Keighley woman launches 'virtual PA' scheme (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Keighley woman launches 'virtual PA' scheme

9:01am Friday 3rd July 2009 in

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It is the standard answer from overworked multi-national company directors: “Ask my PA”.

But a personal PA, or personal assistant, is now available to small businesses and sole traders across the district after former Bradford & Bingley employee Traci Winterburn started a Virtual PA service.

Enterprising Miss Winterburn, of St John’s Way, Keighley, has started the new venture, Ask my PA, which is already taking off with support from Bradford Council’s Kickstart programme.

She said it was vital for firms to create a good impression.

She said: “It’s important for busy people running successful businesses to have someone to answer incoming calls in a professional manner, especially when they are away from their office.

“I also help my clients to manage their diaries and organise their business travel, which frees up their time to focus on other work.”

She spent nine years working at Peter Black’s, in Keighley, as a ‘return-to-manufacturer analyst’ before deciding to take a computer studies course at Keighley College.

This led her to Bradford & Bingley, where she spent more than six years as a personal assistant to senior managers, departmental heads and, at times, to a director.

Recognising that many people setting up or running a small business can’t afford to employ a secretary or personal assistant, Miss Winterburn decided to offer her ‘virtual PA’ service when she left the bank.

Bradford Kickstart business counsellor Rav Panesar, a member of the advisory team at Airedale Enterprise Services, Keighley, helped her write a business plan and advised her on pricing and marketing. She is also having marketing brochures designed and printed through Kickstart’s professional services scheme. Kickstart works closely with Business Link Yorkshire, whose training courses have helped Miss Winterburn to build her confidence and improve her knowledge of running a small business. For further details about Ask My PA, call 0844 7361450.