There's still time to enrol on our Executive Assistant Diploma pathways at Level 3 or Level 4! We have new students starting with us in February, but flexible start dates are available so you can join us later on if you so wish! In as little as 12 months, you could be completing your full Level 3 or Level 4 qualification - making you confident, credible and qualified. Please enquire for more details.
Adam Fidler Academy Annual Review 2017 - Reflections and Raising the Bar
The last year has certainly been an exciting time for Adam Fidler Academy. We are delighted to share with you some of our highlights and achievements from 2017; which, in my view, has been perhaps one of the most interesting years for the EA and PA profession, both in the UK and internationally.
Through our doors at our contemporary premises in Manchester, UK, we’ve welcomed many Assistants, from the UK and abroad, on our most popular programmes, The Strategic Executive Assistant, and Get Ahead as an Executive PA, amongst others. I’ve also taught courses in London, and around the UK, including Cambridge, Skipton, Newcastle, Liverpool, Bristol, Leeds, Reading, Greenwich, Harrogate, Macclesfield, Chester, Newport and Sheffield. It’s always a huge pleasure to share our thorough knowledge, passion and understanding of what it takes to be an EA or PA in today’s commercial world with others – and to inspire Assistants to reach their full potential.
It’s interesting to note that we’ve also welcomed to our Manchester Academy students from France, Germany, Luxemburg, Dubai and Switzerland – as well as students from the UK. To have students travel so far to receive our teaching and learning is a wonderful testimony to the quality and relevance of our unrivalled course content.
My concepts of the ‘Strategic Executive Assistant’, analogies of the new role of the EA, and perspectives on how the role of the Assistant will change, have been shared by me at conferences and events all over the world. In fact, being known as a guru in the PA/EA field has taken me to places such as Barcelona, New York, Vienna, Amsterdam, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Bloemfontein (South Africa), Sun City (South Africa), Dublin, Belgium, Milan, Paris, and Cork (Ireland) – to name but a few – where the Secretaries, PAs and EAs that I meet continue to inspire me to give them the best learning and experience possible, whether that be a session for one hour, or for several days.
A key accolade this year was Adam Fidler Academy being appointed as the lead training provider to the Executive and Personal Assistants’ Association (EPAA). It’s a delight to work so closely with Victoria Darragh, EPAA’s Chief Executive, to raise the profile and status of the PA and EA role here in the UK.
In the background, as an international speaker and lecturer, I continue to raise the bar within the industry. Many of my concepts, such as EAs being more ‘strategic’, needing to be more credible, and operating as an integral part of the management team, are now being used more widely in the industry (and by my competitors, I might add!). But that was always the aim of mine – to re-define the role of the EA without defaulting to ‘secretarial’ language. I’ve proven that when we define the role of the EA in more managerial terms, then employers, Executives and those who have an Assistant respect the role more, and see its true value to the commercial world.
It’s surprising how many Assistants still say to me: ‘But there is nothing for me to learn about that would be the right level; I’m already a senior PA’ – and I smile and reply: ‘You’ve obviously never been to Adam Fidler Academy!’. For the content and teaching that we specialise in is not standard secretarial/PA practice. On the contrary, all our courses contain a strong element of business strategy, commercial acumen and management and leadership theory. I said we’d raise the bar, and that’s what we’ll continue to do next year as well.
And, talking of raising the bar, our Executive Assistant Manifesto™ really went down a storm this year – and it’s still doing the rounds, with over 65,000 views on social media to date.
When I wrote the EA Manifesto, I never expected it to be quite so well received; but it just goes to show that EAs and PAs the world over and crying out for a better opportunity to reshape their future jobs, exceed expectations and be recognised in their roles. Employers who don't want this will continue to lose the best EAs, for today’s EAs expect more – and want more. Gone are the days where the best Assistants are happy to become staid in their jobs. In return, naturally, employers expect more too. Reciprocity will become increasingly important as the role of EA/PA continues to grow.
For 2018, our specialised Executive Assistant Diploma pathways will really be at the forefront of any progressive EA/PA, who wants to build their confidence and credibility – and be qualified in what they do. I’ve made no secret about the need for Assistants to be ‘qualified’, if they are to ever get professional status.
It would be very remiss of me not to say a huge thank you to all the students, delegates and clients who have worked with us during 2017. You’ll never know how much you give back to me through your validation and belief in what we teach. I have a huge pile of testimonials in front of me, far too many to mention here; but that’s the evidence that our drive for higher-standards in the industry, coupled with practical and high-quality content, makes a difference… personally, professionally and globally.
We look forward to welcoming you to Adam Fidler Academy in 2018.
Best wishes
Adam Fidler
Principal and Founder
We're delighted to launch our new Executive Assistant Diploma programme for 2018! The Diploma programme is an accredited qualification for PAs, EAs and Admin Managers who want to gain a recognised qualification and profession status. Students attend our Academy in Manchester for a set number of days over a 12, 18 or 24 month period, and can choose the full Diploma or the Level 3 Executive Assistant or Level 4 Executive Assistant pathways. For more information, click here!
What a night! Adam Fidler Academy were delighted to sponsor the 'Above and Beyond' category at this year's Manchester PA of the Year Awards held at the Victoria Warehouse in Manchester on Thursday 2 November 2017. With over 650 people present, it surely was the largest night in the UK for recognising the work of PAs and EAs across the North West! For details about the Awards, click here.
Adam Fidler Academy, in partnership with World Class Service, are delighted to announce a new one-day programme 'Fantastic Front Line' for Receptionists and Front of House staff. Does your Front Line exude excellence in customer service? Does your Receptionist enhance your company's reputation by delighting every customer they greet? For the course outline, and dates, see 'other courses'.
If you want to undertake an IAM Level 3 or IAM Level 4 qualification, then enrolment is now open for courses starting in October th year, and January 2018. The IAM Level 3 and Level 4 are ideal qualifications for Secretaries, PAs and EAs who want a formal qualification under their belt. Students need only attend 8 days at the Academy over the year; the rest of the course is undertaken through tutor-led self-study. For more details, see the 'courses' drop down. Please contact us with any queries about enrolment and payment options.
For a good summary of the perspective of the new Executive Assistant, see the profile written on Adam Fidler in PA Life Magazine, February 2017. The PDF of the article is available below.
Adam Fidler's most popular articles, on his perspective of the EA and PA role, are available by clicking on the links below.
Why Today's EAs Need To Get More Strategic
The EA Manifesto has taken the Assistant industry by storm - at home and abroad! To date, we've had over 65,000 views of this definition of the true Executive Assistant role from people in the role. For those who haven't seen it, the 'EA Manifesto - What I Am' is written below.
The Executive Assistant - What I Am...
“I’m a neutral, and independent advisor to my Executive, who enables the day-to-day management routines that enhance the effectiveness of my boss, and the organisation as a whole. I operate as a business manager in my own right – and I am an integral part of the management team. Moreover, I strive to demonstrate leadership qualities and align my behaviours to this goal accordingly. I am not a business partner as I sit in the core of the business; and I am not an optional extra – my role is mandatory to the success of my Executive. I work in the space of management, allowing my boss to focus on the bigger aspects of leadership.”
(c) Adam Fidler, 2016
This is the conversation of the year! If you're a PA or EA, then this is the event you simply cannot miss! Join Adam Fidler at this EPAA Industry Event on 23 October 2017 at 1800 hrs in London for a highly important and relevant evening, discussing candidly and frankly the current positioning of the UK EA/PA profession and what the future is really going to look like! For further details, and to attend, click here.
Adam Fidler Academy were delighted sponsor this year's 'Rising Star Award' at the prestigious Yorkshire PA of the Year Awards ceremony, which took place in Leeds on 22 June 2017. It was certainly a night to remember! Adam Fidler is shown here with Marion Lawrence (The PA Hub), Tanya Arnold (BBC Presenter, who was MC for the night) and Jon Lawrence (The PA Hub). Click here for more information.
Adam was delighted to sharing his unrivalled PA knowledge with delegates recently at his 2-day masterclass 'From Good to Outstanding' on 28-29 March 2017 for CBM Training Pty. CBM have been offering Adam's course in South Africa since 2013 and it's always a best seller!
Develop a Managerial Mindset with Adam Fidler at the Conference & Hospitality Show, PA Stage, at the First Direct Arena on 4 April. A session not to be missed!
In his usual inspiring and thought-provoking style, Adam Fidler shares his perspectives on the new role of the Personal and Executive Assistant, and why job holders will need to foster a managerial mindset if they are to stay ahead of the game and meet the demands of today’s Executives and business organisations. He argues why a shift in working style for both leaders and their assistants is crucial if both parties are to work effectively. Littered with examples from his personal career history, Adam encourages PAs/EAs to ‘step up’ and take charge of their professional development.
