What is a Virtual Personal
Assistant?
You’ve got to the point where you know you need help. More than likely you know already that your business isn’t ready yet to employ someone, usually this is either because you know you couldn’t keep them gainfully employed all day or because the economics of your business don’t yet allow it, or simply because you haven’t the space in your home office. Otherwise you’re just smart enough to recognise the various values of the virtual workplace.
Virtual relationship, phones manned
You may never meet your virtual PA. Some do, some don’t, your choice. Simple technology available to everyone means you can divert your own business or personal or mobile or any number of lines to your virtual PA and none of your callers will be any the wiser because the call is answered in your company name, by a person your callers will come to know and trust, who is fully informed about you and your business.
Call your telephone provider and ask for your phone line to have its call divert function activated. Methods vary and your telephone provider will give you instructions but as an example, BT have three divert options:
Type *21*[number of your virtual Core Business PA]# onto your ordinary telephone keypad and your named PA receives all of your calls
Type *61*[number of your virtual Core Business PA]# and your calls will be diverted if your phone is unattended
Type *67*[number of your virtual Core Business PA]# and your calls will be diverted when you're on the line
(We recommend you keep *61* and *67* on all the time so that your PA can answer the phone whenever you can't.
Administration Services
Your PA is available to help you with any administration task you require leaving you free to concentrate on running and growing your business.
Arrange couriers
Your PA can arrange for parcels to be collected or delivered as necessary. We have an on-line facility set up with Royal Mail that allows us to enjoy benefits such as no extra charge for same day delivery.
Shop on-line
Ordering flowers or gifts can be time consuming. Why not get your PA to do this for you – she will even remind you of those important birthdays or occasions.
Chase invoices
If you feel uncomfortable chasing clients for payments due, let your PA have the unpaid invoices file and she’ll give them a nudge, that way you get to protect your customer relationship with them whilst your PA makes friends with someone in the accounts department.
Manage your diary
Your PA will manage your diary for you, making necessary appointments and confirming meetings on your behalf. She can do this on-line, remotely or can take total charge of your diary herself, reminding you of what you should be doing and advising you of where you need to be and when.
Check your e-mails
You can attend a long lunch appointment or even go on holiday knowing that your emails will be checked and actioned as necessary.
Fax to Email
If we receive a fax on your behalf and you don’t have a fax machine close by, we can forward you a copy of the document as an email attachment.
Remote access to your dedicated voice box
If you have callers ring outside our working hours, they have the option to leave a message on your dedicated voicemail box. You can call in on your own number and retrieve these messages whenever you please.
Access messages on-line
We can offer you a web based email address, which will enable you to access all your messages online.
Use of our dictation line facility
If you want your PA to type up a letter or send an invoice out for you, all you need to do is call one number, leave your instructions and let us do the rest.
0800 and 0845 numbers
We work in partnership with a company who has a list of non-geographic numbers that we can provide for you FREE of charge.
Mailing Address Provision
A business address in a Business Park can create the right impression for you. Your PA will receive your post and action it as you require, she can even bank your cheques!
Meeting Room
We have a meeting room we hire out by the hour; this is fully fitted with PC and internet connection.
Employment
So, you have a need for an extra pair of hands. And you have options. You can employ someone, full or part time, but in the former case, they may be sat twiddling their thumbs, or in the latter case, simply not there when you need them most! Either way, you’ve got to service HM Revenue & Customs, and all kinds of other legal requirements to fulfil.
Temp workers
Looks tempting, zero hours contract, local agent offering employees at an hourly rate. But what if they’re no good? And what if next time you need them, it’s another person you’ve never met before and you have to spend all that time briefing them all over again? Not to mention the invoice you get at the end of the month.
Virtual Personal Assistant service
There are a few who’ve been established as long as Core Business Virtual PA, but not many. If you’re looking for someone who you can get to know, interview before you commit – either in person or by telephone or via our website choose your VPA online interview – trust us to take initiative and look after your business with its best interests at heart, then take a closer look at all the benefits of a Core Business Virtual PA. We’re the best because our founder needed the service and is still a customer all these years later, there is no more stringent benchmark.
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