Meet the Team

Melanie York

Director

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Melanie

Director

For over 16 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’!

Matthew Morris

Paraplanner

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Matthew

Paraplanner

Maintaining a strict gym schedule as well as having great ambition to become chartered, Matthew is a Paraplanning powerhouse! Super focused and naturally hardworking, he continually produces high quality Suitability Letters, having even placed in SJP’s top 100 Paraplanners. In his spare time, Matthew loves drumming, so don’t be shocked if he ‘beats’ your expectations!

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!

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!

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!

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!

Catherine Tween

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Catherine

Personal Assistant

Naturally hardworking with a knack for great time management, Catherine fits in perfectly at VPA! Catherine has a love for animals and the great outdoors which means outside of work, she can be spotted in the countryside, either beside her dog, or on the back of a horse! Catherine’s previous work experience at a High Street bank has equipped her with great financial knowledge, and her 7 years of experience as a qualified paramedic makes her a real lifesaver for her clients!

Charlotte Hallums

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!

Charlotte Wicks

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Charlotte

Personal Assistant

Naturally organised and hardworking, Charlotte manages her task lists with ease, and she uses her managerial experience at an estate agents to ensure she keeps things moving for her clients! Outside of work, she loves getting away and trying new things, particularly more ‘extreme’ sports - just don’t mention her first time skiing!

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!

Erin Arthur-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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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’!

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!

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!

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!

Molly Gordon

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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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!

Paige Horton

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Paige

Personal Assistant

Passionate Paige’s punctual personality proves for a perfect PA! Outside of work, she loves to spend time with her friends and family, whether its taking her cockapoo for a run, or enjoying a cheeky cocktail in the sun! Paige has plenty of administration experience, previously working in a head admin role at a dentist, and her service still provides plenty of smiles at VPA!

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!

Sam Freeman

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Sam

Personal Assistant

Sam’s quick learning ability and adaptability have fueled his successful 10-year career in the financial industry—and now, we’re fortunate to have him as part of the VPA team! When he’s not at work, you’ll find Sam either tending to his growing family of cats or exploring new destinations in search of the next great meal. Sam’s dedication knows no bounds—he even moved to a different country to marry his wife. So, when it comes to going the extra mile for his clients, you can count on Sam to deliver every time!

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!

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!

Sian Sheppey

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!

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!

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’!

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!

Yazmin Wood

Personal Assistant SJP Accredited

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Yazmin

Personal Assistant

Singing is Yazmin’s passion and she has spent years featuring in pantomimes (oh yes she has!). Her super talents have not only provided a turn in the limelight, (featuring on The Brit Awards, The X Factor and as a backing dancer for Little Mix!) they have also made her a creative and imaginative PA who is an absolute asset to the team! Yaz smashes her targets everyday - being an ace netball player makes her a great goal shooter!

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 worked with VPA for over 5 years and in that time my PA has become essential to my business. It is no exaggeration to say I literally could not cope without her!

    Jo Martin, Associate Partner
  • “I have been using VPA for over 2 years and find their support invaluable; I would not be able to function smoothly without their support. They provide value for money, …

    Rajiv Prabhakar, Blue Ocean Wealth Management
  • I have no hesitation in recommending Virtual PA Solutions to any SJP Partner considering taking on admin staff.

    Darren Conlon-Dwyer

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