2017 Manchester PA of the Year Awards Shortlist
Congratulations to all of this year's excellent nominees. The number and quality of applicants continues to grow each year. Now in our third year, this was our hardest year to judge yet. If you were not shortlisted this year we hope you apply again next year.
This year's shortlist provides an example of the hard work, dedication and passion of support professionals across Greater Manchester. We look forward to honouring all shortlisted professionals and celebrating the winners on 2nd November at Victoria Warehouse.
Purchase your tickets for this year's awards here.
THE 2017 MANCHESTER PA OF THE YEAR AWARD SHORTLIST:
THE ROBERT WALTERS EXCELLENCE AWARD
Sponsored by Executive Partner - Robert Walters
Robert Walters is proud to work with exceptional support professionals across the North West. This award recognises overall excellence across the support profession. The winner of this award will be an innovative and proactive support for their team and organisation.
Charlie Cosgrove
Talk Talk
Charlie currently supports Talk Talk's CTO on a one to one basis. She consistently strives to provide effective support, as the CTO role is frequently working on a remote basis. She is integral to the retention and attraction of new talent within the business and is completely aligned to the company values and extolls these at all times.
Helen Dixon
Stanmore Insurance
Helen started Stanmore Insurance 3 years ago, and it was her first PA role. She not only hit the ground running but has also taken total ownership of all HR processes, health & safety and office management. She has made a dramatic difference to the business through an incredibly challenging time and now they don’t know what they would do without her.
Christopher Rutherford
KPMG
After starting with KPMG in February 2016, Christopher has quickly established himself as an ambassador for the role of the male PA by raising his profile both internally and externally, and being actively involved in the Manchester PA Network. Chris’s quality of service has not only been noted by those he supports but also external clients. He is always willing to go that extra mile.
Beth Jones
The Fragrance Shop
Beth became EA to the CEO of the Fragrance shop in 2015. In this time she has developed her role and wider relationships across the company, continually going above and beyond in her dedication to the business and her Director.
Natalie Drew
Arup
Natalie has workedwith Arup now for 10 years, in a number of roles with varying responsibilities. She has set up a secretarial network internally and continuously promotes best practice, not only in the Manchester office, but across all UK offices.
Paula Theobald
Urban Splash
Paula has over 20 years of experience working within the support profession, and has had responsibility for direct line staff. She has been instrumental in the implementation of new processes and business development tools and was noted for always wanting to take on new challenges and enhance both herself and the business.
Lizzie Wilding
Oasis Media City UK
Lizzie is a committed member of the support team at Oasis Academy. She has been indicative in raising the schools profile and performance. Lizzie works with a strong moral purpose which is completely aligned to the company values.
THE MANCHESTER PA NETWORK AMBASSADOR AWARD
Sponsored by Executive Partner - Manchester PA Network
With over 800 members, the Manchester PA Network is one of the UK's largest networks for PAs, EAs and secretaries. This award, chosen by applicants who are current Manchester PA Network members, will highlight the professionalism and excellence of the network's members. This award also recognises the fundraising efforts of members, across a varity of charities.
Jane Brazzill
PWC
Jane’s an absolute advocate of the Manchester PA Network and works hard to continually promote it in all of her activities both professionally and personally. Jane is well known professional in the PA community, and is a definite go-to person for all people entering the professional, regardless of industry. Jane is a proud winner of the MPAN Ambassador, having won in 2015.
Amanda Snowball
FRP Advisory
Having never been a PA before her first four years at FRP Advisory, Amanda has seen her career rise and was crowned Manchester PA of the Year 2016. 2017 has seen her star continue to shine and she is a nominee for the 3rd year running. She continues to promote the Network and is an active fund raising member, helping the Network reach their 2020 goal of £100k.
Lesley Ward
Unibox
Lesley has recently made a transition in her career and is now supporting four directors at Unibox. She is an experienced PA and a previous Manchester PA award winner (2015 Above & Beyond). She continues to develop herself both personally and professionally and is a key contributor to the Manchester PA scene.
Tracey Williams
Indigo Planning
Tracey, last years Manchester PA Ambassador award winner, continues to be a noted member of the Manchester PA Network. Tracey continues to network, and bring recognition and new members into the network. She is also a very active fundraiser for the Network.
Debbie Grimshaw
Brother UK
Debbie is a well recognised and respected member of the Manchester PA network, and she actively shares her knowledge and experience with all newbies coming into the profession. She is an active Ambassador for all things PA, and the support services network. Debbie was also the first ever Manchester PA of the Year - taking the crown in 2015.
Gemma Boyle
Teneo Sports
Gemma has worked within a PA and support capacity for a number of years, within in various industries, and she is a keen advocate of the Manchester AP network. She works tirelessly to promote the network and is actively involved in a range of charity events for the Network.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Sponsored by Venue Sponsor - Victoria Warehouse
This award recognises an individual who has made a significant impact both within their roles as a support professional, but also to the PA, EA, secretarial & support sector as a whole. With the right mix of business acumen, creativity and innovativeness, this person will consistently exceed expectations and continue to push the industry within Greater Manchester. This award is open to a professional who has worked in the support industry 20 years or more.
Pam Kinsella
The Co-operative Bank
As PA to the CEO, Pam has an acute and almost intuitive understanding of the Co-op Bank. She has maintained her position through a period of change as a constant and a go-to person for all staff and all levels.
Patsy Hoey
Horwich Farrelly
Patsy has been with Horwich Farrelly for 44yrs and has seen the business grow from 15 to its current size of more than 750 employees, across a number of offices. Her knowledge across the business is widely acknowledged and she is an integral part of the continued growth and development of the company.
Ann Malone
Brennan Atkinson
Ann has been with Brennan Atkinson for over 20 years and even tried to officially retire 8 years ago, however with her incredible knowledge of the business, her client relationships and someone who has a sixth sense for what needs to be done before it is asked of her she is indispensable to the company and those that she supports.
Lana Fegan
Savills
Having worked with Savills since its beginnings, Lana has provided the Manchester office with 30 years of continuous service. She has continually developed and evolved with the role after starting her career as a temporary administrator. Lana has now positioned herself as the go-to person within the business and is responsible for multiple offices.
Julie Butler
Manchester Metropolitan University
Completing 22 years with the University in November, Julie has a complete and extensive knowledge across the University and is absolutely an aspirational and inspirational PA within the team.
Alison Hookam
The Co-operative
Alison has been with the Co-op for 26 years now and her commitment and position as a leader for the wider team is unquestionable. She gets fully involved in every aspect of what is expected of a PA and will also support however she can, personally understanding how important that work/life balance is for those around her.
BEST EVENT ORGANISED BY A PA
Sponsored by Key Sponsor - Make Events
Event management can be tough, but adds an exciting element to many PA's jobs. We want to recognise the organisation, creativity and logistics it takes to organise a successful event.
Mimi Coiffait
Manchester City Football Club
Whilst possessing all the normal characteristics of a fantastic PA and managing all her regular responsibilities, she organised and ran the academy’s first awards ceremony from start to finish. Mimi possess calmness, organisational skills and excellent business acumen which are key to running events.
Wade Betts
Manchester Pride
Wade has been with Pride for one year, having previously worked on a freelance basis, and is an integral part of the team. He consistently uses his own initiative to project himself forward within the business. His help propelled 2017's Pride celebrations to be one of the best yet, garnering international attention and praise.
Stacey Marchant
Shoosmiths
In her relatively short time at Shoosmiths, Stacey has proved to be a key player in a number of areas. Her skillful and measured approach has helped her put together an internal conference in Barcelona, all remotely, which nearly 10,000 lawyers attended.
Susan Brathwaite
Kettlebell Kitchen
Susan is the go-to person at Kettlebell and takes on 20 different roles in one. One of these roles was organising a weekend long event called Bodypower which served over 10,000 people. She was constantly on call and demonstrated how she always goes the extra mile, and the event was a massive success.
Lindsey Holt
Jason Manford Comedy
In 2009, Lindsey started working with Jason and, as a personal and professional PA, she has overseen much of Jason’s extension in business ventures. She has been integral in the development and implementation of structure and processes during this period of growth.
Anne Cooper
A2E Industries
Anne has been with A2E now for more than 10 years and is primarily responsible for all PA, secretarial and office management duties. She is integral to the company's events calender and constantly looks for new ways to promote the company and the brand both internally and externally.
PA TEAM OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Platinum Award Sponsor - Hill Dickinson
This award looks to recognise superior performance by an administrative team who work over and above expectations.
Brother
Travel, accommodation, post, booking meetings and more all goes to plan without a hitch at Brother UK thanks to their brilliant PA team, who strive for perfection every day. A great achievement for a team that has been in existance for a little over a year. They are not afraid to challenge the status quo and are always looking to improve the way the business works.
KPMG
The newly created central secretarial hub team is made up mainly of junior secretaries who have not only had to learn how to work together but also learn a new style of working to manage nearly 500 tasks a month, while each has an allocation of 40 senior managers. They are always looking at improved ways of working and have a great team attitude.
Addleshaw Goddard
With a combined business knowledge of in excess of 30 years, the Addleshaw Goddard support team have been noted throughout the business for their exceptional mentoring programme and their unwavering professionalism and support to the Manchester team, along with the wider national and international business.
Chiesi
The Chiesi team have an exceptional wealth of knowledge across the entire business. Working within a heavily regulated environment, the team work and strive to ensure that every member of the business is fully supported in every activity and that the business's reputation maintains its high standing within the industry.
MWH
MWH are a great example of an effective and efficient support team, who constantly seek out new ways to improve thier business performance and standards. Improving processes through open communication and the creation of an idea sharing environment.
Queen Bee PA
A rather unique and diverse duo, the Queen Bee PAs are virtual assistants and are extremely prolific in the promotion of diversifying the workings of support professionals and in challenging the traditional understanding of the purpose and the role of a PA. They work with an assortment of clients across Greater Manchester.
STAR OF THE FUTURE
Sponsored by Entertainment Partner - Citation Ltd
We are looking for the best newcomer who is already showing signs of being a future PA of the Year. The winner of this award will show initiative and be able to demonstrate their current capabilities, along with an eagerness to progress in the support profession. This award is open to applicants who have worked as a support professional for two years or less.
Emily Brown
Addleshaw Goddard
With just 12 months experience within her role at Addleshaw Goddard, Emily has already proven herself to be a PA of the future with her natural drive and determination, along with her strong work ethic and alignment to company values.
Georgina Chapman
DWF
Starting with DWF as an administrative assistant, Georgina was quickly identified as someone who wanted to succeed and exceed expectations. This resulted in her most recently supporting the EA to the CEO, and now directly supporting the CIO of the business herself.
Chantelle Howard
Squire Patton Boggs
Started with Squire Patton Boggs in November 2016, having graduated with an English degree at University. Chantelle's drive and keen organisation skills have seen her develop key client relationships within a relatively short period of time, and exceed all expectations within the business.
Lawrence Adlum
KPMG
Lawrence started the path to his PA career on an apprenticeship scheme, in October 2016 he started work with KPMG and became part of the central support team. He has consistently thrown himself into new opportunities to further himself and his exposure within the business. Having initially joined KPMG as a team secretary he has very quickly developed into the executive secretary role.
Louise Wonta
Arup
Louise made quite a dramatic career change in August 2016 and moved form her role supporting the prison service into her first PA role. She is actively involved in events, and operations within the business and brings her commercial and social awareness into the role on a daily basis.
Lucy Jeffries
Addleshaw Goddard
In February 2016 Lucy started her career with Addleshaw Goddard and in the time she has been there she has developed herself both personally and professionally within the team. She is well known for being someone who will volunteer and put herself forward at every opportunity. she is also now part of the internal Addleshaw Goddard networking team. She has most recently been promoted to the role of Legal PA.
Harriett Howard
Endless LLP
Harriett has now been with Endless LLP for 18 months and has established herself as the key go-to person for not only the Manchester office, but also the wider team. Harriett's previous experience within the hospitality industry has seen a complete change in direction but has also allowed her to proactively develop Endless's events and her own commerciality within the business.
LINE MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Platinum Award Sponsor - Addison Lee
We recognise that as Senior PAs progress in their career, commonly they will manage a team - adding a new dynamic and set of responsibilities to the job. This award recognises a winner who works in a support role and manages a team of at least 2 people.
Susan Bromelow
Beevers & Struthers
Susan currently manages a number of staff across functions within the business and has been able to do this effectively by her longevity with the business, and her cross-functional influences. She is an effective manager and mentor to all in the business ,whilst also being PA to two Partners amonst other guises she has.
Alison Mcclellan
Mercer
Alison has been with Mercer for 11years and is noted across the business for her complete commitment and as a constant in an ever-evolving team with her acute commercial acumen.
Vivienne Dean
Web Applications
Vivienne started her career within the banking sector and has taken this commercial awareness in to her role with Web Applications. She is both PA and Office Manager at Web Applications and has established a great supporting office team.
Joanne McParland
Hall Brown Family Law
Having been with Hall Brown since its inception Joanne has developed a team of 5 support staff – supporting an office of 15 lawyers across the Manchester office. Whilst still maintaining her primary role as a PA, Joanne has helped to support and develop the business with her keen commercial acumen and awareness of the company's client base.
Hannah Gough
KPMG
Having started her role with KPMG in 2016, Hannah is an active advocate within the business for the KPMG network for women's events around diversity and inclusion, and also has a direct involvement in the wellbeing team. She currently directly manages a team of 38 staff, and is always there to answer questions and mentor the more junior staff.
Gill Gibson
Horwich Farrelly
Having worked for a just over one year with Horwich Farrelly, Gill's impact and influence was immediately felt. She has been instrumental in the implementation and delivery of a changing business culture and has current responsibility for over 100 staff.
ABOVE & BEYOND
Sponsored by Platinum Award Sponsor - Adam Fidler Academy
Its not only your daily responsibilities which make you stand-out. The winner of the Above & Beyond award will have gone that extra-mile, outside of their duties, to make a difference in their job.
Tammy Cooke
Manchester Metropolitan University
Having previously worked within the private sector, the University was Tammy's first experience of working within the Higher Education sector. During the last 12 months Tammy has taken the established internal PA network and developed it into something that has been recognised across the University as a value-add community that seeks to promote the support services and the University at every opportunity.
Charlie Juul
Turner Parkinson
Charlie has been with Turner Parkinson for more than one year and is currently PA to a number of the Directors. Charlie consistently looks to implement and improve processes across the business. Her commercial awareness has been recognised across the company and she is very active in the company's social calender.
Emma Lawrence
MediaCom
Emma has worked with MediaCom for three years. When starting at the company, she was tasked with providing comprehensive support to eight people across the business. Her role has quickly developed and has seen her support both the COO and the CFO, and now has a one to one focus supporting the CFO.
Natalie Barker
Godel Technologies
Having been with Godel Technologies since late 2016, Natalie has established herself has a crucial support to both the CFO and the CEO, and is also responsible for the wider management of the office. Her organisation and efficient process management have been noted across the business and helped her to support in the development and growth of the company.
Sue Hampson
Crowe Clark Whitehill
Having started with Crowe Clark Whitehill 5 years ago, Sue initially started her career here as a junior administration and team secretary. She was soon promoted in line with her Director to PA and since then has flourished in the role. She provides exceptional support and gets heavily involved in many aspects of the business.
Keeley Hannelly
PIN Property Consultancy
Keeley has been working with Pin Property Consultancy for eight years developing from the role of administration assistant to PA. Having completed her legal secretary training she has been able to fully immerse herself into the business, and utilises this knowledge to develop her own skill base and continue providing excellent support.
Jenna Sharples
KPMG
Jen started at KPMG in December 2015 as an Executive Float Secretary providing holiday cover and events assistance. Since then she secured a dual role within Advisory’s Restructuring where she supports two Partners and a director alongside a Marketing & Events Executive role. Jenna is an advocate for the KPMG brand and is continually promoting on her social media platforms.
BRAND CHAMPION
Sponsored by Platinum Award Sponsor - Gaucho
This award recognises those whose names are practically synonymous with their brands and are consistently motivated to promote their business to be the best in their industry.
Lindsey Hall
Manchester Metropolitan University
Lindsey has been with the University for more than 13 years, after starting off her career in an apprenticeship with BICC. She has been instrumental, with her colleague Tammy Cooke, in nurturing and developing the internal PA network, providing a mentoring scheme for new support professionals and bringing training and information to the network as a whole.
Lesley Thompson
Eversheds Sutherland
Lesley has over 20 years working in the support field. She supported one of her current Partners at Eversheds when they were both at Pinsent Masons, and moved with him to Eversheds Sutherland this past December, after 10 years. She has a naturally calming influence on the wider team and is a natural mentor. Aside from this, she consistently supports the business in its commercial development activities.
Marc Taylor-Allan
PWC
As part of the VA team with PWC, Marc is a positive and influential member of the support services team. An absolute advocate of utilising social media, and an exemplary ambassador, he is consistently striving to promote the PWC brand across all platforms.
Lucy Sidlow
Barclays
Having worked within Barclays for a number of years, Lucy took the jump in to the PA world in May 2016, after doing almost 10 years within branch and retail banking. She was able to bring that knowledge into her new role and new found career path and apply it to great effect within a heavily regulated environment.
Charlotte Aston
Make Events
Charlotte joined the Make Events team in June 2016, and it was immediately evident that her calm organised approach would complement well with the fast pace of an events company. With her commercial astuteness, every activity Charlotte undertakes she continually strives to promote the brand and its values.
Samantha Lawson
Kuit Steinart Levy LLP
Samantha has been with Kuit solicitors for five years, and for two and a half of these has been working within a PA/secretarial position. She is an advocate of the Manchester PA Network and is a regular contributer to charities such as Wood Street Mission. She is one of the leaders within the PA world in her community awareness and involvement.
Michaela Wakeman
CVS
Michaela is a commercially aware, professional and credible member of the team at CVS. Supporting the CEO for a number of years, she continues to assist and develop the core values of the company and works to drive and personally deliver these at all times. Michaela is also last year's Robert Walters Excellence award winner.