A woman has started her new career as an ingenious virtual personal assistant

Sarah Standeven, 53, of Silsden, has plenty of secretarial knowledge and experience of being a PA, and when she was made redundant last year she did some research and found there was an open market in Silsden for a virtual personal assistant to step into.

Sarah doesn't require office space as she works from home and works hours that suit small businesses and their demands.

With three firm clients already behind her, Sarah said: "For years I have said I would like to be self employed and now I have taken the plunge I wish had done it earlier. I love the challenge, and every day there is something new.

"I knew that it would be of interest to people, mainly because employment laws are becoming more stringent. If you are a small business you might not be ready to take someone on full time and you may be concerned with the implications of doing so. You want to spend your time as a small business getting on with what you are good at.

"That is what is great about my service. They can use it as and when they need to. If people need me to do an hour or so a week to keep them sorted that is where I come in."

She believes she is the first virtual personal assistant to hit Silsden and offers PA and secretarial services including managing correspondence and typing reports.

Business phone calls can even be directed straight to her as if she was right there in the office.

Sarah said: "I think what makes me of use to people is that I have years of experience as an administrative manager in various companies and market sectors, and in dealing with people."

Sarah started off working as a secretary when she was 17.

She has worked as a recruitment consultant, has worked for the Holiday Cottages group in Earby and was head office administrative manager at Ponden Mill in Keighley until she was made redundant.

For more information on Sarah visit www.officeoffice.co.uk or contact her on 01535 658265.