Frequently Asked Questions

I have over 25 years of administration experience in commercial environments, working across a variety of roles within the same group of companies. This has allowed me to gain hands-on expertise in multiple areas, including:

• Office administration
• Payroll and bookkeeping
• Personal assistant duties
• Purchasing and sales support
• Reception and customer service
• Email and diary management
• Staff management and rota planning
• Facilities management and commercial operations (including operating a weighbridge)

…and much more!

In recent years, through my business Addicted to Admin, I’ve focused on supporting small businesses, sole traders, busy working parents, entrepreneurs, and executives, while continuing to assist managers and teams within larger commercial settings.

I offer a personalised service designed to bring real value to your admin life, helping you create a better balance at work, which often spills over positively into your home life too.

How do I do this? By taking the time to understand you and how you like to work, then tailoring my services to suit your needs.

Whether it’s preparing documents or reports in a more visual, creative style, or building spreadsheets for data-focused clients, everything is adapted to your way of working.

The goal is to create a seamless, successful partnership, where my working style complements yours perfectly.

Take a look at my Services page for a detailed overview of the main services I provide.

From office administration and organisation, to email and diary management, bookkeeping, and data entry, I cover a wide range of tasks.

I also offer many additional services that aren’t listed, especially when it comes to executive personal assistant support, where I tailor my work to your specific needs.

Yes, absolutely!

Your needs are my priority, and it’s important that my services are tailored to suit you. We can discuss this in our first meeting to create a bespoke service package designed specifically for you.

Some clients use my services for email management alone, while others prefer a combination of services put together. It’s completely up to you!

Yes, I work both remotely and on a 1:1 basis, either at your business or home, depending on your needs.

I can also create a combination of both approaches to suit your way of working.

My priority is to design a service that works best for you and your requirements.

I am based in the Midlands, specifically between Swadlincote and Ashby-de-la-Zouch, so most of my clients are currently in this area.

I am happy to travel wherever I’m needed, though travel expenses outside of my local area may apply.

Ultimately, my goal is to take my business on the road, supporting clients one-to-one wherever they are, bringing my services directly to you.

A contract ensures our working relationship starts on a solid foundation. It outlines your requirements as discussed in our initial meeting, along with important details on confidentiality, data protection, and notice periods.

The contract also clearly maps out what you are paying for, whether that’s time, specific tasks, or a combination of both, and any applicable expenses, ensuring full transparency.

It’s important to me that our working relationship begins the way it means to continue, providing clarity and peace of mind for both of us. I always require a contract before starting with a new client.

I provide a detailed timesheet with every client invoice, showing the work I’ve carried out.

My approach is to be as transparent as possible. I aim to deliver value for money and complete tasks efficiently, so it’s important that I can demonstrate the work done.

If the contract relates to a specific task, such as data entry, I provide regular progress updates, with additional details included in the timesheet when invoicing.

Examples of timesheets are available so you can decide what level of detail works best for you. If you prefer a different method of tracking work, I’m happy to discuss and adapt to your needs.

I think this is an important question.

My strengths come from over 20 years of administration experience (see my answer to “What is your previous experience?” or my blog post “How many hats do you wear in a single day?”). Another strength I value highly is knowing my own limitations—something I see as a positive personality trait and a mark of integrity.

I’m not mentioning this to put you off; rather, it shows the honesty at the heart of my business. Over the years, I’ve seen companies and individuals promise services they cannot fully deliver, just to win a client or contract. I operate differently.

While I haven’t encountered anything I wouldn’t ‘give a go,’ everyone has areas where they may not be fully confident or experienced. I can guarantee that the services I offer are delivered to the best of my ability. If a task falls outside my expertise, I will always be open and honest with you, and we’ll discuss the best options.

This may include:

• Investing in training to develop my skills in that area (I love to learn!)
• Finding someone more qualified if necessary

My priority is to fulfil your needs to the highest standard—even if that means sometimes saying “no” to ensure the right outcome

I usually charge hourly, though this can be adjusted depending on your specific needs or the type of project. My current rates typically range from £26.50 to £30.00 per hour, depending on the work required. All fees and any expenses are agreed in advance for complete transparency.

To keep contracts current and avoid renegotiation each year, my contracts include an annual price increase of 2%, effective on the first Monday after the start of the new tax year. This ensures continuity while keeping any increase gradual and manageable.

Yes. My services are designed to be flexible, and we can adjust, pause, or cancel arrangements with notice as outlined in our contract.

Should services vary significantly I will draw up a new contract so full transparency is maintained.

I work with a variety of tools including Microsoft 365, SAGE, Xero, Excel, Outlook, and other office and accounting software.

I’m also a quick learner and can easily adapt to new systems, so I can work with whatever tools suit your business best.

Confidentiality and data protection are a priority. I follow GDPR best practices and include confidentiality clauses in every contract.

I plan ahead to avoid interruptions, but if I am unavailable, I’ll communicate promptly and ensure continuity or rescheduling where needed.

Both. I can provide one-off services for specific tasks or projects, as well as ongoing support, depending on your needs.

I communicate via email, phone, Whats App, Zoom/Teams, or in-person, depending on what works best for you. Regular updates are provided to keep you informed in the format that suits you.

If I am with clients and unavailable, I will get touch as soon as I can.

Generally, I don’t provide training on software or systems unless I have personally created the workflow or system. In those cases, I can offer guidance and support tailored to how I’ve set it up.

I work standard business hours but can be flexible to suit your needs, including options for early mornings, evenings, or weekends to meet specific project deadlines.