Leeds 1 : London 1

As APA heads to Leeds for the Annual Conference and Hospitality Show 2012 to be held on 26th April at the Leeds United, Elland Road Stadium and formerly Leeds-based PA is heading to London to take up her new post as PA to the General Manager of the Hilton Hotel in Trafalgar Square.

Emily Woodcock MAPA DipPA,  (Pictured left receiving her Diploma) who was PA to the 'Apprentice' star-performer, entrepreneur Claire Young, has moved jobs to build her skills in a more corporate environment. Emily and Claire remain great friends and Claire supports her move South.

APA says: “Emily is a uniquely talented young PA who is keen to build her skills base and explore opportunities and gain new experiences. There is no better place than London and she has already settled in to achieve great things.”

Gareth Osborne said: “APA’s attendance at this weeks show in Leeds simply goes to underwrite our commitment to all PAs across the UK. We have Roadshows in Chester and Liverpool in May and other locations to announce next month.”

APA

The 'Illustrious Eleven'

Alliteration rules and the notorious nine has increased to become the illustrious eleven with the addition of two more PA Diploma holders achieving the ultimate accolade of a ‘Pass with Distinction’ as a result of their outstanding final test marks.

The new additions to the PA Elite list are Vicky Fryer (left) and Shelley Hulka (right) and both found the course equally challenging but rewarding and relevant.

Shelley Hulka from the manufacturing sector said: “I found the course excellent. It has been carefully structured to equip PA’s with a wealth of tools and knowledge, all highly relevant for dealing with the many situations that PA’s encounter on a daily basis. Particularly excellent are the tools for problem solving and for learning what actually makes the people around you tick and why they behave in different ways when presented with the same problem. A truly outstanding course for all PA’s, whatever your background”.

“I have to say I really enjoyed the course, it improves levels of confidence and would certainly recommend it in a second.”

Gareth Osborne, DG of APA said: “The list may be growing but at eleven distinctions still only represents 2% of diploma passes and makes the grade a very special award. So far we have only drawn new APA directors from the distinction holders and hope to make another appointment in the coming months. These are rare and extremely talented PAs.

APA

APA conquers northern Europe

As in the UK, APA’s Scandinavian training is building momentum for the spring and autumn busy periods with courses now running in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark on a regular basis.

APA programme manager, Anders Magnusson, said: “We have just delivered a highly successful programme for new aspiring PAs in Oslo (the ‘PA Apprentice’ course) and the response was wonderful. It is the second we have hosted in the Norwegian capital and a number of delegates from the first course have already found PA positions.”

“APA training is especially relevant and required very little modification to be perfectly matched with the need of Scandinavian PAs. Their role here is very similar to that of UK PAs and we hope to host a group of PAs from London later in the year. We are also making provision for our first course in St. Petersburg, Russia; possibly at the prestigious Corinthia Hotel, and in Amsterdam, Holland.”

Gareth Osborne, Director General of APA said: “We are thrilled by the work Anders is doing in northern Europe and PAs are giving us excellent feedback on the content and quality of our courses; as they do in the UK. We have just finalised discussions with a colleague in southern Europe to replicate our strategies there. It looks like an exciting year ahead for APA.”

Pictured (L-R) are: Gianna Stene, Nia Engebretsen, Dana Thorkson and Kaley Meas.

 APA

PA training in Birmingham

APA is now at its busiest time for training and new PAs join courses each week at a UK or European location.

DG, Gareth Osborne, said: “We try hard to service as much of the UK as we can by delivering courses; especially the Diploma, in all regions but it’s hard to accommodate everyone and we do try, wherever possible, to support the major UK and European centres. For more remote areas or less frequent centres we will always tweak costs to allow for low rate travel expenses to more central locations; like London, Birmingham, Leeds and Glasgow.”

If you are considering PA training then contact APA at training@paprofessional.com or call 0800 107 1030 for details of dates, locations and prices. For groups of five delegates or more we will even provide training in-house at your company or organisation.

More PAs started APA’s Diploma programme in Birmingham this week by undertaking the ‘PA Professional’ programme. Pictured (L-R) are: Sam McElhill, Charlotte Leach, Emma Denslow, Amanda Reid and Sam Brooks.

APA

PA education and luxury combined

This morning Gareth Osborne was pleased to open the 2012 ExecSec Summit (a PAlife event) at the outstanding Heythrop Park Hotel and Conference Centre in Oxfordshire. A select audience of PAs, invited by organisers, met suppliers in a professional, relaxed environment and networked with their peers in the hotel's luxurious surroundings.

Gareth spoke about the results of the recent APA PA Salary and Attitudes Survey and his theory about why PAs are still paid too little for the work they do. Gareth faced a number of questions and attendees made a beeline for him after the presentation to share personal experiences, thoughts and ideas. Non-members of APA expressed an interest in joining the organisation and everyone reported enjoying the event (so far), the hotel and Gareth’s presentation; which was described as ‘passionate’, ‘thought-provoking’ and ‘timely’.

Gareth said: “I always enjoy meeting PAs but it is especially gratifying when you can influence people’s thoughts and inspire them to take something different back to their business to discuss improvements or better-practice with their Boss. This was the third year I has been privileged to give the opening address at this high quality event and, as always, it was excellently organised and totally relevant to the audience, suppliers and speakers – well done PAlife.”

“For those who were offered the opportunity to attend (which includes all APA Members), you missed a real treat.”

APA

Business bondage

The independent body set up to scrutinise new government regulations needs ‘sharper teeth’ to defend small businesses against 'red tape', APA has warned.

This comes following a report published by the FSB (Federation of Small Business) argues that the Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC) needs more powers to scrutinise performance, advocate regulatory reform and act as an ombudsman. The report also calls on the government to look at models from the USA, Australia and the Netherlands to see what structural changes could be put in place to improve the UK's regulatory system.

APA Director General, Gareth Osborne said: ‘It's good that government has finally recognised that companies should spend more time doing business and less time complying with bad regulation. We need to see more change, applied more quickly and more understanding of SME issues. For this the RPC needs real powers if it is to drive change and challenge Whitehall culture. We will keep lobbying hard to ensure they get this point.’

Despite numerous RPC initiatives, only one in three impact assessments for new regulations show they are fully fit for purpose. Further, the UK ranks 83 out of 142 for the compliance burden it places on businesses.

APA

If you or your business has any issues about Government legislation please contact us.

Flying in to qualify

As the number of APA training centres expand around Europe so does the number of international delegates flying into the UK to attend APA training courses in London.

As the venue of choice, many British PAs; working for international businesses abroad or local PAs working for British bosses abroad, choose London as a location for training timed to coincide with a spring or summer break in the UK.

Recent months have seen bookings increase for professional qualification courses held by APA in London from South Africa, UAE, Russia, the Far East and Canada to add to the existing list of international delegates.

APA itself is increasingly recognised as the global professional body for PA membership, career development and training.

APA

Spring qualification programmes

The latest attendees for the London running of the ‘PA Professional’ programme had a good day at the 5* Melia White House Hotel experiencing APA’s unique blend of learning in a high-quality, professional environment with good food, excellent networking and inspirational content.

They learnt current management tools and techniques specifically tailored for PAs to maximise the support they offer their Boss. All APA programmes have been developed jointly by PAs and the Directors that employ them to ensure a relevant blend of demand versus delivery.

The ‘PA Professional’ programme (PAP), which forms part of the training towards the much prized Diploma in Personal Assistance (DipPA) qualification, remains APA’s most popular course and is now regularly running at centres across the UK, in Scandinavia, Germany and beyond.

Gareth Osborne, DG of APA and a trainer on the PAP programme said, “Yesterday’s group were particularly engaging and we made time available for them to share experiences and learn from each other. During the day they were joined by Sam Herridge MAPA DipPA of Elexon (and the Mayfair ‘PA of the Year’) and Ana Wu FAPA from the Hotel who shared their thoughts.”

Pictured are (L-R): Alexandra Pretti, Monica Collinson and Nasreen Burke.

APA

Half a million home working fund launched

A £500,000 fund has been secured to help businesses looking to take on new home-based employees in the North East. The Home Working Fund, managed by Entrust, http://www.entrust.co.uk/ , will contribute up to £3,000 towards the costs of training and equipment for each new home-worker.

During the initial phase of the project, Entrust, has helped 12 companies to successfully access the fund and create over 220 jobs.

Bob Travers, managing director of Vir2all, a home-based virtual call centre, comments: “With modern technology, our call handlers can operate anywhere irrespective of geography. The Home Working Fund provides the assistance we required to keep up with the unprecedented demand we are experiencing.”

Chief executive of Entrust, Dan Brophy encouraged businesses large and small to think about the benefits from increased productivity from home workers, and reduced overheads

Gareth Osborne of APA said: “Anyone working or redundant in the NE could use this facility to establish themselves as a home worker for the plethora of businesses in the South East looking for a northern presence.”

APA

Bend zee Neez

From April 6, employers will no longer have to report injuries which keep workers off normal duties for seven or fewer days.

The change to the rules on reporting workplace injuries will save British companies time completing official paperwork, says the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the independent watchdog for work-related health.

The change to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995 is expected to see a fall of around 30 per cent in the number of incidents that must be reported by law – an average of around 30,000 fewer reports a year.

Employers will also be given a longer period in which to report, increasing from ten to15 days from the time of the incident. Employers must still keep a record of all over three day injuries, for example through an accident book.

Gareth Osborne said: “This is another step forward in the governments pledge to cut paperwork and red-tape.”

APA

Egg Tax

Millions of small businesses face chaos as HMRC has chosen to enact a computer upgrade over the Easter weekend – the busiest time of the financial year. The shut down, which lasts until Wednesday (11 April), threatens to throw into chaos plans for the self-employed, business owners and accountants.

Many would have been hoping to file end-of-year tax and payroll returns at the last minute but find themselves locked out and unable to access tax files online. The decision could have also hit millions of small businesses desperate to pay VAT bills by the April 7 deadline.

With fines for late payment of VAT being levied by HMRC’s automated system, many could face fines and repeat offenders could see fines as high as £5,000. The IT shutdown is the latest in a series of bad decisions by HMRC. When it activated a new computer system in 2009 it led to millions of incorrect tax codes being sent out.

Gareth Osborne said: “Many firms will be exasperated by HMRC’s decision to do a major upgrade to its computer systems at such an important time – but then Government always seems to do road repairs when the roads are at their busiest.”

“Our advice, if this shutdown has caused filling problems, is that companies should email and write to HMRC stressing their attempt to comply and immediately complete the action when normal services are resumed. We can only hope HMRC predicted the ensuing assault by angry users.”

“It should be stressed that HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) often shuts down its computer systems over the long Easter weekend; unnoticed by most people, but this year, it has happened to fall at the end of the tax year.”.

A spokesman for HMRC has called its upgrade ‘routine’ and said it was necessary in order to upgrade all the new tax codes and systems. Gareth said: "I must remember to quote that back at them if we are ever late filling."

APA