Learning and Collaboration Day 2026

We were delighted to see many of our Alumni back on Friday 16 October 2026 for our annual Learning and Collaboration Day! And, what a day we had! With topics on the agenda such as Strategic Wellbeing Tools for EAs, Psychological Safety, and Building Confidence - Conquering Self Doubt, we had a remarkable discussion with plenty of networking. The icing on the cake was our external lunch at our favourite jaunt, Cafe Cotton! Thank you to those who attended for travelling far and wide to be with us (I think the student who travelled the furthest was from Bristol!) - and it really was wonderful to see new and ‘old’ faces.

The EA as an integral part of the management team

“I am an integral part of the management team,” wrote Adam Fidler, in his ‘Executive Assistant Manifesto: What I Am’ way back in 2016. We often debate, here in class, how many EAs actually would agree with that statement. Do you agree? Have we made progress over the last ten years? Says Adam Fidler, “It all depends on how companies perceive the role. The true Executive Assistant - and one which we define here - is as integral to the management team as anyone else around that table. You see, the true and proper EA role was never a secretarial role - but a management role. Hence, the role was someone who had equal standing, and even status, as any other direct report.” We’ll keep pushing for that recognition here at Adam Fidler Academy, but we’re pleased to see so many of our Alumni who do agree with that statement, and have taken steps to influence, take authority, act and be seen as a “manager”. You might want to read the EA Manifesto again - as those words define with precision the correct definition of an Executive Assistant!

Back by popular demand is our Level 5 Business Support Manager course! This revised two-day programme equips Senior Executive Assistants with the business insight needed to operate as strategic and operational managers, and become credible leaders. For more details, see our courses page here.

Enrolling now for the Autumn!

Do you want to future-proof your role as an Executive Assistant? Do you want to get qualified? How about a vision of graduating, formally, with a high-level accreditation? We have plenty of courses available, from a one-day ‘skills course’ to a two-day programme. Or, our longer qualification routes take as little as six days’ duration. You, too, can join the thousands of EAs and PAs who have been trained and educated by us! We’re enrolling now for Autumn dates, and you can see more here!

The Future Executive Assistant - a new one-day course

There’s so much online about the role of the Executive Assistant, and what the profession will become in advent of AI, technology and a modern commercial world. For a limited time only, Adam Fidler is offering a one-day workshop entitled ‘The Future Executive Assistant: Sustainability, Strategy and Social Value in the Executive Support Role’ which will cover all the essential reflections and considerations all EAs must consider if they are to future-proof their role. With elements of The Strategic Executive Assistant, references to the overly-used influence of Chief of Staff role, and academic modelling, this is a one-day not to be missed by any EA who takes their role seriously. As ever, Adam’s unrivalled perspectives - from his 20 year career as an EA - are profound, thought-provoking and applicable to your role now and onward progression. You can see more about this workshop, with dates, by clicking here.

Hays Workforce Trends and Salary Survey 2027

What challenges and opportunities are shaping the future of the PA, EA and Business Support workforce?

Hays is seeking views from employers and PA, EA and Business Support professionals as part of the Workforce Trends & Salary Survey 2027.

The survey explores key topics including talent shortages, salary movements, skills demand and changing workplace expectations. By taking part, you'll help build a clearer picture of the trends influencing the sector in the year ahead.

You can complete the survey and share your perspectives here.

Graduation Ceremony 2026

We were delighted to see our class of 2016 last Friday, 24 July! At our Graduation Ceremony we saw our qualification students presented with their formal awards, in recognition of their achievements. Additionally, we had speeches from three students, and were thrilled to present the accolades of Awards for Aspiration, and Student of the Year 2026. The event tops anything else in the ‘PA/EA training space’ and our students can wear a mortarboard, hood and gown based on them studying formal qualifications at Higher Education (Level 4 and above) level. Congratulations to all our Graduates!

The Strategic Executive Assistant - the original, and still the best

Did you know that Adam Fidler coined the term ‘Strategic’ in relation to Executive Assistants? Yes, back in early 2016, Adam wrote an article called ‘Why today’s EAs need to get more strategic’ and that paved the way for the view that Executive and Personal Assistants needed to expand their competencies and be more strategic in their roles. Our best-selling two-day course, The Strategic Executive Assistant, followed soon after the article and elevated the level and type of training available to EAs and PAs. Never before then had any other trainers’ work been so impactful on the EA profession. The rest, of course, is history! But, if you want to hear it from the horse’s mouth(!), and learn from the course and trainer that wrote the original concepts, you can enrol on our two-day course here. With fresh dates this Autumn and in 2027 in both London and Manchester, it’s the course that will revolutionise your EA role. Check out our testimonials if you don’t believe us… Don’t settle for second-best; come and see the originator!

Feature in PA Life Magazine - Summer 2026

We’re delighted to be featured in the summer edition of PA Life Magazine, on the advent of our Ten Year Anniversary. You can read the article here.

The cake!

At our recent ten year anniversary fuddle, the icing on the cake, was, in fact, the cake! We’re sure you agree: what could be more fitting than a typewriter cake!

Ten Year Fuddle!

A huge thank you to all those who attended our Ten Year Anniversary fuddle on Friday 1 May 2026, in Manchester! We were delighted to see you at the Academy. Many of you had travelled from far and wide - and what a great event it was!

Ten Years of Adam Fidler Academy!

Adam Fidler Academy celebrated its ten year anniversary on Friday 1 May 2026, and we were delighted to host former students, our Alumni and supports at our fuddle that evening. Here’s Adam Fidler, before the event. He says: “I cannot believe it’s been ten years! Since then, Adam Fidler Academy has trained thousands of EAs and PAs, not only at our Academy, but in-house in organisations, too. My only vision was to create a more academic and rigorous educational programme for Executive Assistants. Gaining professional status means gaining qualifications - and we’ve succeeded in that, over the last ten years!”

A testimonial all EAs should read!

This is some testimonial! We think it covers the essence and the philosophy of Adam Fidler Academy so well, we’re publishing it here so that more EAs can read it. The words are from one of our current Level 6 Diploma (degree equivalent) students,
Belinda Knott, who was already a highly-experienced C-Suite EA when she joined us for her studies. Here’s what Bel had to say on her LinkedIn post on 26 April 2026:

“Qualified, not just experienced!

Wednesday 22 April was Administrative Professionals Day. This week I have seen many EAs celebrating and advocating the importance of the role, emphasising that it's not just about diary management; that's it's about being more strategic and that's great to see, but do they really know what that means?

I believe that we need to talk about more than just recognition of the role on one day of the year; we need to talk about the importance of qualifications.

I’m currently finishing my Level 6 Business Diploma with Adam Fidler - a qualification equivalent to a degree. Alongside five incredible EAs I’ve learnt Strategic HR Management, Operations Management, Financial Decision Making, Leadership and Management, Sustainable Business Practices and we are now working on our Business Research Projects as our final assignments. That on top of the hours of study at Levels 3, 4 and 5 over the last several years.

Learnt. It’s a simple word, but it represents years of late nights, weekends of assignments and deep dives into business strategies and theories.

We can all go on quick webinars and EA courses with no qualification at the end. I’ve been on many where you’re "talked at" for hours and end up learning nothing. 'Death by PowerPoint' quick courses and webinars don't create strategic EAs. Many of these courses are led by people that are not qualified themselves, but are basing their knowledge on their own experience.

Real learning happens when you’re pushed by a qualified teacher to move from "Black Box" to "Red Box" thinking and more.

​In my journey with Adam, I’ve moved far beyond the basics. This isn't a quick online webinar, this goes deeper. Learning all the things we have helps us to really grow and this course has pushed us to become more; we aren't just part of the office operations; we are driving them.

I only know of six EAs that will have level 6 Business Diploma qualifications soon and we all will have worked really hard to get them. I wonder how many other EAs out there can say the same?

As Adam says 'confident, credible and qualified. That's an Adam Fidler EA'.

To my cohort: it’s been a tough few years, but standing with you in July together with graduates at other levels will be such an honour. We’ve earned this!”

The Times article (3 April 2026)

Our founder, Adam Fidler, is quoted in a superb article in The Times newspaper today, entitled “AI is no match for a great PA - it’s not too late to bring them back.” You can read the full article here!

Join our Alumni!

If you’ve completed a two-day course with us - such as Get Ahead as an Executive PA, or The Strategic Executive Assistant - or you’ve graduated with one of our Level 3, Level 4, Level 5 or Level 6 qualifications, then why not continue your CPD and networking by joining our Alumni? We have some exciting CPD sessions arranged for 2026/27! You can see more details, including how to join and the full 2026/27 programme of events here.

How EAs should be future-orientating their roles

You can read Adam Fidler’s latest article, ‘How Executive Assistants should be future-orientating their roles’ here. As usual, it’s an absolute must-read for every PA and EA! We hope you like it!

Every EA needs to be Level 4 qualified

The latest research into the future labour market* indicates that future roles will require a minimum of a Level 4 qualification. A Level 4 qualification is equivalent to the first year of a degree or a HNC. That’s because a ‘higher education’ level (which starts at Level 4) you learn those higher order skills such as critical thinking, evaluation and analysis. Adam Fidler’s been stating this for years - but now that AI is upon us, it’s even more important that EAs and PAs uplift their educational repertoire to have the confidence to demonstrate those new skills. Pictured here are a recent Level 4 cohort who are all undertaking their Level 4 Certificate in Business and Admin Management. They get the importance of a Level 4 qualification in business… but, do you? (*Source: World Economic Forum 2025; Skills England 2025; Government Skills White Paper 2025.)

Events 2026!

Happy New Year, everyone! We have some superb events lined up for you in 2026, including our Ten Year Anniversary Party, our Graduation Ceremony, and our annual Learning and Collaboration Day. They’re all scheduled in our diary - but are the scheduled in yours? For more information, see our events page!

Happy Christmas!

As we head towards the Christmas break, we would like to wish all our students, alumni, clients and followers a very Happy Christmas! It’s been another wonderful calendar year, this year, and we look forward to seeing more EAs and PAs take their professional status even higher in 2026! We hope you enjoy the festive holiday!

New course: the Executive Assistant Defined

An Executive Assistant is an integral part of the management team. But, to be operate that way, and be taken seriously, the EA needs to define their role properly, including avoiding secretarial and ‘admin’ descriptors, and elevating the role into professional business support. Our brand new three-hour workshop, hosted by master-trainer and coach, Adam Fidler, is a great way for EAs and PAs to really consider how they define their role, how they articulate it - and how they behave. “You're not just called an Executive Assistant because you support an Executive,” says Adam Fidler. That theme has resonated with thousands of PAs and EAs worldwide, and formed the basis of one of Adam’s most recent popular articles. If that’s understood, then EAs need support in being more Executive and developing a mindset beyond ‘admin’ and ‘Executive PA’. For more details of how you can change your mindset about your role, and receive the recognition you’ve always wanted at work, see the course outline on our short courses page here.