Welcome to our blog

The Ultimate List of PA & VA Resources

Personal Assistants can help you manage your diary, organize meetings or appointments, book transportation, travel, and accommodation. Whereas Virtual Assistants specialize in offering similar administrative services to their clients, from a completely remote location.

The Ultimate List of Concierge Services

Personal concierge services help individuals to gain back time in their busy lives by taking control of numerous tasks. From recommending and booking tables at exclusive restaurants, organising seamless family holidays, to running daily errands, a personal concierge can be of great use.

THE PA DIARIES - Charlotte

This month we talk to Charlotte, who was recently placed by Oriel Partners in a very exciting role, working as a Private PA. We asked Charlotte some questions to find out what she enjoys the most about her role and how she got to where she is today.

The Ultimate List of PA & VA Courses

Use our ultimate list of PA and VA courses in order to compare and review training courses designed for both junior and established secretaries, PAs and VAs who are looking to develop skills in order to climb the career ladder.

The PA Diaries - Victoria

This month we speak with Victoria who is a senior EA at a large energy company. We asked Victoria some questions to find out what she enjoys the most about her role and how she got to where she is today.

The Ultimate List of HR Tools

HR tools can save departments a lot of time and money, enabling HR teams to work in a more streamlined and efficient way.

How To Become A Personal Assistant in a Competitive Climate

A personal assistant (PA) is someone who assists a specific person in an organisation with their daily tasks, acting as their first point of call.

The Ultimate List of Recruitment Tools

Recruitment software tools can save HR departments a lot of time and money, enabling recruitment teams to work in a more streamlined and efficient way.

Covid-19 update: Which industries have most flexibility for remote workers? (Infographic)

Since the Government enforced lockdown across the UK in March, there has been a need for nearly all staff to adapt to remote working where possible.

How to Become a Virtual Assistant and Thrive in the Role

If you’re one of the growing number of office support professionals looking to forge a career as a virtual assistant, this guide is for you.

The PA Diaries - Sophia

This month we speak with Sophia, who is currently temping through Oriel Partners. We asked Sophia some questions to find out what she enjoys the most about her role and how she got to where she is today.

How To Stand Out as a Candidate When Unemployment Is High

Now more than ever, it is imperative you stand out as a candidate to succeed when trying to secure a new role. Read this article to find out how to stand out.

What is a PA Recruitment Agency?

Whether you’re looking for recruitment in London, Liverpool, Edinburgh, or even in the US, you will come across...

The PA Diaries - Dominique

This month we speak with Dominique, who has spent time working in Dubai and Barcelona as well as London.

How to find the best PA Recruitment Agency for Your Business

We’re going to explore how to find the very best PA recruitment agency for your business.

What to Expect From a PA Recruitment Agency in London

At Oriel Partners, we are dedicated to helping local businesses in London find the perfect candidates.

The advantages of co-working

At Oriel Partners we are based in a co-working space called Central Working, a fabulous, dog friendly space near Victoria station in London.

Five Questions to ask a New Recruitment Agency

Getting the right recruitment agency can be challenging, especially when there are multiple agencies that cater to your particular niche.

The PA Diaries - Charlotte

Charlotte graduated in 2012 with a law degree and started her career working in recruitment.

International Women's Day At Oriel Partners

To celebrate International Women’s day, here at Oriel Partners, we have decided to dedicate a blog to a woman who we personally find hugely inspirational.

How to negotiate a pay rise

Money can be something we feel uncomfortable discussing and therefore it is vital to be prepared when negotiating a pay rise to give you the greatest chance of success.

Five tips for Successful PA Recruitment

With over 30 years’ experience in the PA recruitment market, we have worked with companies from nearly every sector and in every borough in London.

Featured on the UK's leading PA Recruitment Job Site

Recently we have been featured on the UK’s leading specialist job site for PAs, secretaries and office support professionals. Take a look at the article highlighting our PA podcast.

Meet the Directors at Oriel Partners

Oriel Partners was co-founded by Auria Heanley and Olivia Coughtrie in 2018, two woman with different backgrounds and at different stages in their life.

The day in the life of Olivia, Co-Founder

My day generally starts at 7am and the first thing I always do is check my emails for any candidates or clients needing to cancel early morning interviews, as this needs urgent attention...

How to improve workplace productivity

With so many distractions, whether from social media, mobile phones, or merely everyday goings-on, the modern office is quickly becoming an increasingly harder place to maintain productivity.

How do you know when you need a personal assistant?

The idea of having a personal assistant (PA) is something that appeals to many business professionals and entrepreneurs when they begin their careers.

Featured in the Leading PA Magazine

Back in January 2019 we were featured in The Assistant Room, which is the leading PA & EA network & lifestyle magazine. Take a look at the article regarding crazy interview questions and how to answer them that we were featured in.

Competency Based Interviews

Interviewing is a daunting prospect, regardless if you are a seasoned temp PA who does it before every booking, or if you have been in a role and therefore out of the market for a long time.

Choosing a London Based Recruitment Agency

Oriel Partners is a boutique PA and administrative recruitment agency based in Central London. This allows us to be easily accessible to both our candidate and client-based.

Testimonials

Fi, Candidate

"I recently applied for a position through Oriel Partners and found Auria to be very helpful and supportive throughout the process. Auria had a really good understanding of what her client was looking for and took time to ensure that there was a good fit on both sides. It was a pleasure working with her."

Operations Director, Holtby Turner Executive Search

"We have been very impressed with the candidates Oriel Partners have presented to us during our contract PA assignment, they were carefully selected and ‘spot on.’ Olivia has worked very hard to ensure great communication throughout the process and has always gone the extra mile offering valuable, pragmatic advice and a very professional service. I can’t recommend Oriel Partners more, they have exceeded expectations and have secured a candidate who we feel is a perfect company fit as well as fulfilling our remit with regards to skills and ability. They will be our first port of call when we next come to recruit for an administrative role."

Senior Operations Executive, Sutton PR

"Oriel Partners did a great job in helping us find a new EA on very short notice. Auria and Olivia came to our office to meet me and get a feel for the company, and I felt like they were very attentive to our needs and genuinely interested in finding us a candidate that suited the business. They’ve been flexible, helpful and we would certainly work with them again!"

Head of HR, GAN plc

"I recently used the services of Oliva at Oriel Partners in our search for an Office Manager/HR Assistant. Olivia immediately came across as professional, personable, flexible, responsive and very easy to work with. She seemed to immediately understand our requirements and took the time to visit our offices to gain an understanding of the environment and culture within the business. I was very impressed with the overall quality of all candidates; Olivia knew them all well and they were a good fit for our vacancy. I felt that it was a true partnership with Olivia where we were working together to find the perfect candidate. I would highly recommend Olivia and Oriel Partners."

Private Secretary, Duke and Duchess of Wellington

"Auria and Oriel Partners helped us fill a key role working for a UK peer. It was easy and enjoyable, with minimum fuss working with Auria. She really grasped the importance of personality, as well as skill, in finding the right person for us. I will definitely use Oriel for our future recruitment needs."

Emily B, Candidate

"I have recently placed a dream job in London, all thanks to the amazing work provided by Oriel Partners. Olivia is an amazing recruiter who is not only incredible at her job, an extremely professional and friendly person making the whole process of finding a new role so much easier. The whole process from start to finish was efficient and stress free, which I was worried about as still in employment whilst searching for my next job. I will be recommending to anyone who is looking for a new role and wants the process to be a positive experience."

Phoebe S, Candidate

"It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Olivia at Oriel during my job search. I felt like she really took the time to get a feel for what I was looking for and had a fantastic insight into how I could make best use of my skills and experience. The calibre of clients Olivia works with has been consistently brilliant and she has offered great pre and post interview support."

Amy E, Candidate

"I recently moved back to the UK from Zimbabwe in December 2018. Both, completely different environments when it comes to not only looking for a job but one that just fits. Within an hour of me showing interest in one role, I was contacted by Oriel Partners. They we're on the ball from the start! We met the following day for a meet and greet and I had an interview for the advertised job role, two days later. They took the time to get to know me, gauged as to what I was looking for and recommended roles they thought I fit best. The fear of job hunting in a new city was washed away. Thank you for your support Auria & Olivia. "

Niké O, Candidate

Jenna H, Candidate

"Oriel Partners is without a doubt the best recruitment agency in London! I was looking for a support role within a relaxed but professional company with a wonderful working environment and culture. Olivia was able to provide several interviews with brilliant companies that ticked all the boxes. Thank you so much for taking the time to really listen and understand what I was looking for. I know how much the recruitment process can leave people feeling doubtful, drained, upset and uncertain - well look no further than Oriel Partners - they know exactly what they are doing, and I trusted them during the entire process! Olivia really took the time to make me feel good about myself as I was lacking in confidence during my job search and interview process. This genuine and caring approach was such a big stand out with Oriel Partners. Thank you again."

Oriel Partners