One of the biggest challenges to face the globe as we all move to a ‘New Normal’ is how the Covid19 pandemic has & is affecting our economies & in turn, our work forces. Employment trends are changing at an astronomically fast pace, with job losses in their hundreds of thousands in the UK alone.
However, as many employment sectors see the very worst side of the pandemic, other sectors are opening their doors to new waves of employees.
Home deliveries have become the norm in recent years, but now more than ever, the online shopping experience has become a lifeline for millions.
Many UK high street shops & services have gone by the wayside in recent years, bowing to the pressure of online competition. However, in recent weeks, Amazon for example have announced that they are seeking 33,000 new employees for their distribution empire in a US wide employment drive.
Amazon has 33,000 corporate and technology jobs currently open across the country, the company said in touting a virtual “Career Day” on September 16 where people can learn about the positions. (1)
Other companies across the UK who are boosting their employees are:
Ernst & Young (EY), the professional services firm is advertising 230 UK jobs in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Leeds, Birmingham and Belfast
Babcock, which provides engineering services in the UK and internationally, is advertising 163 jobs
Citi Bank, the global financial services firm is advertising 341 roles around the UK
and
BAE the multinational defence and aerospace giant, is advertising 154 roles for experienced professionals. (2)
These are just a few of the companies who are seeking to fill roles across the UK & although the UK is officially in a recession; there are new employment opportunities to be had. Furthermore, as the Government recently announced it’s latest package of measure to protect UK job, the Chancellor has indicated that as we move forward; the UK Government will be creating new jobs to capture the skills set’s of those who have seen their employment opportunities diminish.
As many employers seek to restructure their businesses, one attractive alternative for some is to seek out freelancers to support in areas of business transition.
For many Managing Directors, CEO’s & Senior Leadership Teams, having the support of a PA (Personal Assistant) or EA (Executive Assistant) has always been an essential support role. PA’s & EA’s skills sets enable MD’s, CEO’s & SLT members to focus on their business expectations, while they offer extended secretarial support.
The traditional PA or EA roles, now include a VA (Virtual Assistant). Helena Parrott – Director/VA Virtually Smart Ltd has spent the past 20 years building her business repertoire & knowledge of the inner working of a variety of industries. It is this expertise & vast amount of skills, which now has other business owners & teams of people rely on Helena, to guide, advise, support & transform their business’s.
But what is a VA?
A VA can offer all of the support a PA/EA does, but without the need for a full time contract, the offer of a permanent desk, or even a pension. A VA has all the expertise of a PA/EA but in a remote setting. The value of a VA is that businesses can choose the amount of hours per week/per month they wish the VA to act on their behalf & furthermore, they can choose a VA which has a specific skills set to suit their business.
Helena Parrott’s support extends to (this list is not exhaustive)
- SLT support for a team’s including CEO’s, Directors & Managers
- Diary Management
- Inbox Management
- Arranging & hosting meetings (mostly via online means to be Covid secure)
- Organising national & international documentation, including patents, grants & most recently communicating with Governmental level administration
- Collating National/International data & preparing essential presentations
- Liaising with National/International corporations & agencies for & on behalf of clients
- HR & employment support
- IT configuration, sourcing & software implementation for teams & SLT
As the employment landscape continues to change, so too will the way in which people work. A vast mix of inhouse employment, is now being offset with a shift towards home working. Some businesses as seeing vast improvements in productivity from home working teams & others are seeking to diversify in how they employ people in the future.
If you are interested in how Helena Parrott can support you as a CEO or Managing Director, or your Senior Leadership Team; then please do contact her directly on Mobile: 07954 994 769 Email: helena@virtuallysmartltd.com
Written by Katy-Jane for & on behalf of Virtually Smart Ltd
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/amazon-jobs-hiring-33000-corporate-tech/
- https://www.business-live.co.uk/enterprise/major-companies-hiring-uk-2020-18955456
