This document is the October 2012 issue of PA Life magazine. It includes articles on healthy snacking options for the office, fashion tips for the autumn/winter season, and recommendations for unique event venue spaces in London. It also previews entertainment shows and contains advertisements for various business services.

1. The personal assistant for PAs and EAs
The
mind
game
easy sTeps
To discover
a confidenT
new you
VIP Pampering day
You could be the winner of our A-List prize
Out of Office
Who will fill your shoes when
you're on holiday this summer?
ISSUE fIVE • June 2012
Advice
Reviews
fashion
Hot new products
Venues guide:
discovEr WALEs

2. The personal assistant for PAs and EAs
Opening
Ceremony
One PA’s personal
Olympics experience
Mission
Statement
One woman's pledge
to train the world's PAs
Check your
records
How to ensure the
security and traceability
of business documents
office*S h o w S p e c i a l
Your guide to thiS
Year’S highlightS
Star turn:
pa profileMEETing HOllywOOd’s
EliTE As EA TO A glObAl
filM disTribuTOr
ISSUE SEvEn • September 2012
news
Reviews
Fashion
Beauty
venues guide:
nEwcAsTlE & gATEsHEAd

3. ♦ 4 ♦PALIFE.CO.UK OCTOBER 2012 • PALife
PA LIFE
P I C K S
N
ewly decorated Skyloft is on
the top floor of London’s
tallest riverside entertainment
complex, Altitude 360. This
quirky event space features comfy retro
furniture and a wooden reclaimed floor –
not to mention what is arguably the best
view in London. The unique space can
host parties for up to 600 guests and
dinners for up to 270 guests.
altitudelondon.com
Reach for the skyI N T R O D U C I N G LO N D O N ' S M O S T U N I Q U E E V E N T S PA C E
Wow!
HAVEYOUVISITED
THENEW-LOOK
WEBSITE
PALIFE.CO.UK
F I N D A L L T H E L A T E S T G R E AT P R O D U C T S A N D S E R V I C E S A T P A L I F E . C O . U K
Get that inner and
outer glow
GlossyBox isa monthly subscriptionof
five high-enddeluxe beauty miniatures,
carefully selectedby a team ofbeauty
expertsanddeliveredstraightto your
door. Having notonly madeitpossibleto
glowonthe outside, youcanhaveawarm
feeling onthe inside, too, as yourmonthly
parcel will nowcome with a10p donation
to BreastCancer Care. Forwomen£10
(+P&P) per month;for men £15 (+P&P)per
month. Glossybox.co.uk
V E N U E S
COURTESYOFAPPLE
MIX & MATCH
ith thousands already
signed up, Sooqini is a
self-described “eBay
for anything”, matching
people who need goods and services with
local people and businesses who can help.
Post your request and budget, choose the best
offer, make your payment and exchange ratings
and feedback. After the London launch, Sooqini
plans to expand its platform to the whole of the
UK. Watch this space. sooqini.com
TAKE THE BISCUIT
TOMAKEAREALIMPRESSION,WHY
NOTHAVEANEDIBLEBUSINESS
CARD,ICEDWITHYOURCOMPANY
NAME(COMESWITHANINEDIBLE
CARDTUCKEDINTHEBACK)?FROM
£59FOR48CARDS.CAKEYPIGG.COM
PALIFE
Loves
♦ 5 ♦PALIFE.CO.UK OCTOBER 2012 • PALife
ONE TO ONE MEDIA
UNIT 113, THE CHANDLERY
50 WESTMINSTER BRIDGE RD
LONDON SE1 7QY
TEL: 020 7953 7456
WEBSITE: PALIFE.CO.UK
TWITTER: @PALIFEMAG
EMAIL: FIRSTNAME.
LASTNAME@PALIFE.CO.UK
EDITORIAL
EDITOR: COLETTEDOYLE
STAFF CONTRIBUTORS:
NICOLEHOLGATE, ABIGAILWILLS,
NATALIECHAMBERS
ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTORS:
LAURADAVIES
WEB EDITOR: CARRIEMACDONALD
SUBBING: ZOEBALDING
ART DIRECTOR: MATTHEWINMAN
RETOUCHING: BILLGREENWOOD
COMMERCIAL
COMMERCIAL SOLUTIONS:
ROBHILL,LYNNBARSI,CHARLOTTE
BAILEY,CARLIWATSON
VENUE DIRECTORY:
LYNNBARSI
EXECUTIVES
CHAIRMAN: JAMESBUCHANAN
PUBLISHER: GEOFFHALL
PA: GEORGIABUCHANAN
ABCAPPLICATIONWAITING
APPROVAL
PRINTED BY: PENSORD PRESS LTD
ALLMATERIALINTHISPUBLICATIONIS
COVEREDBYCOPYRIGHT.NOPARTOF
THISPUBLICATIONMAYBE
REPRODUCEDORTRANSMITTEDIN
ANYFORM–ELECTRONIC,
MECHANICAL,PHOTOCOPYINGOR
OTHERWISE–INWHOLEORINPART
WITHOUTWRITTENPERMISSIONOF
THEPUBLISHER.©2011ONETOONE
MEDIA.WHILECONSIDERABLECARE
HASBEENTAKENINTHEPRODUCTION
OFTHISISSUE,NORESPONSIBILITY
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CANBEACCEPTEDFORUNSOLICITED
MANUSCRIPTS,PHOTOGRAPHS,
ARTWORKOREQUIPMENT.ALL
CORRESPONDENCEISASSUMEDTO
BEINTENDEDFORPUBLICATION
UNLESSCLEARLYSTATEDOTHERWISE.
Keep it hush-hush
organs Hotel Group has
launched a venue to shout
about, as long as you’re not
inside it. Library at St Martins
Lane, true to its name, has a striking meeting
room complete with leather-bound books. It
has a capacity of 50 and is catered by the
in-house restaurant, Asia De Cuba. The day
delegate rate is £95 and includes refreshments
and a working lunch. stmartinslane.com
TOP
TWEETS
THIS
MONTH
ast-minutebooking?Cheltenham
Racecourseisgivingyouachanceto
winatablefor10peopleinitsGold
CupRestaurantonFestivalTrialsDay,
26January2013,whenbookingalast-minute
eventuntiltheendof October.Thedelegaterate
of £46 perpersonisavailableforshort-notice
eventswithaminimumof 300peopleinThe
Centaurconferencefacility.Cheltenham.co.uk
Courses not just for horses
S N A P U P T H I S G R E AT D E A L
V E N U E S
COURTESYOFAPPLE
The personal assistant for
PAs and EAs
P A R I S C O M E S T O L O N D O N
VIPPACKAGETOSEEFOREVER CRAZY
Crazy Horse Paris presents Forever Crazy (forevercrazy.co.uk), the
ultimate cabaret entertainment experience, coming to London for
the very first time. PA Life has a pair of platinum tickets for the
decadent show at its stunning purpose-built venue on London’s
South Bank. To enter, email ‘CABARET’ to competition@palife.co.uk
by 22 October 2012.
PAlife P I C K S
@KallieGorsia
THANKSTO@
OFFICESHOWI’M
NOWARMED
WITHLOTSOF
INFORMATIONTO
TAKEBACKTO
THEOFFICE:-)
@LawaLaura
ONLYTHING
THATCANBE
HEARDINTHE
OFFICEISTHE
TIPPY-TAPPYOF
KEYSASPEOPLE
TYPE...SOQUIET!
@AnastasiyaDay
THEREARENO
SECRETSTO
SUCCESS.ITIS
THERESULTOF
PREPARATION
ANDLEARNING
FROMFAILURE.
@MarkBatterson
DON’TPOINT
OUTPROBLEMS
IFYOUAREN’T
WILLINGTOBE
PARTOFTHE
SOLUTION.
@PaulPennant
ITTIP:IN
WINDOWS,
PRESSYOUR
WINDOWSKEY
ANDTAB.SEE
WHATHAPPENS.
Win
TICKETS
V E N U E S
Get the taste for
good food
Forget mung beans and brown
rice – you can still eat healthily
while enjoying great-tasting
food. That’s the premise behind
Randall & Aubin’s delicious Brain
Food menu, put together by
celebrity chef Ed Baines and
delivered straight to your desk.
Check out the full menu at
randallandaubin.com

4. ♦ 8 ♦PALIFE.CO.UK OCTOBER 2012 • PALife
S TA Y O N T R E N D W I T H L A U R A ' S W E E K LY F A S H I O N T I P S AT P A L I F E . C O . U K
WORKING
ressing for autumn is no
mean feat, especially
when one of the biggest
trends to emerge from
the autumn/winter 2012 catwalks was
equestrian. Yes, believe it or not, the
Horse & Hound look is big business
this season, but this is an easy trend to
recreate in your workwear wardrobe.
It’s all about smart, practical pieces, so
although you may not want to wear
riding hats to the office, as seen at
Tommy Hilfiger, a classic blazer is
the perfect way to show your well-
groomed side. Not to mention giving
you a sleek, feminine silhouette at
the same time. This is a trend that
works best when you take accents,
rather than dressing in head-to-toe
riding gear, so team a pair of flat
boots with a suit or dress (the high
street is filled with great options,
particularly at Topshop, Zara and
Asos), switch your black blazer
for a tweed option or why not try a
herringbone suit? Simple, smart and
effortlessly chic. Just what dressing
for work should be.
KATE
BOSWORTH
THE LATEST TRENDS FOR THE OFFICE FROM OUR FASHION EXPERT
ELLE MAGAZINE'S
LAURA DAVIES
PALIFE
Loves
JUMPER, £77,
FRENCH
CONNECTION
A CUTE AUTUMN SWEATER
TO ADD A UNIQUE TWIST
TO YOUR LOOK. NOTE,
HEELS ARE A MUST
SKIRT,
£29.99,
H&M
MAKE THE MOST OF
THIS SKIRT BY TUCKING
IN A JUMPER, JUST LIKE
QUEEN OF LAID-BACK
STYLE KATE BOSWORTH
BOOTS,
£85, ASOS
A GREAT WEAR-ALL-DAY BOOT
THAT WORKS JUST AS WELL
WITH SKIRTS AS TROUSERS.
THEY ALSO COME IN BLACK
BAG, £29.99,
ZARA
A SMALL, CHIC BAG WILL
TAKE YOU SEAMLESSLY
FROM DAY TO EVENING
GLOVES,
£22, ASOS
THE PERFECT FINISHING
TOUCH TO YOUR LOOK.
WEARING THEM INDOORS
IS OPTIONAL!
♦ 9 ♦PALIFE.CO.UK OCTOBER 2012 • PALife
ASOS:asos.com; FrenchConnection:frenchconnection.com;H&M:hm.com;
RiverIsland:riverisland.com; Topshop: topshop.com; Zara: zara.com
PAlife F A S H I O N
TOMMY HILFIGER
A/W 2012
GETTYIMAGES/CAMERAPRESS
ROSIE
HUNTINGTON-
WHITELEY
GETTYIMAGES
STOCKISTS
JUMPER, £35,
RIVER ISLAND
THIS GREAT JUMPER IS
COMFORTABLE AS WELL AS
STYLISH – PERFECT FOR
DRESS-DOWN FRIDAYS
PALIFE
Trend
MIX UP YOUR
NORMAL OFFICE
BLAZER BY
TRYING TWEED OR
HERRINGBONE. THE
SUBTLE PEPLUM
DETAILING (LEFT)
WILL ADD A TOUCH
OF FEMININITY
TROUSERS,
£38,
TOPSHOP
PLUM IS A GREAT
AUTUMNAL COLOUR
AND A WELCOME
CHANGE FROM BLACK. IF
FLARES LIKE ROSIE’S ARE
TOO DARING, SKINNY
TROUSERS ARE
FAIL-SAFE FOR WORK
BOOTS
£59.99,
H&M
THE PERFECT PAIR OF
BLACK BOOTS WILL GO
WITH EVERYTHING,
AND THESE ARE
GREAT VALUE, TOO
BAG, £36,
TOPSHOP
A TAN HANDBAG WILL
NEVER DATE. THIS ONE IS
BIG ENOUGH FOR FILES,
NOTEBOOKS AND JUST
ABOUT EVERYTHING
ELSE YOU NEED
JACKET,
£39.99, H&M
JACKET,
£40, ASOS

5. 8.
P o d B i t e s
Pod bites are a healthy but indulgent
alternative to traditional confectionery. Dry
roasted edamame beans are coated in dark
chocolate or yoghurt and they promise to
contain 35% less fat than chocolate-covered
raisins. Yes please! From £2.95 for 100g.
podbites.co.uk
♦ 1 2 ♦PaliFe.co.uk october 2012 • PALife
office snacking is on the increase, and uk workers are feeling the effects – a recent study found the average female worker
consumes a staggering one-third of her daily calorie allowance on snacks alone! When those hunger pangs hit, Emma Cooke
looks at the best ways to eat healthily at your desk
1.
G r a z e
Have your snacks delivered to your desk with
a customised Graze box. take your pick from
100 nutritious options, including nuts, seeds,
dried fruits, crackers, olives and flapjacks,
choose which days you want a delivery, then
you'll receive your box via royal Mail – genius!
We love the Guilt-Free High tea. From £3.89.
graze.com
9.
G o a h e a d
We have always trusted McVitie's for our
biscuit fix, and Go ahead cakes and biscuit
bars are perfect for fixing those mid-morning
munchies. our favourite are the Fruit bakes
– wheat biscuits with a soft fruit filling.
Yummy! available nationwide, £2.39 for six.
goahead.co.uk
2.
t o s s e d
if you want ethically produced sandwiches,
salads or breakfast platters delivered to your
office meeting, tossed uses Fairtrade
ingredients, free-range chickens and
sustainable fish. any food waste is given to
the homeless in covent Garden. Platters from
£14.95 (available in london and at bluewater).
tosseduk.com
7.
d i n i n G d i v a s
Whether you need a business lunch or simply
some baguettes and salads delivered to your
workplace, Dining Divas caters for all
occasions. We love the spiced red lentil,
tomato and coconut soup, which gives a taste
of the exotic to eating at your desk.
diningdivas.co.uk
3.
t h e C o l l e C t i v e
these guilt-free gourmet yogurts are a
must-add to your weekly shopping list. they
contain probiotics, have no artificial additives
or preservatives and are 95% fat free. We love
the fresh fruit flavours, but russian Fudge is
our favourite! available from Sainsbury’s and
Waitrose, £2.39 for a 500ml pot.
thecollectivedairy.co.uk
Palife
Loves
12waystoeathealthilyatwork
S H A R E Y O U R I D E A S F O R H E A LT H Y S N A C K I N G O N T H E O N L I N E F O R U M AT P A L I F E . C O . U K
6.
I T S U
The slogan says it all: Eat Beautiful. The
lunchtime menu contains salads, sushi and
sandwiches, as well as rice cakes and honey
cashews for those mid-morning munchies.
Although aimed at people who lead an active
lifestyle, if you’re feeling inactive the company
will deliver to selected London locations.
itsu.com
10.
F R U I T F O R T H E O F F I C E
Keep the workforce healthy and motivated
with fresh fruit delivered to your office. For
50% off your first order, enter PA50* at
the checkout. The standard Fresh range
starts from £18.99 for 10 people.
*Discount cannot be used for upgrades.
fruitfortheoffice.co.uk
♦ 1 3 ♦PALIFE.CO.UK OCTOBER 2012 • PALife
PAlife H O T L I S T
5.
P R O P E R C O R N
Gourmet popcorn – whatever next?
Scientists now say popcorn contains more
antioxidants than fruit and vegetables – one
30g serving has up to 300mg of antioxidants,
which is nearly double what you'd find in the
same serving of fruit. Propercorn comes in
four flavours and costs 80p per packet.
propercorn.com
4.
P O P C H I P S
Popchips aren’t fried, they’re 'popped' with a
little heat and pressure for a snack so tasty
you won’t even notice that it’s (gasp!)
healthier. Originating from California (where
else?), you can now take your pick from five
flavours. We can’t stop popping them in our
mouths! Find them at Waitrose for 69p.
popchips.co.uk
12.
Y E R B E M A T E
It can be hard to resist the lure of a high-sugar
energy drink. Instead, why not try the South
American alternative, Yerba Mate tea (£3.49
for 15 bags)? This natural drink has been used
for centuries by native tribes to focus,
rejuvenate and naturally energise the body.
teapigs.com
PALIFE
Loves
11.
M I G H T Y M A T C H A
Known to be energy-boosting, mind-focusing
and metabolism-fuelling, one cup of this drink
contains the same antioxidants as 10 cups of
green tea. Need more convincing? Mighty
Matcha (£19.99 for 30g) was awarded a gold
star in the Great Taste Awards 2012.
mightymatcha.com
B A D H A B I T S A recent survey taken by Ipsos Mori reveals that:
ofworkers DON’Thave
BREAKFASTorLUNCH
2.5%
ofofficeemployees
areREGULARSNACKERS
78%
20%chooseCRISPS
20% BADEATINGHABITSinthe
officeaccountforalossof
PRODUCTIVITYofatleast15%
EATINGHABITSintheEATINGHABITS
27%chooseBISCUITS
27%

6. F I L M C L U B
B O O K S O F T H E M O N T H
PAlife B O O K C L U B / F I L M C L U B
THEBUDDHA
IN THE ATTIC
by Julie Otsuka
FIG TREE; £12.99
It has been
almost a
decade since Julie
Otsuka released her
critically adored
debut novel, When
the Emperor was
Divine, about a
Japanese-American
family incarcerated in
a Utah internment
camp during World
War II. Her highly
anticipated follow up
– The Buddha in the
Attic, about a group
of Japanese mail
order brides – is
precise, poetic and
just as wonderful.
The story begins
just after the First
World War, with a
group of Japanese
women clutching
photos of the men
they are to marry as
they are transported
from Japan to San
Francisco on a
treacherous boat
journey. In just 128
pages, we see the
mail order brides
grieving for the life
they have left behind
and nervously
anticipating what
might await them in
America. They
endure first sex with
men they have only
just met, suffer the
confusion and
alienation of life in a
new culture, are
expected to
undertake arduous
manual labour, and
eventually raise
children who are
heartbreakingly
ashamed of their
Japanese heritage.
Written as a series
of sparse, poem-like
linked passages using
‘we’ – as if narrated by
the group of women,
rather than one
woman in particular
– The Buddha in the
Attic is haunting and
surprisingly intimate.
A fascinating slice of
history and an utterly
original read.
MAINE
by J. Courtney Sullivan
ATLANTIC BOOKS; £12.99
Alovely, page-turning read
aboutfour womenfroma
dysfunctional family (well,
aren’tthey all?) who unpick
yearsof guilt, envy andrivalries
during a holiday intheir family
beachhouse inMaine. Sullivan
skillfully revealsshocking
secretsanduncoverslove isin
unexpectedways.
ALLISSONG
by Samantha Harvey
JONATHAN CAPE; £16.99
ShortlistedfortheOrange
Prize for Fictionforher
debut, The Wilderness,
Samantha Harvey returns with
All isSong. Itcentres onaman
who returnsto Londonand
movesinwithhisstrange
brother to strengthentheir
familial bonds. AllIs Songis both
moving andbeautifully written.
GRAZIA'S ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
HANNAH MARRIOTT PICKS HER
FAVOURITE READS FOR THIS MONTH
The annual celebration
of all things filmic that is the
Oscars ceremony provides a
great opportunity to reflect on
the best films of the previous year
and then watch as many as is
feasibly possible while still finding
time to eat, sleep and work.
If you intend to play a little
catch-up then PA Life seriously
recommends The Artist, a
wonderfully crafted French slient
movie that is both wittier and
more watchable than that
description makes it sound.
For fans of the book The Girl
with the Dragon Tattoo, David
'The Social Network' Fincher's
stab at a film version is more than
admirable (though it's still worth
catching the Swedish original).
For a more thoughful watch,
catch Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
(featuring last year's dishy Best
Actor Colin Firth) and the great
♦ 1 3 ♦
Haveyoureadanyofthesebooks?Discuss your favourite
reads in the PA Life Book Club forums at PALIFE.CO.UK
PALIFE.CO.UK FEBRUARY 2012 • PALife
DISCUSS YOUR
FAVOURITE FLICKS
IN THE PA LIFE
FILM CLUB FORUMS
AT PALIFE.CO.UK
B O O K
C L U B
V O I C E Y O U R O P I N I O N A N D R E A D M O R E R E V I E W S AT P A L I F E . C O . U K
and equally pleasing-on-the-eye
Ryan Gosling in The Ides of March.
Finally, get to the cinemas or
the West End and catch War
Horse. Both play and film are
stunning and, for animal lovers,
incredibly moving.
©SONYPICTURES.©2010STUDIOCANALSA.©ENTERTAINMENTONE

7. ♦ 1 4 ♦palife.co.uk september 2012 • PALife
ZoeKenny
Profile
w a n t t o f e a t u r e i n a P r o f i l e ? e m a i l u s at e d i t o r i a l @ p a l i f e . c o . u k
ince gaining her
qualifications in business
administration, Zoë Kenny
has worked her way up to become the
executive assistant to the managing
director of global post-production and
film distribution company Deluxe Digital
London – a role that involves her being a
friend, confidante and gatekeeper.
It would be very easy for Zoë Kenny
to become blasé about her role; bumping
into celebs in the office coffee shop and
attending film premieres on a regular basis,
but you get the impression that she is well
aware of the perks of her job.
“My role involves liaising
with senior clients from
major Hollywood studios. We
see quite a lot of A-Listers in
the building who come to
look at various cuts and edits.
You don’t get that in every
office,” she says.
Deluxe Digital London
offers post-production and
distribution services to the
film industry, and its distinctive office on
Wardour Street in the heart of Soho, one
of two London hubs, is like a rabbit warren,
housing some 250 staff. Film posters and
photos of famous actors line the walls,
demonstrating just how well-connected
the company is.
As DDL is a global company, Zoë
spends a lot of time booking travel, and she
acknowledges that she has considerable
spending power. “I also have quite a lot of
influence because of the relationship I have
with my boss Peter Wright, the managing
director. I can say we should have this or try
that and because he trusts me he will give
something a go,” she explains.
Zoë is quick to point out the benefits of
having a good rapport with her boss, who
has ensured that she is not just a faceless
person on the end of the phone by
encouraging her to network. “He recognises
that it benefits him for me to get on well
with the clients. It can make them feel more
comfortable, which as a supplier I think is
important,” she says.
As well as enjoying the interaction with
top film executives, Zoë also loves the
event management aspect of her role.
“One element that can be really stressful is
the staff Christmas party, but when people
come up to you and say it was the best
party they’ve ever been to then it can also
be the best part.”
Of course there are elements of the job
that Zoë finds less enjoyable. “You have to
deal with difficult people in the workplace
and there can be office politics to negotiate
but I think I’m quite a diplomatic person,”
she explains, adding that
staff will often ask her
questions that they
probably wouldn’t ask the
MD, as they see her as a
more approachable figure.
So, for Zoë, being an
executive assistant does
not mean sitting in an ivory
tower. “I’m sure there are
people within the company
who wouldn’t want to tell me things
because they are scared it would get back
to my boss but I’ve got some really good
friends here. I know things way before they
do but they would never make me feel like
I should tell them,” she says.
Zoë has worked for Deluxe Digital
London for four years, so what does the
future hold? Well, having recently got
engaged she is currently planning her
wedding at a French chateau and as we talk
she ponders whether she might run an
animal sanctuary in her retirement, but for
now she is very focused on her role.
“Deluxe Digital London is a global
company and constantly growing so it will
be fun to be part of the changes that will
come about over the next five to 10 years.
It makes you proud to be part of a
successful company,” she says.
ea to the managing director of deluxe digital london, Peter wright
July 2008 – present
Deluxe Digital london
ea to the managing director,
peter Wright
About Deluxe Digital London
Deluxe was founded by William fox
of the fox film corporation in 1911
and has a rich history in the feature
film business. DDl was created
through the acquisition and merger
of capital fX in 2005 and midnight
transfer in 2007. its principal
services are in digital and data
feature film post-production and
distribution.
June 2007 – July 2008
Diesel, office manager
March 2005 – June 2007
World Design & trade (which
includes clothing brands such as
firetrap, fullcircle and sonneti),
pa to the mD
the staff
asK Me
questions
they
wouldn't
asK the Md
cV
♦ 1 5 ♦palife.co.uk september 2012 • PALife
PAlife P r o f i L e
words: abigail wills
photograph: katie hyams

8. iPad 2
Great for: Multimedia
Price: from£399
What does it do? The iPad is an
increasingly common sight in offices
and meetings, given its functionality
surely it is only a matter of time
before it becomes the norrn for PAs.
For this model, Apple has introduced
iMessage as a rival for the likes of
Whatsapp and BBM in the world of
instant messaging.
The sensitivity and responsiveness
of the touch screen still impresses
and it fits very nicely into most bags.
Despite its many rivals it is still the
best looking tablet on the market
and is fantastic for multimedia, with
a great selction of in-built tools.
There are also over 140,000 iPad-
specific apps to choose from which
should make any journey or cold
winter's day all the more bearable.
apple.co.uk
Sony Tablet S
Great for: Readingandbrowsing
Price: from£349
What does it do? Technology giant
Sony weighs into the tablet battle
with distinctive design. Wishing to
distance its product from the iPad
and its many imitators, the Sony
Tablet S is shaped like a wedge for
easy handling. Unlike many of its
competitors it has a mini USB port
which is very useful for handling
documents. The battery life is a tad
disappointing, but the amount of
Sony-specific content seems to
indicate the company is ready to
challenge Apple head on..
sony.co.uk
Samsung Galaxy
Tab 10
Great for: Viewingmediaand
creatingbusinessdocuments
Price: from£479
What does it do? As the name
suggests the Galaxy Tab boasts a
10.1” HD screen which essentially
means viewing documents or films
on this device is a completely
pleasurable experience.
For PAs, the ‘Mobile Office’ is a real
winner with Microsoft software such
as Word, Excel and PowerPoint all at
your disposal. The main drawback
though is the price which is perhaps
unrealistically high.
samsung.com
PAlife T E C H N O L O G Y
♦ 3 3 ♦
T e c h n o l o g y . . .T e c h n o l o g y . . .ON REVIEW: TABLETS
Tablets have become the must-have office accessory, but great touchscreen computers don't begin and end with the iPad.
However, it would be remiss of us not to mention the Apple product which has once again become the benchmark. Here are a
multitude of options whether buying for your boss, for the office of for personal use.
Asus Eee Pad
Transformer
Price: £430
Great for: Professional
functionality
What does it do? A common gripe
of tablet owners is that many still
aren’t a practical match for a
laptop. The Eee Pad bridges the
tablet/laptop gap with a QWERTY
keyboard add-on. A detachable
screen works very well as a tablet
when you need to work on the
run, and it also comes complete
with Polaris Office, which enables
you to edit a variety of
professional documents.
uk.asus.com
Kogan Agora
Price: £119
Great for: Value formoney
What does it do? While the Agora,
understandably given the cost,
may not have all the bells and
whistles of other devices, it has
the majority of the features
consumers have come to expect
from tablet computers.
For your £119 you get built-in wifi,
and the Android 2.3 Operating
System has access to the usual
apps such as YouTube, Facebook,
Twitter and of course, Angry Birds.
A tidy budget option from our
Australian cousins.
kogan.co.uk
Amazon Kindle Fire
Price: £130
Great for: shoppingand
multimediaconsumption
What does it do? The logical next
step for the Kindle, the Fire isn't
quite as easy to use as its Amazon
predecessors. Despite a relatively
small 7” inch screen, the display is
very pleasing and, for a device
without a great deal of hardware,
it provides good video quality.
But fingers have inevitably been
pointed at the fact that there is no
GPS, Bluetooth or 3G. In terms of
value-for-money this product
ticks many boxes, though.
amazon.co.uk
BlackBerry
Playbook
Great for: Multi-taskingandfull
internetcapabilities
Price: £249
What does it do? This tablet is sleek,
very easy on the eye, and light
enough to be extremely portable.
Helpfully the Playbook syncs with
your BlackBerry smartphone so
that your emails, address book, task
list and BBM contacts are
transferred. However, drawbacks
include the unimpressive
"Blackberry App World" and an
absence of a spell-check function
which is very frustrating.
uk.blackberry.com
BESTFOR…
budget
PALIFE
Loves
PALIFE.CO.UK FEBRUARY 2012 • PALife
COMPILED BY CHRIS BAKER
F I N D A L L T H E L A T E S T G R E AT P R O D U C T S A N D S E R V I C E S A T P A L I F E . C O . U K

9. I have a new
pair of shoes.
I’m delighted
with them
because, not
only are they a new pair of
shoes and therefore
automatically fabulous,
but they walk the line
wonderfully between
being smart enough for
the office and being
striking enough to be
worth showing off to
practically everyone I see.
I know what you are
thinking, and the answer is
they are pink and black,
which sounds awful, but is
not as 80s retro as it
sounds. And although
they have made my feet a
little sore, it’s nothing
beyond what every girl
expects with gorgeous
new footwear.
Sam, my office stalker,
notices them immediately
and decides to send me
an email.
‘Trying to impress
someone?’ he asks. I
sense the answer he
wants is ‘yes, you’ but as
any woman knows, you
never wear shoes to
impress a man.
‘As any woman knows,
you never wear shoes to
impress a man,’ I email
him back.
‘What would you wear
to impress me?’ he replies,
uncomfortably quickly.
‘Nothing,’ I email back
equally quickly to get him
off my case. It’s only when
I see the smile on his face
across the office I realise
what I’ve done. I think, on
balance, I prefer those
American-style offices
with the dividing walls
between desks than our
open-plan working
environment, it would
stop me having to see
smug colleagues’ faces
when they’ve played a
trick on me.
I’mcurrentlyembroiled
in a long and tedious
series of emails between
me and a hotel that has
tried to overcharge Boss
for a stay. I won’t say which
one, other than it is based
in London, has white front
doors and nice views
across the city from its
meeting rooms. The
argument is only over £7,
but I’m pursuing it on
principle even though I
know it’s quite possibly an
enormous waste of my
time. This, combined with
the Sam email exchange,
has put me in something
of a foul mood and I
hanker for a cup of coffee
but know if I get up to
make one everyone in my
vicinity will suddenly
become thirsty and
demand a drink as well.
I decide instead to go for
a walk past the postroom
in the vague hope Simon,
the object of my
workplace affection, is in
there. I pop into the
ladies’ on his floor to
spruce up and then
walk past his door,
looking as good
as I can given the
circumstances.
To both my delight
and horror he is there,
chatting to a courier.
He looks over and
smiles and we share a
moment before he
returns to his
conversation. I should
be happy, but dear
reader I am furious.
He looked straight into
my eyes and not once
down at my feet.
Doesn’t he know I’m
wearing a pretty pair
of shoes today just
so he’d notice?
Honestly…
W I N E C L U B
PAlife C O L U M N I S T S
t
hink of a bold red, and chances
are it’s Shiraz or Cabernet
Sauvignon. Yet how about
something a bit different? As we
haven’t yet seen the last of winter, this
month I’ve picked some alternative bold
reds to keep the chills at bay.
Let’s begin in Aragon, Spain with
ALEGRIAOLDVINESCARINENA2010.
60-year old vines provide wonderfully
concentrated Carinena grapes from the
wine region of the same name. This wine
is jam-packed with cherry, plum and spice
notes all of which blend to really hit the
spot. You'll find it wonderful paired with
lamb casserole or rich vegetable stews.
It’s also amazing value at £6.99
You may or may not be aware but
♦ 1 6 ♦PALIFE.CO.UK MARCH | APRIL 2012 • PALife
TOHEAR
MOREFROM
PACONFIDENTIALMAKE
SUREYOUREGISTERAT
PALIFE.CO.UKAND
VIEWHERWEEKLY
BLOG.
P A C O N F I D E N T I A L
Shiraz (a grape you have heard of) has
soared in Australia, and Malbec has
truimphed in Argentina. So too recently
has the Pinotage grape variety given South
Africans something to shout about.
Developed specially for hot South African
conditions, Pinotage wines are bold, spicy
and often smoky.
Enjoy the perky roasted coffee aroma
as you sipTHEGRINDERPINOTAGE
2010. It is bursting with characteristic
smokiness supported by notes of wild
cherry and a spicy collection of red fruit.
You'll find it delicious paired with grilled
and barbecued meats – because
whatever anyone says, March is never too
early for a barbecue. (£9.99)
Winesavailablefromlaithwaites.co.uk
THE SECOND OF OUR
REGULAR COLUMNS FROM
MELANIEREEVE, SENIOR
WINE EXPERT AT VINOPOLIS
OUR DIARIST'S TALES FROM THE DESK
RED WINES
THE
ARGUMENT
IS ONLY
OVER £7
BUT I AM
PURSUING
IT ON
PRINCIPLE
ILLUSTRATION: STEPHEN BALBI
F O L L O W T H E W E E K LY A D V E N T U R E S O F P A C O N F I D E N T I A L AT P A L I F E . C O . U K

10. PAlifer e s t a u r a n t s
The Drift
Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate,
London ec2n 4ay
0845 468 0103
thedriftbar.co.uk
Main courses from £7.25
ith an eclectic
decor that includes
a huge aquarium, a
wall covered entirely in
intricate mosaic and
carefully selected
artefacts that look like
they’ve been lifted
straight from a pirate's
ship, The Drift is a taste
of the seaside in the
heart of London. It also offers
an equally imaginative menu.
Beyond the safety of fish and
chips and burgers, it’s possible to
find plenty of creative textures
and flavours – all with a British
stamp but with subtle european
influences, such as the array of
chorizo or grilled vegetable
antipasto starters. The mains,
which sum up the ‘best
of British’ theme with a seafood
twist are outdone by
the unusual salads,
which are perfect for a
light summer meal –
the salmon salad is
worthy of a mention for
the contrast of crisp,
crunchy broccoli,
peas and green beans, served
with a light pesto dressing. There
is also a range of fantastical
cocktails – Bloom gin with
rhubarb syrup and frozen
rosebuds, anyone? For an added
sense of theatre, you can see the
chefs and bartenders at work in
the open kitchen – for the best
seats in the house, ask for the
captain’s table, immediately next
to the food preparation area.
and whatever you do, save space
for the lemon curd crème brûlée
and the gorgeously chewy
chocolate brownie with vanilla
ice cream – sublime!
Cinnamon
South Quay, Marsh Wall,
London e14 9SH
020 3002 2300
hilton.co.uk/canarywharf
Brunch costs £24.95 per person
he Hilton at canary
Wharf has just
launched a new
brunch menu at its cinnamon
restaurant. Having not
experienced brunch before,
I was keen to know what's
on offer for diners when it's
traditionally too late for breakfast
but too early for lunch. We
started off at the vast buffet
before considering the
à la carte options. It
was hard to hold back
on the huge piles of
pastries, muffins, fruit
and cereals, but we
had the main course
to consider, although
you can, of course, be more
restrained than us and just eat
from the buffet. The menu
included a number of ‘breakfast’
dishes, but we threw caution to
the wind and left behind the
possibilities of pancakes or eggs
benedict: my friend had a side
of roast beef with all of the
trimmings, and I plumped for a
salad of rocket and Thai beef.
Both portions were
huge: I have never
been intimidated by
a salad before! We
soldiered through –
not really difficult, as
both types of beef
were cooked to
perfection. after also polishing
off a dessert each, we left barely
able to move. One thing is for
certain – cinnamon puts on a
good spread in gorgeous
surroundings, which will see
you through until dinner.
♦ 1 7 ♦paLIFe.cO.uk SepTeMBer 2012 • PALife
v o i c e y o u r o p i n i o n a n d r e a d m o r e r e v i e w s at p a l i f e . c o . u k
cinnamon
the drift
one Thing's
for CerTain:
Cinnamon
puTs on a
gooD spreaD
a TasTe
of The
seasiDe in
The hearT
of lonDon
the drift
o u t f o r
l u n C h
any pa worth their salt should
have the names of all the best
restaurants at their fingertips, so
add these to your repertoire
cinnamon
revIeWSBynIcOLeHOLgaTe

11. ♦ 2 7 ♦PALIFE.CO.UK OCTOBER 2012 • PALife
S M Y T H S O N
Smythson provides a gorgeous
range of leather diaries and
books that can be personalised
with a name, initials or company
logo in gold, silver or blind
embossing. Address books or
notebooks can be customised
with a unique slogan: who
wouldn’t want a notebook that
proclaims ‘genius’? The range
also includes accessories for
the discerning traveller. Snazzy
phone covers, elegant toiletry
bags, tablet sleeves and luggage
tags are all crafted in top-quality
leather and beautifully gift-
wrapped. Notebooks from £35;
diaries from £180.
smythson.com
C O U R V O I S I E R
Luxury cognac house Courvoisier is offering
secretaries and PAs an exclusive incentive for
the festive season: a £60 gift voucher for
all of you choosing Courvoisier XO for
your bosses this Christmas. With
every purchase of three or more
bottles of Courvoisier XO, you
will receive a £60 gift
voucher to spend at top
London department
store Harrods. With its
blend of fine and
well-matured
cognacs, it’s
guaranteed to keep
the higher-ups happy
for another year.
From £112 for 70cl.
courvoisier.com
PALIFE
Loves
PAlife C O R P O R A T E G I F T I N G
the art of
GIF TINGGIFTS FOR COLLEAGUES, BOSSES OR CLIENTS
AREANIMPORTANTPARTOFTHERELATIONSHIPS
YOU MAINTAIN IN THE OFFICE. NICOLE HOLGATE
LOOKS AT THE MOST INSPIRED IDEAS AROUND
H O T E L C H O C O L A T
Everyone loves chocolate. Hotel Chocolat’s corporate
team has more than 20 years’ experience and aims
to ensure the chocolate gift is remembered long after
it’s been enjoyed. PA Life can highly recommend the
Chocolatier’s Table (£58) with its 65 pieces ranging
from velvety truffles to crisp chocolate ingots and
crunchy coated almonds. You can also choose from
a large number of bespoke corporate gifts, with the
option to add a personalised company sleeve and
message. Our mouths are watering already.
hotelchocolat.co.uk

12. ♦ 2 8 ♦palife.co.uk october 2012 • PALife
s h a r e i d e a s f o r w h a t t o b u y t h e b o s s o n t h e o n l i n e f o r u m at p a l i f e . c o . u k
M o ë t &
C h a n d o n
If you’re splashing out on the Champagne
this Christmas, Moët & Chandon has put
together two special bottles, available
exclusively at Selfridges in Oxford Street.
Moët & Chandon minis (£16.99 for 20cl),
covered with glistening gold snowflakes, are
the perfect stocking fillers to celebrate the
festive season. For a bespoke gift, available
from 16 November, customers can
purchase a bottle, magnum, jeroboam or
methuselah (from £41.99 for 75cl) and have
it personalised with a festive illustration and
message written in gold calligraphy and
accented with Swarovski crystal. This is one
bottle that won't be thrown out with the rest
of the Christmas recycling.
moet.com
F i l M o l o g y
DiscountedvouchersfromFilmology
can be used at more than 450
cinemas across the UK and Republic
of Ireland, enabling the recipient to
choose a film they want to see, when
they want to see it. Prices start at
£2.75. Convenient and money-
saving – no one can complain there!
filmology.co.uk
t h e S C o t t i S h W h i S k y
e x p e r i e n C e
Take the drama out of finding the perfect dram with the personal
shopper service at The Scotch Whisky Experience. The free service
is available online and in person at the five-star attraction’s specialist
shop in Edinburgh, and ensures a bottle can be selected that goes
hand-in-hand with its recipient. With more than 300 bottles available
to buy online, there is a whisky to suit every taste or budget. The
Balvenie DoubleWood (£35 for 70cl) is a 12-year-old entry-level malt,
and a classic after-dinner drink. The retail outlet also houses one of
Scotland’s largest collections of rare and premium malts for those
looking to buy a gift that is extra special.
scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk
l i n k S o F
l o n d o n
Links of London offers a huge
range of gifts, most of which
are suitable for engraving or
embossing with a company
logo or message for a perfect
finishing touch. Its top 10
suggested corporate gifts
include a business card holder
in black leather or elegant silver,
a luggage tag, an A5 portfolio in
black leather, silver cufflinks and
a selection of fountain pens.
Every item is packaged in a
presentation case or gift-
wrapped in a distinctive Links of
London box with a hand-tied
ribbon. Gift items from £30.
linksoflondon.co.uk
l o r d S g i F t S
Lords Gifts & Wines has a wonderful range of hampers and wine gifts for Christmas 2012, which can be
viewed in full on the website. With years of experience in meeting the diverse needs of businesses sending out
hampers and wine gifts to its clients and employees, Lords offers a fantastic service to complement its stylish,
contemporary product range. The food and drink hampers feature wines that have garnered awards and
enthusiastic reviews, as well as delicious food from leading independent UK producers. As wine importers,
Lords is able to offer bottles from thriving, smaller winemakers rapidly gaining a name for themselves that are
not available from the shops. Packages from £15.95, or get 10% off all orders over £1,000 placed before the
end of October by quoting code PAL1709. lordsgifts.co.uk
the art of
GIF TING
Palife
loves
PAlife c o r p o r a t e g i f t i n g

13. ♦ 2 8 ♦palife.co.uk february 2012 • PALife
AnuszkaElland
Profile
w a n t t o f e a t u r e i n a p r o f i l e ? e m a i l u s at e d i t o r i a l @ o n e t o o n e m e d i a . c o m
When not managing
high-level
correspondence
and the diary of a boss barely in the country,
anuszka elland is busy mentoring other eager
eas and pas and championing the profession
she loves.
MyPAcareerstarted11 years agowhen I
wenttoAustralia. i started temping as a
receptionist for the australian Defence
industry (aDi), then travelled around australia.
The day i was supposed to fly home and go to
university i changed my mind and decided to
stay another year. it was then i was told aDi’s
business director needed a pa. Two months
later i was told that for the last six months my
boss had only managed to keep a pa for an
average of three weeks
because he was an
absolute nightmare. as it
was my first pa job, i just
thought that that was the
way it was.
Iworkedinadminjobs
throughuniversityand
plannedtodosountilI
foundmydreamjobin media. Then i had a
mid-twenties crisis. i didn’t know what i wanted
and thought maybe i want to be a teacher or
own a café. However, when i got offered a
temping job for NHS Nottinghamshire Drugs
and alcohol team, i thought this is what i want
to do – work in the public sector and make a
difference to people’s lives. i went on to
become the office manager and pa to the
strategic manager, kate Davis. kate is the best
boss i ever had: she developed my career and
gave me project management tasks [anuszka
was made equality and Diversity projects
officer for the NHS Nottinghamshire] and she
is still a close friend and mentor.
IthoughttheAmnestyInternationalrolehad
mynamewrittenalloveritsoIwentforit. My
second interview was with Salil and the first
question he asked me was: ‘if you were running
amnesty international what would you do?’ i
had done my research and i talked about
digital activism and using social media to get
young people on board.
Idoalotof scheduling. Infour-and-a-half
months, Salil hasbeento NewYork twice,
australia, New Zealand, copenhagen, india,
and he’s in Dubai at the moment. i make sure
he’s got briefings for his meetings with
ministers, heads of state and potential donors.
i liaise with senior directors to make sure
projects progress and i shortlist and interview
potential volunteers to work within the office.
Iliaise withsome incredible people. We get
calls from folks like the ambassador for yemen
and we receive high-level correspondence
from the government. We had a call from the
archbishop of
canterbury’s pa the
other day. Then Salil
came back from New
york with hollywood
actress Heather
Graham’s email address.
Networking isvaluable.
i met the ea to the ceo
of uNicef through a networking event. a
couple of weeks ago one of my colleagues
couldn’t find a meeting room and i told her to
phone Vanessa and see if she could use a
room at uNicef. and she was able to.
Ispoke atthe 2010 ExecSecSummitand
championedthe male PA. i mentor
christopher Juliff, NHS ceo Sir David
Nicholson’s pa. i encouraged him to apply for
the Times/Hays pa of the year award and he
came runner-up. i wanted him to win because
it would open the doors for other male pas by
highlighting it is more of a business assistant
role. The job has moved on a great deal from a
stereotypical Miss Jones, filing her nails and
taking a few calls.
ea to salil shetty, secretary General of amnesty international
c h a m p i o n i n G t h e
u n d e r d o G
a brief history of amnesty
international
1961
amnesty founded by english
labour lawyer peter benenson.
1972
Granted consultative status at
the inter-american commision
on human rights.
1976
fund-raising nights The Secret
policeman's balls begin.
1977
organisation awarded the Nobel
peace prize.
1988
Human rights Now! world tour
awareness events staged.
2002
international criminal court
established after pressure.
2011
fight continues with 50th
anniversary film.
amnesty.org.uk
ThE job hAs
movEd on
from A grEAT
dEAl from A
sTErEoTyPicAl
miss jonEs
♦ 2 9 ♦palife.co.uk february 2012 • PALife
PAlife P r o f I L E
pHoToGrapH: roberT HolMeS

14. t h i n k o f a b e t t e r w a y t o d o i t ? l e t u s k n o w : e d i t o r i a l @ o n e t o o n e m e d i a . c o m
It’s just a whisper over 210 miles from London to Paris ,
hardly any distance at all, so no wonder so many business
travellers do the trip every day. Eurostar may be your first thought
when planning a hop to the French capital, and admittedly for
time, convenience and comfort it does tend to come up trumps.
It’s worth remembering though that there are other perfectly good
alternatives if you’re looking for a more luxurious or more
budget-friendly form of transport.
And don’t worry if you’re booking the journey for a group of
people rather than just your boss. All of the ideas here can be
adjusted for more than one traveller, while the private jet option
even allows your boss to have a board meeting en route to and
from the heart of Paris.
All that's left for you is to find is a suitable Parisian hotel,
restaurant or meeting room, and you'll find a guide at palife.co.uk
Small Budget
C o a C h
How long: from 7 hours 30
minutes (depending whether you
travel by ferry or Eurotunnel)
Cost: Single – from £29, return –
from £39
Who to do it with: Eurolines. They
offer great-value ticket prices, have
complimentary wifi on board so you
can work and run plenty of services
throughout the day.
Route: Jump on the coach at
London Victoria Coach station and
get off the other end at Gallieni in
central Paris. Coaches travel either
via the Eurotunnel or on the ferry.
Pros: Environmentally friendly,
affordable, travel by ferry allows you
to stretch your legs en route and will
appeal to the nautically inclined.
Cons: Long journey time,
uncomfortable, little privacy.
eurolines.co.uk
medium Budget
t r a i n
How long: from 2 hours 15
minutes
Cost: Single (business premier) –
£260, return (business premier) –
£225
Who to do it with: Well, not much
choice on this one. Eurostar is the
only operator that can go through
the tunnel at the moment. However
it does treat its business premier
travellers well with dedicated ticket
office and carriages, fast-track
check-in, free wifi, plug sockets and
plenty of work room.
Route: The Eurostar leaves from St
Pancras International and takes you
directly to Paris's famous Gard du
Nord International.
Pros: Fast, spacious, able to work
easily as you travel, pretty good
value for money.
Cons: Within London you can only
board at St Pancras International,
and it isn’t cheap for a train journey.
eurostar.com
large Budget
C o m m e r C i a l j e t
How long: 1 hour 20 minutes
Cost: Single (business class) – £483,
return (business class) – £530
Who to do it with: British Airways
– its multi-tiered executive club has
plenty of perks including special
offers, ability to spend Avios points
(earned every time you travel) on
other flights, holidays and car rental,
and the ability to share
membership with family members
and get access to the executive
lounges. If your boss is flying
business he can request
champagne too.
Route: British Airways flies to Paris
Charles de Gaulle from London
Heathrow.
Pros: Comfortable, fast, with the
ability to work easily on board.
Cons: Expensive, lots of time spent
in airports, not eco-friendly.
britishairways.com
luxury
P r i v a t e j e t
How long: 45 minutes
Cost: Single (midsize jet, up to 8
passengers) – £7,762 plus VAT,
return (same day) – £7,992 plus
VAT
Who to do it with: Air Partner. The
firm is used by the Queen so these
planes are literally fit for royalty. Air
Partner provides an excellent
in-flight service, there are facilities
to hold meetings on some jets and
transport can be arranged on
arrival. Even helicopter transfers
within Paris are no problem.
Route: Private jets can fly from
London Luton to the wonderfully
central Paris Le Bourget, Orly or
Charles de Gaulle.
Pros: Private, can hold meetings
and work onboard easily, fast, and
will impress clients.
Cons: Expensive, not eco-friendly.
airpartner.com
Journeyslondon to Paris
♦ 3 2 ♦PALIFE.CO.uk FEBRuARy 2012 • PALife
PAlife t r A v e L

15. P
R
E A C H I
N
G
♦ 3 3 ♦palife.co.uk march | april 2012 • PALife
PAlife P r o f i L e
how do you build a career
as a successful pa?
PAlife c A r e e r s

16. ♦ 3 4 ♦palife.co.uk march | april 2012 • PALife
So how has the pa role evolved to merit this
increase in interest and salaries? castalia
coaching and Training founder Susie Barron-
Stubley says: ‘What’s changed is the level at
which assistants work. There is a sense that this
is a serious business role and more awareness
that it is not just a secretarial role. it’s now seen
as a viable career choice for anyone with a
degree, particular those with an mBa or
business degree.’
as outlined in the introduction, pas don’t just
sit around and do a bit of typing and book their
boss into the occasional restaurant. They still
do that and so much more, pas are now
managing teams, multiple bosses, organising
events, preparing meeting briefs and sitting in
on and contributing to meetings. So if you are
the pa to the senior people within a company,
and a fTSe 250 company at that, you will have
some serious clout. an executive assistant
working within the financial services sector, who
wishes to remain anonymous, claims: ‘When
you are an executive assistant you run the
show. You are in touch with the business and
you know where your boss can add their worth.’
Terminology
it is worth at this stage emphasising that the
various titles assigned to the personal assistant
role, which can range from pa, office manager
and executive assistant, do not universally
indicate what tasks you are in charge of. The
titles and jobs are assigned depending on
company. So a ‘pa’ in one company could be
doing the same job or even more things than an
‘executive assistant’ in another company.
So why has the pa role changed to such an
extent? one theory is the rapid technological
growth which has taken place in the last few
decades. Barron-Stubley says: ‘The skillset
changed roughly around 20 years ago and what
has changed the role without a shadow of a
doubt is the use of technology.’ everyone can
type now and technological advances mean
people can organise their work and timetables
more effectively themselves which means
anT a joB
Where: you
have high levels of
responsibility for
the smooth running of a multi-million pound
business; you are privy to significant company
information; you manage a team and
several projects; you are never
bored because everything’s
different every day and where you
liaise with a whole host of industry
leaders who are keen to speak to
you? Well, if you haven’t already
realised, you are currently in a profession
that can lead to this.
long gone are the days where the pa role is
just a stop-gap job with no room for
progression that only involves
secretarial work. association of
personal assistants director Gareth
osborne says: ‘it’s a profession in its
own right. a lot more people are
pursuing it as a career and salary
bands are escalating. i know pas
earning over £100,000.’
recruitment firm morgan mckinley have
seen a rise in candidates for pa jobs. in january
2011 they had 74 pas come in on their books,
while in january 2012 they only had 102. not
only has morgan mckinley noticed a
greater interest in pa roles, the
company has also noticed a change
in typical applicant skillsets. ‘There is
a definite increase in the calibre
of candidates, we are really
impressed,’ says
morgan mckinley’s
manager of the hr,
Secretarial and
Support teams.
There is a sense
This is a serious
business role and
more awareness
ThaT iT is noT jusT
a secreTarial
role
what is expected of PAs has changed.
‘Previously a PA’s core skills were technical
ones, now it is more about leadership,’ says
Barron-Stubley.
Another reason for the development of the
PA role is that the job specifications of the
people they work for have increased.
Association of Personal Assistants director
general Gareth Osborne says: ‘Most executives
now are pushed to do more work and so they
need someone alongside them who can help
with that work. My PAs have the same skillsets
that I have.’
The recession and the inevitable job cuts
have contributed to the increased duties taken
on by PAs. Oxford Media and Business School
principal, Andrea Freeman says: ‘During the
recession lots of people were made redundant
and now things are back on track, companies
are scared to take too many people back on
board. So PAs are doing more jobs than they
used to.’ PAs also have a lot of relevant skills
which means they are good bet for companies
to hire to take on multiple job roles and not
have to provide them with too much training.
There is also a sense that the PA role has
developed so much because it is a natural
progression for a job inhabited by intelligent
individuals. Wallace says: ‘Intelligent people
have more willingness to develop the role and
PAs have built it up themselves.’ Given that PAs
are exposed to the inner workings of a business
through assisting their boss it is perhaps no
surprise that they do take on more roles
because of the knowledge they accumulate.
Executive PA at Lenovo Lucinda Viney says:
PA's were traditionally low paid contractors
with no benefits. Companies now see that we
add real value to directors, executives and vice
presidents, so they needed to make the role
more attractive. PA's are now offered full time
contracts, pensions, benefits and bonuses. We
have access to all sorts of
confidential
information to support
our execs better and
so they want to keep
hold of trustworthy,
hardworking PA's.’
StepS to take
to reach the top
There is no set career ladder within
the PA industry, as mentioned
earlier, titles and job
responsibilities are
dependent on the
organisation you are
with.
Official qualifications
are not necessary but
they do help. ‘Any qualifications
in business, focusing on the relationship
building aspect of the role are good,’ suggests
Barron-Stubley. Having a foreign language
would also be beneficial if you wish to work at a
senior level in a big international firm.
Whatever your qualifications though it is
worth bearing in mind that it is unlikely that you
will be hired as the EA to the CEO of
Barclays bank straight away, you
will most likely start in a junior
role, or maybe a middle
management role if you have an
official qualification and then
can progress onwards from
there.
The most important thing is
experience – build up lots of experience
and behave like a sponge and you will get
ahead. Wallace says: ‘It’s all about gaining
life experience, just absorb
everything around you.’
Don’t be afraid to ask
questions either, it
is much better to
ask questions than
♦ 3 5 ♦PALIFE.CO.uk MArCH | APrIL 2012 • PALife
to get something wrong.
It is also crucial to remember that you
represent your boss. How people perceive you
reflects on them. katie kenworth, executive
assistant at a private equity firm says: ‘Certain
skills are essential in the PA role, you have to be
flexible, organised, calm under pressure and
most of all friendly and approachable, you are
the Pr for your boss! ‘ This means having a
good attitude and maintaining a friendly front
no matter who is asking you questions. Equally
the good attitude you present to people trying
to get hold of your boss, you need to present to
your boss yourself. It would be hard to build up
that good rapport and relationship and move
ahead if you don’t respect your boss.
Chemistry is not something that can be forced
so it is important when considering a job offer
that you take into account what you think your
relationship with your boss will be like.
And finally, don’t be snooty about the tasks
that get assigned to you. There is nothing worse
to an employer than a personal assistant who
thinks certain tasks are not in their job remit.
Our anonymous source in the Financial
Services sector says: ‘It makes my ears scream
when people say that’s not within my job remit.’
As well as assisting with the business at a
high level, our source used to
volunteer to buy teas and
coffees for a former boss to
cheer him up and build up their
business relationship. Flexibility
is your best asset as a PA.
continuedon
page58
You have to
be flexxible,
organSied, cal
under preSSure
and moSt of all
friendlY and
approachable
PAlife c A r e e r s