Features included:

• Christmas parties. Project management skills explained using the Christmas party as a model. By Elizabeth Baker



• Christmas chores checklist. Count-down to Christmas outlining the tasks that need to be done before the festive season. By Suzanne Brown



• Creativity. Techniques to help you free your creativity. By Ann Light



• Alcohol limits. Up to the minute guidance on legal alcohol limits and information on the effects of drink on your system. By Suzanne Brown



• Office security. Tips on what to check before you lock up for Christmas. Information provided by Hawksmere

To access the November 2003 issue click here


Features included:

• Taking time to reflect. Five steps from Life Coach Dr Andree Bates to help you assess where you are now, before planning where you want to go



• Volunteering while working. It's possible to give time to others without giving up the day job. And the benefits are surprising.



• Assertiveness skills. If you want to make changes to your life and career, you need to know how to ask for them in a way that guarantees you'll get them.



• Work life balance. Elizabeth Baker looks at the options open to the secretarial and PA profession.



• What are flexible options really like? Claire Portman talks to a group of PAs who have chosen flexible alternatives to the 9-5

To access the December 2003 issue click here


Features included:

• Team leading for PAs. Advice on leadership skills for successful conference teams.



• Technology for presentations. Elizabeth Baker gives sound advice on preparing your IT in order to minimise last minute let-downs.



• Meetings in cyber space. Janice Pearson gives tips for organising effective and enjoyable virtual meetings.



• Skills for chairing meetings. Fun quiz with a serious message, helping you to guide meetings with more confidence.



• Venue contracts. Reading the small print is vital when booking venues. Industry expert Peter Rand explains why, and what to look for.



• The hotel trade explains: what they want from PAs to simplify the venue-booking process.

To access the February 2004 issue click here


Features included:

• Training plans. Helen Vandevelde explains how to use your training plan to boost your career.



• Training available for PAs. Roisin Woolnough investigates the training courses on offer for secretaries and PAs



• Alternative ways to source skills. Ian Boughton advises looking at alternative ways of getting training, rather than simply waiting for the next training course to come along.



• Persuading the boss. PA Ann Nuckley gives advice on how to sell your manager the idea of training.



• Maximising your training. Tips to get the most out of your training time.



• Freeing your learning mind. Learning strategist Bill Lucas explains how to remove barriers to learning, to help you access more from your training time.



• Learning techniques. Sara Goodwins talks to five office professionals who have chosen different ways to learn, including on-the-job NVQ, online learning, and studying while working.

To access the March 2004 issue click here


Features included:

• Understanding business. Sally Longson explains why it's vital to have a grip on the business environment you work in.



• Budgets. John Hancock takes a look at how to run a budget skilfully.



• Purchasing skills. Ways to make sure you buy only what you want, at the right price, by Sara Goodwins.



• Using Microsoft Excel to help you budget. Tips from Microsoft about online assistance available. This example focuses on using 'What if?' scenarios to see what would happen to your budget if you changed the variables.



• PA's perspective on skilful budgeting skills. Lee Morrissey takes a look at how to save money when organising a conference.



• Negotiating tips. Editor Penny Cottee gives some tips on getting the best deal.



• Guidelines for buyers. The Chartered Institute for Purchasing and Supply outlines some key rules for buyers

To access the April 2004 issue click here


Features included:

• PA's role. Graeme Payne looks at the PA's role in travel booking, and the importance of travel policies



• Hotels vs apartments. Sara Goodwins compares the two options, and advises on when each is better utilised



• Jet lag. Roger Collis gives guidance on avoiding jet lag while on business travel



• Health advice. Michelle Collis from MASTA outlines a good PA's preparation prior to an executive's trip



• Carry on luggage. John Hancock unravels the mystery of cabin luggage - dimensions, regulations, and more.



• Internet resources. PA Julie Lever gives a comprehensive round-up of useful travel-related websites



• DeskDemon's travel resources. Travel editor Bev Wright explains what DeskDemon has to offer travel bookers



• Videoconferencing options. Sara Goodwins looks at the choices for those who can't, or won't, travel



• Women's travel tips. Staying safe when travelling on business alone

To access the May 2004 issue click here


Features included:

• How to network. Sara Goodwins reveals her tips on working a room successfully



• Networks to join. Fred Redwood offers some new networking options



• Virtual networking. Andrea McKinney explains how to network online successfully and safely



• A PA's view. Top PA Lee Morrissey has a wry look at the gender differences between males (who network seriously) and women ( who chat frivolously)



• Boost your confidence. To be able to enter a room and network successfully, you need to look and feel confident. Sue Firth tells you how



• Setting up a network. PA Bernice Pennycuick explains how she created MKPANet for secretaries in Milton Keynes



• Why network? What's the point? Glenda Stone, CEO of Aurora, gives you ten reasons



• Secretarial associations. If you're not networking, these nine support and professional development organisations for PAs, secretaries and administrators can get you started

To access the June 2004 issue click here


Features included:

• The conference sector. Tony Rogers looks at the how the sector has matured in the last 30 years.



• Unusual venues. John Hancock provides a round-up of some of the most unusual places to hold an event in the UK



• Finding venues. Norman Flack gives some advice on venue sourcing



• Private hotels. Our Q&A session put the owner of private hotel 22 Jermyn Street, Henry Togna, in the hot seat



• Large capacity venues. We round up the UK's largest venues for those large events



• Online booking. Sara Goodwins looks at the pros and cons



• A PA's perspective. Theresa Mabbutt gives some tips on running successful events



• Training courses. If you want to improve your event management skills, try these courses



• Hotel inspection. We interviewed an under-cover hotel inspector to see what the job is like

To access the July 2004 issue click here


Features included:

• Inclusive or exclusive? We gather views on how other cultures and faiths feel about the standard UK corporate Christmas festivities



• Top party tips for a tip top party: Christmas party advice



• Using party management firms: We look at how event management firms can help



• Book your holiday. How to make sure you get first dabs on the holidays you want to take off



• Private dining. What do you need to know about private dining for your Christmas party?



• A party planner reveals all. We talk to a party organiser about the job, and get some hot tips



• Diaries. Things to consider before ordering this year's company diaries



• Christmas cards. What does your choice say about your firm?



• Tasty options. We look at the best in edible and drinkable Christmas gifts for clients



• Getting home safely. Advice to help you make sensible choices about getting home

To access the September 2004 issue click here


Features included:

• Choosing your future career path: Sally Longson offers some help to those who are unusure of their future direction



• Who is managing who? PA Lee Morrissey gives some thoughts on how to up-manage the boss



• Managing juniors: Josephine Hampshire looks at ways to motivate and guide junior staff



• Time management: Patrick Forsyth advises you to ditch the unnecessary tasks



• Clear the desks: David Edwards offers pointers on supplies and products to help you keep the workstation ship-shape



• Managing your image: a top image consultant answers questions on building your work wardrobe with ease



• Management Resources: books, training courses, online resources - all to help you manage better.

To access the October 2004 issue click here


Features included:

• Cathy Dugmore from Hunter Roberts gives some tips on dealing with confidential issues in the office



• Ethics at work. Director of the Institute of Business Ethics, Philippa Foster Back, explains why ethics are more important now than ever, and how a PA can approach tricky moral dilemmas



• Tips on keeping your information secure and hidden from prying eyes



• Making your workstation a fortress - ways to ensure data is locked away securely and that your desk is not a source of info leaks. David Edwards gives some advice



• PA Perspective. Lee Morrissey gives us an inside view of negotiating the tricky questions your colleagues ask, and how to keep business secrets



• Internet security - is your firm's cyber presence at risk? Peter Dunwell assesses your risk



• The law. The Data Protection Act and the Freedom of Information Act appear to contradict each other in some instances. Sara Goodwins investigates

To access the November 2004 issue click here