Meet the Team

Melanie York

Director

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Melanie

Director

For over 15 years, Melanie has been the Managing Director of Virtual PA Services. Responsible for overseeing the growth and development of the company and focusing on our clients, prospects and staff; ensuring our high standards and quality relationships are consistently maintained. In 1987, Melanie started her career at Barclays Bank, where she invested 23 years of hard work and commitment, gaining valuable knowledge and experience within the financial industry. Using her entrepreneurial spirit, Melanie established Virtual PA Services in 2008 and since then, has proudly grown the business to the success it is today. Melanie enjoys spending time outside of work with friends and family or walking her four dogs!

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Zara Armstead BSc

Operations Director

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Zara

Operations Director

Joining VPA as a PA in 2008, Zara became our Operations Director in 2014, and played a major role in progressing VPA Services into the business it is today. Zara now oversees the day to day operating of the company; using her 16 years of St. James’s Place experience to ensure our staff feel happy and supported with their professional development and that we continue to provide a specially tailored service to SJP Partners and keep up to date with any changes in their systems. Outside of work Zara likes to enjoy time with her family, particularly taking her children to the zoo. As a keen fundraiser she loves organising charitable events and has completed many challenges for charity; from mud runs to climbing mountains!

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Eve Oxley

PA to the Directors

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Eve

PA to the Directors

Super helpful Eve enjoys nothing better than organising, whether it be at work, at home or for the community cinema project! Eve has an exceptional talent for ensuring all runs smoothly in the VPA office, what would we do without her? In truth we are all a bit scared of Eve – she is a Governor (at the local school that is)!

Lucy Woodward

Team Assistant

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Lucy

Team Assistant

Puppy loving Lucy helps look after everyone in the office, much like she does at home with her very own little Staffie, Pablo! Her passion for being organised, partnered with six years administration experience, makes for a tactical Team Assistant, and she can always ‘pump up’ the energy in the office – she owns her own balloon company!

Connor Morris

Office PA SJP Accredited

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Connor

Office PA

Media graduate Connor is the creative one of the team, offering inventive solutions to any in-house problems that pop up! His experience in video editing has given him an eye for detail and great computer skills- these attributes enable him to be a free thinking and innovative Office PA! Outside of work, Connor is a total car fanatic, which explains his ‘drive’ to succeed!

Deborah Ruddock BSc

Senior PA Team Leader SJP Accredited

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Deborah

Senior PA Team Leader

Delightful Deborah is as bright as a button and a brilliant Team Leader! We often wish we could clone our staff, and in Deborah’s case we could – we just need to convince her twin sister to come on board! Outside of work, Debs loves spending as much time with her husband and little boy, using her PA skills and Geography degree to plan the most exciting days out!

Michaela Mutch

Senior Team Leader SJP Accredited

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Michaela

Senior Team Leader

Michaela loves enjoying time with her family – both the one at home and at work! She spends a lot of time working alongside her team to ensure everything runs as smoothly and efficiently as possible, and away from the office, Michaela prefers to unwind and relax with her dog, Jax! Her love of the great outdoors gives her a fabulous vitality for life which makes for a very pro-active and motivated Team Leader. Also partial to a ride out on her trusty steed, Sonny, Michaela isn’t afraid to have a ‘hack’ at any challenge, and we can assure you there is no horsing around in the office!

Jade Clarke DipPFS, Cert CII (MP)

Paraplanner & Team Leader SJP Accredited Paraplanner

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Jade

Paraplanner & Team Leader

Kind-hearted Jade is an avid charity fund raiser and is extremely dedicated to helping many great causes. Currently on her journey to become Chartered, she has earnt the Award in Long Term Care Insurance, Certificate in Mortgage Advice and the Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning. Not only does Jade know her stuff, she’s focused and efficient, and is always willing to share her knowledge and to support our clients! Never fearing a challenge, Jade has also conquered Mount Snowdon, not once, but twice! So believe us when we say, “Ain’t no mountain high enough!”

Avene Robertson DipPFS

Paraplanner SJP Accredited Paraplanner

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Avene

Paraplanner

Active and attentive, Avene loves enjoying the countryside, or sitting in with a good puzzle! Her enthusiasm & hard work has earnt her a Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning, enabling her to become an efficient, professional, and knowledgeable Paraplanner! Avene has lived and worked all over the world, including South Africa and Australia – if she can handle the change in weather, she can certainly handle anything you throw her way!

Suzanne McMonagle CeMAP, DipFA

Paraplanner SJP Accredited Paraplanner

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Suzanne

Paraplanner

Sublime Suzanne brings a wealth of financial services knowledge and experience to the team; the combination of her L4 Diploma and 23 years in in the industry make for a confident and very well informed Paraplanner! Outside of work, Suzanne spends as much time outdoors as possible, in the UK or around the world; she’s visited Australia, Canada, Thailand and more! Loving to travel and embrace nature, Suzanne is a big fan of camping, so she is always well prepared for any rainy day you may face!

Abby Butlin

Data Analyst SJP Accredited

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Abby

Data Analyst

Affable Abby absolutely adores animals, particularly her British Bulldog, Bronson! Family focused, Abby likes getting out and about with her kids or catching up with her closest friends! Abby’s determination and professionalism guarantees she delivers a thorough service, and her past experience at an estate agents ensures she keeps things moving!

Beth Ross-Drummond DipPFS

Paraplanner SJP Accredited Paraplanner

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Beth

Paraplanner

Brilliant Beth has a passion for paraplanning; boasting over 9 years’ experience at St. James’s Place and a host of qualifications, she really is an asset to the team! Beth loves to exercise; having completed a number of half marathons and park runs, her cocker spaniel is a very well-walked pooch! She has recently turned her interests to open water swimming and cold water training, so rest assured she is always ready to ‘take the plunge’!

Emily Silk DipPFS EFA

Paraplanner SJP Accredited Paraplanner

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Emily

Paraplanner

Emily is DipPFS and EFA Qualified, so she certainly knows her stuff; not to mention her 5 years’ working with St. James’s Place and further experience in trading in Canary Wharf! Outside of work, Emily enjoys online gaming, and even creates her own content which makes for a very methodical and meticulous Paraplanner! When she’s not working, you might find Emily Lindy Hopping! Her love for dance saw her perform at the Queen’s Jubilee, so we can promise her work will be ‘on pointe’!

Sophie Bright

PA Team Leader SJP Accredited

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Sophie

PA Team Leader

Sophie loves being outside, whether it’s at the local park watching her daughter play, or at Old Trafford watching a United game! Able to multitask and proactively adapt to changing circumstances, Sophie’s skillset ensures she is always ready to tackle any challenge, and her qualifications in Leadership & Management shows her clients are in good hands! Away from the office, Sophie can be spotted out with family and friends enjoying a nice meal and an even nicer glass of wine!

Zoe Beale BSc

Team Leader Assistant SJP Accredited

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Zoe

Team Leader Assistant

Zestful Zoe loves to seize the moment, travelling all over the country to find different walks to enjoy with her dog Alfie. Always striving to reach new heights, she’s even hiked up the Brecon Beacons waterfalls! A self-confessed ‘organisation freak’ Zoe has demonstrated her natural knack for administrative tasks - previously juggling multiple clients as part of a large firm - and now she puts this to use as a fantastic PA! In addition to her Business Management degree, Zoe has also trained as barber, so she has what it takes to ‘shave’ you time and cut down your workload!

Millie Graham

Team Leader Assistant SJP Accredited

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Millie

Team Leader Assistant

Marvellous Millie makes good use of her drive and meticulous eye for detail; in the office she is a dedicated Team Leader Assistant, and away from work, she has started up and manages her own cake making business! When she isn’t busy baking, Millie likes to unwind with her other love, Hudson the French Bulldog! Millie certainly loves a challenge and running the London Marathon is on her bucket list, so you can always bank on Millie to go the extra mile!

Charlotte Searle

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Charlotte

Personal Assistant

Charlotte is the musician of the team and can often be found performing with her guitar at an open mic night! Charlotte is also very productive, creative and meticulous – all great qualities for a talented and successful PA! Knitting and crocheting are Charlotte’s other hobbies, if you play your cards right you might get a VPA jumper for Christmas!

Maddie Offord

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Maddie

Personal Assistant

Gym lover Maddie loves to keep fit and she also has the travel bug, enjoying nothing more than ticking a country off her bucket list! This growing thirst for adventure gives Maddie the confidence and experience needed to be a fantastic PA to all her clients! Not only this, her love of dogs makes her great at following up leads!

Lorna Fox

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Lorna

Personal Assistant

Disney fanatic Lorna is no princess when it comes to hard work! Lorna’s experience in administration has made her a dedicated and meticulous PA with a great eye for detail, which is also useful for her other love - sewing and embroidery! Outside of work, Lorna unwinds with any craft-related activities she can, from knitting to building flower pot people - there is no technique too difficult! Motivated and energetic on the netball court, Lorna transfers her skills to the workplace, enabling you to attack your own goals!

Raquelle North

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Raquelle

Personal Assistant

‘Virtual Virtuoso’ Raquelle likes playing piano music from the early 1700’s - so at work, she can certainly ‘Handel’ the heat! With 16 Years admin experience, she is proactive, organised and excels on Excel! Not content with her already well-developed skillset, (and always eager to learn), she’s now smashing her R0 exams too! Raquelle previously implemented a call centre for a popular car manufacturer, so your clients’ calls couldn’t be in better hands, and as she’s a keen badminton player, be prepared to see her ‘smash’ your targets!

Hannah Sweeney

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Hannah

Personal Assistant

Ever the culinary critique, Hannah has travelled the world in search of new flavours and good wine! Her experience speaking with many people in many countries has sharpened her communication skills and helped her become a very personable PA! In and out of the office, Hannah is known for being trustworthy and loyal - qualities that have (belly)rubbed off on her ‘puppy’, a massive Rhodesian Ridgeback!

Alice Browning

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Alice

Personal Assistant

Athletic Alice spends most of her down time in the gym, where she ‘works out’ as hard as she ‘works in’ the office! This professional, hardworking attitude is reflected in how well behaved her two boxer dogs, Stanley and Flora are! Her previous experience in Financial Services enables her to be a resourceful and educated PA, and to compliment her knowledge, Alice's organisation skills help her get through any complex task! Not only this, but as she is able to walk on her hands, she can do it all upside-down!

Sophie Toft

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Sophie

Personal Assistant

Symphonic Sophie studied at a London conservatoire, has worked as a music teacher and also played with multiple orchestras and bands, so it’s fair to say she’s an ‘instrumental’ member of our team! The organisation and creativity expected from a self-employed music teacher help Sophie in productively managing her tasks and clients and makes her a fantastic PA! As you can see, music has been a big part of Sophie’s life, and now she can ensure you don’t get in any treble!

Carly Hardy-King

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Carly

Personal Assistant

Convivial Carly loves spending her free time enjoying good music with great people, or going on adventures with Teddy, her bouncy Cockapoo! With extensive experience in the insurance industry and a compassionate nature, Carly is a knowledgeable, kind and considerate PA! Carly’s moment in the spotlight (literally!) may have induced stage fright, but she still provides an outstanding performance every time!

Juliette Beal BSc

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Juliette

Personal Assistant

Judicious Juliette enjoys swimming, shopping and socialising; when she isn’t out with her friends, she’s planning their next trip! Her keen interest in being organised, along with finance and business, stems from her many avenues of study within the financial sector. At work, Juliette’s driven attitude and keen eye for detail makes her a punctilious PA, but that doesn’t mean she can't relax at the weekend with a Passionfruit Martini!

Erin Van der Merwe

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Erin

Personal Assistant

Efficacious Erin loves to explore the great outdoors and enjoys any chance to go camping or get out on her paddleboard! Erin’s work experience is a testament to her caring nature, having gained experience as deputy manager at two different nurseries, and becoming an NHS 111 health advisor. At work, Erin always gives 100%; her naturally hardworking attitude ensures she is an organised and efficient PA. Erin is cool, calm and collected, so despite holding a Grade 6 Qualification in Musical Theatre, you won’t catch her making a song and dance about anything!

Maddie Pillinger

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Maddie

Personal Assistant

Meticulous Maddie has a string of A* qualifications and the drive and ambition to make her a top performing PA! Maddie is drawn to the lights of London and enjoys spending time with her friends exploring and enjoying new experiences, as well as holidays and adventures further afield! Maddie loves the challenge of problem solving, stemming from her studies in criminology; so if your task list is criminal, she will be happy to investigate!

Jemima Hoque

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Jemima

Personal Assistant

Always up for a challenge, Joyful Jemima is the adventurous one of the team and will try anything from rock climbing to water sports! Art and literature are two more passions which give Jemima her remarkable creativity, vocabulary and communication skills, and make her an intuitive and resourceful PA! Jemima also loves all things food, so she is sure to ‘cook up’ a plan to get through your workload!

Mia Savory

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Mia

Personal Assistant

Marvellous Mia has a positive and friendly personality, which combined with her RO1 qualification and drive to deliver a high-level service, makes her an informed and organised PA! When she’s not travelling the world, Mia takes time to relax and can often be found reading with her springer spaniel on her lap! Her previous experience in logistics guarantees your client meetings will be promptly arranged, meaning your advice will be delivered on time, every time!

Shona Morrison-Kemp

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Shona

Personal Assistant

Shining Shona enjoys staying busy! Whether it’s maintaining a strict fitness regime, keeping up with her packed social diary, or even finding the time to go on holiday, her lust for life and super organised mentality ensures she does it all! Having studied fashion and textiles at college, Shona can find an imaginative, creative solution to many tasks, and she’s top PA ‘material’! Her experience as a Barista Maestro at Costa Coffee enables her to provide efficient, outstanding customer service, but it also means she’s ‘queen of the kettle’ in the office!

Ellie Eastman

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Ellie

Personal Assistant

Energetic Ellie will always ‘go the distance’- whether it’s helping her clients and colleagues, or running half marathons! Previously working for the Department of Transport, Ellie certainly has the ‘drive’ to succeed, putting her love of organisation and actioning task lists to great use as an efficient and determined PA. A big fan of anything pink or sparkly, Ellie has a personality to match and is sure to brighten up your day!

Amy Laimbeer

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Amy

Personal Assistant

Adventurous Amy loves getting out and exploring new places; whether it’s with her friends, family, or her two dogs! Having completed her business and finance focused educational career, Amy went on to work within administration and the financial industry, making her a well experienced and proficient PA! Amy has been to many lavish locations around the world, and even lived in Cyprus for 3 years, so she’s certainly used to the ‘heat’ if your workload gets busy!

Sarah Waller

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Sarah

Personal Assistant

Always smiling Sarah loves a laugh, but you’ll see her work is no joke! Her organisation skills combined with her previous work experience ensure that she is a fantastic Personal Assistant! Outside of work, Sarah has seen some wonderful places and wherever she’s been, she does what it takes to seize the moment, even walking up Mount Vesuvius to look over Modern Pompeii! Recently taking up a course in calligraphy, Sarah works hard to show she is the ‘write’ choice of PA!

Rhiannon Gallery

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Rhiannon

Personal Assistant

Well-read Rhiannon enjoys everything literary and even likes writing her own material! An organised, logical thinker, she passed her Investment Operation Technician qualifications alongside building her administration experience and she naturally has what it takes to be a fantastic and efficient PA! When she isn’t in the office, she’s known to be whipping up a delicious meal at home, but isn’t shy of trying someone else’s cooking at a restaurant on the weekends!

Amber Moore

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Amber

Personal Assistant

Ambient Amber always aspires to assist; her college work experience as a PA planted the seed, a degree in Business Management grew her skillset and she has blossomed at VPA! When she’s not in the office, Amber is a bit of an adrenaline junkie, having completed a skydive recently, just for fun! Amber is naturally organised and when she isn’t jumping out of planes, enjoys researching and planning her next endeavours as a hobby, so she couldn’t be a better fit!

Yasmine Parker

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Yasmine

Personal Assistant

Ever the jet-setter, if Yasmine isn’t researching or planning her next trip, it is safe to assume it’s already booked! When she’s not travelling the world, Yasmine is a hard working and articulate member of the team; utilising her previous admin experience and keen eye for detail to provide a professional and thorough service. Yasmine never stops; outside of the office, she is still very busy, spending an ‘ungodly’ amount of time looking after her excitable Labrador, Zeus!

Leonie Carne

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Leonie

Personal Assistant

Lovely Leonie comes from a military background, so order and organisation is in her nature! Her time growing up in Germany and Cyprus has made her worldly wise, which combined with her bubbly, relaxed personality means she can get along with anyone, anywhere! When she isn’t burning through her workload, she can be found at home lighting up some incense, as wherever she goes, she always has a ‘spark’!

Grace Stevenson

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Grace

Personal Assistant

Amazing Grace is an energetic member of the team and just loves to run! She demonstrates a determination to succeed and has even accomplished the London marathon for charity! This tenacity has given Grace the life skills to make her a proactive and proficient PA who really cares about the quality of service she gives her clients. Grace doesn’t always keep this cadence; snuggles with her cockapoo help her cool down!

Yasmin Cook

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Yasmin

Personal Assistant

Social butterfly Yasmin is always enthusiastic and happy to help her colleagues and clients alike! She is a dedicated and committed member of the team, using the knowledge from her Finance and Business Diploma to be a fantastic Financial Administrator! Previously, Yasmin started up her own dog care business, which demonstrates just how self-motivated and ambitious she is, as well as proving her entrepreneurial mindset - it also shows she is pro-active and is always happy to ‘take the lead’!

Georgia Burton

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Georgia

Personal Assistant

Joyful Georgia just loves to learn! She has previously worked in the education sector, where she not only gained a wealth of experience, but also earned Chartered Certification too! Having spent time in the banking industry, Georgia has plenty of knowledge in dealing with clients’ finances; combining this with her natural flair for accuracy and efficiency makes for an incredibly proficient PA! Outside of work, Georgia enjoys going out and sharing an authentic Indian meal with her family, so she can certainly ‘handle the heat’ in the office!

Sian Smith

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Sian

Personal Assistant

Superb Sian is a fantastic asset to the VPA team! With 6 years’ experience working in the Financial Sector, she is a knowledgeable, pro-active, and meticulous PA who is committed to giving a top-end service to her clients! Outside of work, Sian enjoys playing rugby; (she has previously taken her county team to play at Twickenham)! Her dedication on the pitch is also reflected in the office – you won’t find anyone who will ‘try’ harder to ‘tackle’ your task list!

Molly Gordon

Personal Assistant

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Molly

Personal Assistant

Marvellous Molly is working on perfecting Pilates! Aiming to become an instructor outside of work, she also uses her focus and flexibility in the office to be a very ‘well-balanced’ PA! She is naturally organised and personable, which certainly helps her in her role, and having studied fashion for 6 years, Molly is always able to tackle your task list in style!

Delilah

Office Dog

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Delilah

Office Dog

Delilah is the office therapy dog and loves nothing more than a cuddle from anyone in the team! With a super chilled character, she is perfect for the role and is always excited to arrive at the office, with her tail wagging, ready to make everyone smile. Out of work she loves spending time with her furry siblings Dudley, Dolly and Daphne - especially if it means she can go for a relaxing swim with them in the sea!

HAPPY CLIENTS

  • I have no hesitation in recommending Virtual PA Solutions to any SJP Partner considering taking on admin staff.

    Darren Conlon-Dwyer
  • “I have been using VPA Services for 2 years now and have found it to be an efficient set up. I benefit from all year round cover and training from the staff which I used to have to manage myself before. The paraplanning service makes for a very joined up practice set up.”

    Elliot Ruby, Ruby Wealth Management
  • “I have been using VPA for over 6 years now. The model works perfectly for me. Having access to a virtual team gives my clients peace of mind that there is always someone on hand to support them with their queries. I think it’s the ultimate solution for the modern WFH world.”

    Jo Read, Langley Park Wealth

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