Network and Connect with Like-Minded Assistant Professionals
We pride ourselves on providing high quality, professional networking events. Our Assistant Community has organically grown over the last 8 years and is welcoming and all-inclusive. Strategic PA Network offers a credible platform to learn and strengthen industry awareness, inspire each other, share best practice and build your own personal network. Learning and development is at the top of the agenda at every session with previous topics of interest including Strategic Thinking, The EA as a Business Partner, Motivation, Corporate Social Responsibility, Goal Setting, Presentation Skills and Project Management to name a few. Our ‘Inside the Head of a CEO’ series is popular too. Come and join our Membership, if you have any questions get in touch.
The PA Show hosts the largest gatherings of Executive Support Professionals in the UK
The PA Show ExCeL, 1-2 March 2023, ExCeL London
Strategic PA Network (formerly BBO PA Network) is an active professional networking group for Personal Assistants, Executive Assistants, Virtual Assistants, Administrators and Office Managers who work or live in or around London, the South East and the Bucks, Berks & Oxon area. We are not county specific, anyone is welcome to attend!
It doesn’t matter where you are in your career, whether you are just starting out in the Business Support industry or are very experienced – as long as you are in a support role you are more than welcome to join our membership and attend our events.
We are an all inclusive network, we empower each other, lift each other up and support each other!
“Discovering Strategic PA Network after returning from 5 years in Saudi Arabia has been extremely valuable to me. Having spent most of my working life in the travel industry I was relatively new to the PA role, so the development opportunities the network has given me have been incredible. Meeting such a welcoming group has supported me in improving my knowledge and skills, which is central to EA/PA/VA roles. I’ve greatly appreciated the relationship-building opportunities, as well as enjoying many engaging speakers hosted by stunning venues.” Rachel Elewe, Executive Assistant
“Great informative evening with lovely company, I really do enjoy these events.” Callie Early, Virtual Assistant
“To future-proof our careers, EAs and PAs really need to #NeverStopLearning and keep our skills and knowledge up-to-date. The role of the assistant is ever changing and a good assistant needs to ensure that they adapt and diversify their skillset as needed in business. I personally love to learn and hear from experts in their field. I’m so grateful that I have access to the fantastic sessions that BBO PA Network arrange for our community. The sessions are always with the latest speakers and the topics the latest information that we need. The sessions are extremely affordable which is so important for assistants to be able to keep up-to-date with the competition. More than anything, the network is such a joy to be a part of, Sarah always makes you feel so welcome and always greets you with the biggest smile. Sarah interacts with her audience and speaker and involves everyone in the session. As soon as I see BBO PA Network post details of a new event I’m straight on it and booking on as I know it will be both a credible and happy session to join.” Paula Harding, Executive Assistant
Don't miss out
STRATEGIC PA NETWORK – NOMINATED CHARITY PARTNER – SMART WORKS – READING
We are delighted to announce that our nominated charity partner is Smart Works Reading. We plan to help them by raising money at some of our networking events and by collecting clothing items and toiletries that they can use with their clients.
Smart Works is a UK charity that provides high quality interview clothes and interview training to unemployed women in need. They harness the power of clothes and confidence to allow a woman to be her best at a crucial moment in her life, giving her the confidence, the self-belief and the practical tools required to succeed at interview and transform her life.
Women are referred to Smart Works Reading from organisations such as job centers, work programmes, prisons, care homes, homeless shelters and mental health charities. Half have been unsuccessful in over 20 applications. A third have been turned down from over 50 jobs. All are suffering from a lack of confidence in their own abilities.
The tangible impact that our service has on a woman’s confidence is something we have the privilege to witness every day. The magic begins when she enters the dressing room and is styled into her interview outfit, hers to keep, by trained volunteers. She looks in the mirror and sees a new and impressive version of herself. This is followed by one-to-one interview coaching, after which 60% of our clients go on to get the job.
Quotes From Past Networking Events
“I find the events helpful and informative and have met many amazing people that I would never have met without the network. I’ve learnt so much from the speakers we’ve had.”
“It was so interesting – absolutely loved Maggie covering personal branding and then of course the gin tasting afterwards. I found both speakers to be so passionate and they knew exactly what they were talking about too, really informative and thought provoking.”
“Thank you for this amazing follow-up email and wealth of contacts and information. This is an incredible group of professionals who are so very generous with sharing and clearly a caring bunch.”
“Working as a PA, EA or VA you have to be self-sufficient a majority of the time and it is not often you work as part of a team. Joining Strategic PA Network feels like joining my own team, a group of like-minded, driven individuals who encourage, support and push one another. The network provides development opportunities businesses cannot always provide their support staff. It also, in an inclusive environment gives you the opportunity to network with peers, companies, and speakers with whom you wouldn’t necessarily get the chance to meet!”
“I have been to several of these BBO PA Network events and they are always inspirational as well as being a fantastic way to network with other people. If you haven’t tried it before, I highly recommend it to you. You will leave with lots of new ideas and contacts as well as having a really enjoyable evening in a great location – you never know, it could change your life, as it did mine!”
“Well organised, lovely attendees, good interesting speakers, fabulous locations and refreshments, friendly relaxed atmosphere.”
“The training that was delivered was outstanding and I learnt so much. The whole evening was well organised, smooth and honestly so enjoyable.”
“Just a quick email to say thank you so much for hosting last night. It was so interesting – absolutely loved Maggie covering personal branding and then of course the gin tasting afterwards. I found both speakers to be so passionate and they knew exactly what they were talking about too, really informative and thought provoking. Anyway, thank you for having me. I will certainly attend the next event.”