MIV Catch Up - Advextra VA
Sarah Rennie, founder of a virtual assistant (PA) service Advextra VA, joined us on Twitter for #MIVReveals on Wednesday 1st November 2017.
Sarah set up Advextra VA in 2016 after taking voluntary redundancy from her Civil Service job of over 17 years.
@Advextra Thanks for joining us today Sarah Rennie. For those that don’t know could you firstly just explain to us what it is you do? #MIVReveals
Advextra VA is a Virtual Assistant (PA) service (working online remotely by managing a specified set of tasks/responsibilities). #MIVReveals
Providing flexible & efficient administrative support to professionals & SMEs. #MIVReveals
By carrying out client contact; office skills; personal assistant/lifestyle management; & technical services for your #business. #MIVReveals
@Advextra Can you tell us about your background and what inspired you to start up your #company? #MIVReveals
From over 17 years of providing PA/secretarial support to a small team & committee, + over 9 years hotel & catering experience. #MIVReveals
My main motivation for launching my #company was to use my skills & experience from my background to help not just one boss! #MIVReveals
@Advextra What were the biggest challenges when setting up your #business? #MIVReveals
Coming from a Civil Service background, my biggest challenge for my #business was to learn about running a #business itself! #MIVReveals
And then finding those initial clients, as I didn’t have the “word of mouth” contacts. #MIVReveals
@Advextra What type of #financial and #mentoring support have you received? #MIVReveals
I received #financial & #mentoring support from the New Enterprise Scheme, who helped me with setting up a Business Plan. #MIVReveals
And I am now currently receiving #mentoring support from The Women’s Organisation. #MIVReveals
@Advextra What virtual assistant (PA) services do you provide and what makes your business unique? #MIVReveals
The services are typing & data entry; social media scheduling; corporate event mgt; diary mgt, accommodation & travel planning. #MIVReveals
I make sure each client receives an individual virtual (PA) service, at a good price, which is personalised & unique to them. #MIVReveals
@Advextra What would you say is your proudest #business moment so far? #MIVReveals
Learning how to run a #business! I did this online/courses at Mcr Ctrl Library. It's been a learning curve, but I've enjoyed it! #MIVReveals
Followed closely by helping to organise & run the Rochdale Biz Show 2017. #MIVReveals
@Advextra What sacrifices have you had to make to run your own business? #MIVReveals
The biggest sacrifice I made to run my own #business was to not have that daily face to face contact with your colleagues. #MIVReveals
I have overcome this sacrifice by attending various networking events & expos. #MIVReveals
@Advextra How many hours a day do you work on average? #MIVReveals
I aim to work on clients work for 5 hours a day on average, therefore leaving 2 hours a day to work on my #business itself. #MIVReveals
@Advextra What does success look like to you? #MIVReveals
My aim for success is to expand & employ staff after five years. Advextra VA – efficient, effective, virtual admin = #MIVReveals
Saves people time/money & benefits them, is an ‘Advantage’ & provides them with support for their #business - ‘Extra’ services. #MIVReveals
@Advextra What does the future hold? Any exciting plans we should keep an eye out for? #MIVReveals
This Friday I am attending a #mentoring session on the Small Business Saturday bus tour. #MIVReveals
Followed by a reception for the #Rochdale30 as Advextra VA Ltd has been selected as one of the 30! #MIVReveals
Are you an entrepreneur with an exciting product or service?
We're on the lookout for more entrepreneurs to interview on #MIVReveals!
Do you have an exciting or exceptionally innovative business that you'd like to tell us about and share with the world?
Get in touch with us at info@miventures.co.uk!
