Jargon-free and Shiny Guidance, Training and Support

You probably don’t know me and so you won’t be sure if I really can help or if you’d like to work with me…

Start with my Jargon-free and Shiny Facebook Group – see what I post or post your questions. I guarantee there’ll be no judgement and you will find a community of supportive business owners just like you, including having a lot of the same problems.

What about compliance and tech for Virtual Assistants?

My approach to compliance and tech-related issues is all about simplifying and making things clear, practical, and stress-free. You and your clients don’t need expensive systems, software and time-consuming procedures to get things right. It’s better to have simple steps, baked-in processes and an understanding of how to meet the requirements of the regulations without taking up lots of time, money and resources. Jargon-free and Shiny Guidance and Support – that meets your business’s needs.

• You can get answers to your GDPR and compliance-related questions.
• You can ask about the various online tools you use to improve compliance and effectiveness – I love a good shiny problem!
• You won’t need to study the legislation(!).
• You will have access to guidance and training designed for VAs who want to offer professional admin support to UK-based owner-run small businesses.
• You can have accessible support in the format that best suits you and your business.

How’s your client service level, and does it include GDPR or compliance-related admin work?

The marketplace is filled with virtual assistants offering services (often of a similar type). The crucial difference will always be the quality of customer service and your way of delivering it. The professional VAs I’ve met always want to provide what their clients need to make their businesses run smoothly. They often struggle to say no to handling some tasks that either don’t fall within their service offering or experience. GDPR-related admin tasks or marketing tasks that aren’t compliant with current laws seem to be common requests from clients.

There are several issues with such requests but underlying them all is a lack of understanding of how to include such services as part of your VA services portfolio in a safe, effective and profitable way. My solution to this is my Step-by-Step for VAs membership and Toolkit.

I will be launching the first cohort soon. The number will always remain small for each cohort so that I can provide the right amount of support for each person to gain the confidence to handle everyday matters without me. Another reason for having a community group is to foster collaborations and connections between members because who wouldn’t want that?

The support continues for members to ensure you don’t lose your safety net, especially when unfamiliar situations arise, which they most definitely will!

How do you feel about GDPR, your business, and your clients’ businesses?

• Do you struggle to find time to stay up to date with new systems, changes to rules, and, the latest trends?
• Do you worry about your own business’s GDPR and compliance responsibilities and how to meet them, let alone those of your clients?
• Do you know what the basic requirements are? Do you think about GDPR at all or could there be some ostrich behaviour going on?

I’m guessing at least one of these questions gave you pause for thought. Oh, and don’t feel embarrassed, you are not alone.

Of course, if you handle GDPR-related work for your clients that involves handling any personal data on their behalf, you are a Data Processor on their behalf and they should have a Data Processing Agreement in place between your businesses… Have they/you? Do you know why you must have one and why?

More than half of small UK businesses are not compliant according to various online sources. They are at risk!

FACT: It isn’t the possibility or even the potential size of the fines that are the real cost of being reported and found to be at fault. The terrible damage to your brand and your business’s reputation is the biggest risk. As a VA handling GDPR-related work on behalf of your clients incorrectly, that also includes their businesses.

If you’d like to have some knowledgeable and supportive backup, I can help.

Calling Small Business Owners who have a VA that handles GDPR or compliance-related work on your behalf (or you are considering it)

This is the other side of the coin. If the above also resonates with you, as the business owner, you are the Data Controller who is accountable for GDPR compliance in the handling of personal data. In a nutshell, you carry the can. The plus side is you don’t have to do the day-to-day admin work to be compliant, you can have a VA to do this.

All decision-making and oversight still rests with you but your VA can lift the burden of the tasks with proper support as a member of my Step-by-Step for VAs Small Business Owner Edition.

BENEFITS of being a Small Business Owner Edition member – your business’s VA now has specialist support PLUS you have access to training, including essential annual Basic GDPR training and Masterclasses and Workshops (normally paid-for) as well as the option to join in the community and any 1-2-1 sessions booked. This gives you direct input into the setting up, amending and continuing maintenance of your business compliance.

You can see the details of what’s included and the cost of this for your business. N.B. Each Step-by-Step for VAs Small Business Owner Edition covers one business and VA. If a variation of this or a transfer to a different VA (if you change VAs) is required, I am happy to discuss this.

Free Help

Indeed, I do mean free. As a Data Controller, which you are if it’s your business and you keep personal information in any sort of filing system, you are required to be aware of changes to regulations. My Small Business Updates News & Tips can help with that. I pull together important changes into an easy-to-read (short and sweet) email that is usually sent out once a month. But, if something major comes up that you should know about for your business I make sure you are kept in the loop.

If you want to talk to me to explore what will help you the most, you can book a Free 20-minute Introductory Call with me and we’ll get to the bottom of your problem together.

Join my Jargon-free and Shiny Facebook group, ask questions, get answers and share great ideas with fellow business owners in a safe forum. See how others have tried and tested solutions that could work for you. I’m there to throw in guidance on the requirements of regulations and legislation to point you in the right direction. The Group is full of helpful nuggets of practical information, micro-training and (best of all) a community of business owners just like you!

Paid Services and Programmes

My paid services are for those times (and people) who want more in-depth specific help. I have a growing library of materials to help you get and keep your GDPR and compliance responsibilities understood and under control. My training products and programmes range from:

• Micro-trainings for bite-sized information and quick answers.
• Workshops, and Masterclasses for more in-depth live and recorded sessions.
• Basics of the UK GDPR annual training course to fulfil the requirement for basic understanding as per the UK GDPR.
• Step-by-Step for VAs membership with Toolkit  – see below for upcoming availability!
• 1-2-1 services to help you solve specific in-depth problems.

My courses and services are always improving, with new material being added regularly.  I love to create new products that are needed. If you are a member of my group or programme, or you use my website you can let me know what would serve you best via the LiveChat or Group.

Step-by-Step for VAs Membership* includes everything you need to put the right GDPR admin documents and systems in place in your business and your client’s business. Easily!Coming  in 2024

Designed for VAs & Small Business Owners who have a VA

*If you are a UK-based professional VA who works with owner-run small businesses and you are asked to handle GDPR or compliance-related admin by your clients or you already (sort of) do then you need to get it right.

If you don’t you risk leaving yourself and your clients wide open to being non-compliant. This means you could be facing major brand damage and loss of client trust if things go wrong. 

The Membership is a combination of online resources and live implementation support plus licencing to allow you to use the templates and other materials with multiple clients!

You can choose to go fully D.I.Y using video tutorials, lots of help and examples with easy drop-down lists to choose from to adapt to fit your business. Or, if you want some support, a place to ask questions or monthly live implementation support sessions. Or you can go full-on with 1-2-1 sessions (discounts and block booking packages available for members). Get the essentials for your business and your clients’ businesses customised and in place.

Subscribe to my SBU News & Tips emails to get early access to the details of my Step-by-Step for VAs Membership!!

P.A.Y.G 1-2-1 services

Take a look here at the types of 1-2-1 services I offer.

Get in touch using online LiveChat. I can help you so you can concentrate on your business!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

I do not offer legal advice and I will always tell you if that is what you need rather than let you take risks. You should also be aware that products, including my Step-by-Step templates and materials, are built using Microsoft Word, Excel and PDFs (mostly). At this point, I do not offer other file types, although I will be looking into that in the future. My advice is relevant and tailored to VAs and their clients who are comfortable with their UK GDPR responsibility, even if they aren’t certain how to build it into their business – that’s my real area of expertise. The fit is everything!