A Networking Group with a Twist
Being in business we have done our fair share of networking groups, some good, some not so good and have learnt lots!
Back in July we were approached by the marketing manager of a local Nottingham business to discuss if we would think of starting a networking group for Personal Assistants and Virtual Assistants in Nottingham. Although being active members of VA groups on social media we hadn’t really given it a second thought about how we could help raise the profile of our profession and support our peers. We know only too well having been PA’s for over 10 years in a Corporate environment how sometimes a PA can be un-appreciated and now being a VA, how solitary this role can be when working for yourself and maybe not being able to meet or talk to anyone from day to day is very common.
So, after the initial discussion we were all fired up saying ‘we can do this!’ but where to start?! We contacted a couple of our connections who we thought could help and/or give us some guidance and to say they have is an under-statement – Lesley Dexter from The EM Chamber and founder of the The East Mids PA Network and Melissa Burnside from Hays recruitment – we can’t thank you enough!!
Sounds funny now but the trickiest part of it all was thinking of a name for the group – The Nottingham PA & VA Hub (NPVA) was born!
Our concept for NPVA is to be an informal group for PA’s & VA’s to interact on social media and also come together once a month. Here they will be able to chat amongst friends and peers in a lovely venue, over a drink and nibbles whilst having a little time for themselves with the different activity/speaker we have on the evening. Although it is extremely nerve wracking knowing we have put ourselves out there, we want to make this a success for all PA’s & VA’s but can only make this happen with everyone’s support and feedback.
We have our launch event on 12thSeptember 2018 at The Botanist, West Bridgford hosted by Nella Dyer – Nella we couldn’t have done this without you too! NPVA also want to help promote local businesses and we have been lucky enough to have Redsmith Distillery joining us to talk about their award-winning gins as we, of course, ‘have to’ sample their products – ooh… chin chin!!
It’s all for free so why not come along, just to be nosey if anything, as we would love to see as many of you next week. Should this not be possible then maybe we’ll catch you at one of our future events. Please see below for the link to join NPVA Hub and the Eventbrite link for our launch event!
So looking forward to our Christmas event – Vik loves Christmas so it’ll be a ‘cracker’…… watch this space!!!
H&V