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A Virtual Assistant is an employee or contractor providing their clients with a range of support services. The work they do usually has an administrative focus as most VAs will typically come from a PA or Office Manager background, but this is not always the case. A number of VAs will focus on digital marketing tasks (such as social media or blog writing), for example.

Tasks are always carried out away from a client’s premises (hence the virtual part) – in fact, most Virtual Assistants will never meet their clients in person! They typically operate from their own home office or perhaps a co-working space.

Our Virtual Assistants work in the UK, but the VA industry is global.

There is no set definition here, however we like to think that tasks typically fall into three categories:

1. Virtual PA support – this could include managing your diary or inbox, preparing for meetings, handling travel arrangements (hotels, flights, transfers, etc.), managing your expenses or working on documents. It could even extend to personal support, such as buying a gift or planning your next family holiday.
2. Marketing support – tasks could include scheduling social media posts, content writing (e.g. blogs or e-books), email marketing, making simple website updates or conducting research.
3. Other VA support – you could also find a Virtual Assistant to manage your incoming enquiries, work on recruitment tasks, help with sales tasks (e.g. preparing proposals), manage projects or contractors, and so much more.

As you might imagine, the list of tasks a Virtual Assistant can support you with is almost endless.

The VA industry – just like the outsourcing industry more widely – is global. Yet we think it makes a lot of sense to hire a VA in the same country and time zone as you. If you’re somewhere north of Land’s End, that means hiring a UK Virtual Assistant! But why?

1. No time zone differences – as a busy entrepreneur or exec, you need to ensure you get maximum value from your new VA. Fiddling around with calendar times and aligning your schedules can be frustrating – working across different time zones adds an extra obstacle in accessing the very same support you so desperately need.
2. No major cultural differences – as a UK-based business owner, working with a Virtual Assistant in the same country as you will mean you.

3. No frustrating language barriers – as an English-speaking entrepreneur, it’s only right that you want an English-speaking Assistant. From grammar to style, when your Virtual Assistant is communicating with the outside world on your behalf, it’s important you make the best impression.

Sure, it might look cheaper to outsource your support abroad, but in reality hiring a UK Virtual Assistant will add far more value to your day.

A Virtual Assistant will typically come from an Executive Assistant or Marketing Manager background, often having worked in these roles for many years before going remote. That said, others have used their transferable skills from other professions to launch a glowing career in the industry!

A VA will typically work remotely from their own home office, usually spreading their time across more than one client. This means that each client can access their skills for a relatively small number of hours per month.

Many Virtual Assistants enjoy their careers as a result of the flexibility it affords them. Unlike a typical 9-5 job, they can work around their other commitments. Plus there’s no longer a rainy commute on the London Underground either!

Getting started with a Virtual Assistant is simple.

1. Prepare – be clear about your needs. What do you want help with and what do you plan to delegate to your VA first of all?
2. Gather information. A good place to start is to book a call with one of our team so we can explain more about working with a Virtual Assistant.
3. Select a VA. If you like, we’ll match you with one of our VAs and send you a full proposal. This means you know exactly who would be supporting you.
4. Make your hire. After speaking with a Virtual Assistant (or two!), it’s time to decide. Do they feel like the right fit for you?
5. Delegate and communicate. Congratulations – you just secured the support you need! It’s time to gather passwords, give access to systems and put together any instructions. This part can feel a little tricky, so we recommend starting with a kick-off call to plan your first week together.