Director
For over 14 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!
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 14 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!
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)!
Team Assistant
Labrador loving Lucy helps look after everyone in the office, much like she does at home with her two puppies, Rex & Gus! 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!
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!
Senior PA Team Leader
Delightful Deborah is as bright as a button, a fantastic PA and brilliant Team Leader! We often wish we could clone our PA’s 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!
Paraplanner & Team Leader SJP Accredited Paraplanner
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!”
Paraplanner
Animal admirer Avene spends most of her free time with her ‘baby’ – 13 year old Springer Spaniel, Tampe! 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!
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!
PA 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!
PA Team Leader
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 Team Leader who is an absolute asset to the team! Yaz helps her colleagues smash their targets everyday - being an ace netball player makes her a great goal shooter!
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!
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!
Personal Assistant
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!
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!
Personal Assistant
‘Virtual Virtuoso’ Raquelle likes playing piano music from the early 1700’s - so at work, she can certainly ‘Handel’ the heat! With 14 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 studying A-Level Law “for fun”! 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!
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!
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!
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!
Personal 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!
Personal Assistant
Cat-mad and charismatic, Chloe balances her time outside of work between her human friends and her feline family – she says neither group is her favourite, but she doesn’t have portraits of her friends up around her house! Chloe’s work experience includes making her way up the ladder at a popular building society, ending her time there as Assistant Manager at two separate branches! Her commitment and kindness is also demonstrated outside the office – she’s run charity half-marathons and donated her hair to Little Princess Trust twice, so cutting your turnaround times down should be no problem!
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!
Personal Assistant
Delightful Daisy’s motivation and enthusiasm makes her as determined as her stubborn Tibetan Terrier, Barney! Daisy has previously worked in Insurance and mortgages which combined with her dedication to her PA role, makes her the perfect fit for VPA! Outside of work, Daisy is keen on doing anything active, particularly outdoor water sports, so be ready for her to make a splash!
Personal Assistant
Conversationalist Katie can confidently communicate! Uniting her past work in customer facing roles with her determination to provide a top tier service, Katie is a committed and professional PA! Katie’s love for music of all genres stems from her childhood dancing role in the West End! After treading the boards Katie worked as a celebrity nail technician, so you can definitely trust her with your filing!!
Personal Assistant
Marvellous Millie makes good use of her drive and meticulous eye for detail; in the office she is a dedicated PA, 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!
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 cant relax at the weekend with a Passionfruit Martini!
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!
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!
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!
Personal Assistant
Marvellous Mia has a positive and friendly personality, which coupled with her drive and passion to deliver a high-level service, makes her an efficient 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 you client meetings will be promptly arranged, meaning your advice will be delivered on time, every time!
Personal Assistant
Shannon adds a wealth of SJP experience to the team, having worked in the industry for many years! With a desire to make a difference, a great attention to detail and the love of any challenge, she certainly has the tools to be an amazing PA! Outside of work Shannon escapes with a game of Dungeons and Dragons or a trip to Disney, meaning she can make a Beauty out of any Beastly task list!
Personal Assistant
World record holder Rachel is a woman of many talents, one of which is keeping up with her two lively children! Her previous role as a primary school teacher, has given her the patience, organisational skills and the ability to multitask which enables her to provide top tier service to her clients. Not only does she have these great attributes, as trained trapeze artist and contortionist, Rachel is renowned for dealing with high-flying clients and getting out of tight squeezes!
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!
Personal Assistant
Adventurous Amy loves getting out and exploring new places; whether it’s with her friends, family, partner, 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!
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!
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!