BEST SUPPORT ROLE WINNERS
THE creme de la creme of the country’s personal assistants came together for a classy ceremony as we announced the winners of the 2020 PA of the Year Awards.
We teamed up with our specialist website SecsintheCity, the UK’s only dedicated job site for business support professionals, to host our annual awards.
And we celebrated the essential role that personal assistants, executive assistants and office managers provide for the firms and individuals they work for.
The awards event, which usually take place at the swanky Ivy Restaurant in London, was held virtually, with finalists and their bosses fully embracing the event’s traditional black tie dress code.
We received more than 600 nominations on behalf of, and by, PAs and EAs, which the judges whittled down to 21 finalists across the four categories – PA of the Year, Legal PA of the Year, Office Manager of the Year and an Outstanding Achievement Award.
This is the ninth year of these prestigious awards that shine a light on the powerhouses of professionalism, those who work tirelessly in the background and seldom get the recognition they deserve for keeping bosses and firms ticking over efficiently.
Sarah El- Doori, marketing director of Reach Work, and PA of the Year Awards judge, said that the aim is to “champion the profession” and acknowledge the “significant” contribution that PAs and EAs make, especially in these immensely challenging times.
Susanna Tait, chief executive of event sponsor Tay Associates, said: “We were impressed by the positivity, perseverance and professionalism shown by PAs, EAs and office managers from many different organisations.”
Congratulations to all the finalists and everyone who was nominated this year.
Our winners are:
PA of the Year
BETHANY BURNS, 46, personal assistant to James Watt, captain and co-founder of Scottish brewery and bar chain BrewDog plc. Bethany impressed judges with the contribution she made as her boss and his company have navigated the global pandemic.
She had a hand in transforming the BrewDog distillery into an NHS sanitiser factory, creating special drinks and organising online bar sessions for the craft beer community.
Bethany, from Ellon, near Aberdeen, said: “I am so honoured to be recognised alongside the best and brightest in the field. The
CHEERS PA of the Year Bethany Burns awards have done a phenomenal job of elevating the visibility of the invaluable work carried out by executive assistants, personal assistants, administrat ive assistants and the like.
“And I’m really proud to represent this amazing group of talented people.”
Legal PA of the Year
41, personal assistant to Piers Reynolds, partner at global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. She was nominated by five of her colleagues and has a reputation as an “unfailingly helpful” PA who extends her support to many areas beyond the usual reach of the role.
The judges recognised this breadth of responsibility, including the 2020 challenge of completing an office move during a pandemic.
Tanya, from Letchworth Garden City, Herts, who works in London, said: “To win such an honour feels beyond amazing – I haven’t stopped smiling since.
“However, what this award truly captures is the success and achievements of the entire assistant population.” 31, office manager at ghd.
The judges were highly impressed by the nomination submitted for Sarah by the director of people at ghd. The submission described her invaluable efforts in the company’s transition to working from home, saying she had gone “above and beyond” in supporting the firm’s offices and ensuring more than 300 staff were set up to work from home safely.
Sarah, from Cambridge, said: “I am still in a state of shock. It is a real privilege to have won and feels very special to have my work acknowledged within the industry.
“It has given me a real confidence boost and more encouragement to continue self development to come back even
stronger next year.”
Outstanding Achievement
37, personal assistant to Chris Leader, vice principal of Salford City Academy.
This award is given by the judges to someone who shows inspiring levels of commitment and support in their role.
Gemma’s boss described her as “a true inspiration to all staff and students at the academy”.
Gemma, from Manchester, said: “I love my job and have a great working relationship with the vice president, whom I support on a daily basis. I have high expectations of myself and it’s lovely to see my hard work is really valued.
“I am so happy to work for an academy where they really value and support their staff.”