Part-funded Level 3 and Level 4 courses for 2021

We’re delighted to announce that we have a number of part-funded courses, at Level 3 and Level 4, available in 2021. This means learners who are self-funding or eligible due to their previous education attainment, can receive exceptional value for money with some of our most popular programmes, such as Level 3 Get Ahead as an Executive PA, Level 4 The Strategic Executive Assistant - as well as our qualification programmes. Terms and conditions apply - but to learn more, please email us at: tracy@adamfidler.academy

Course dates for 2021 announced

We are delighted to announce our course dates for 2021, including the popular public courses, ‘Level 3 Get Ahead as an Executive PA’ and ‘Level 4 The Strategic Executive Assistant’. To see the full list of our programme dates for January to July 2021, click here. We also have some exciting new events listed for 2021, such as our EA online masterclass series, with Adam Fidler, which starts on 27 January 2021.

Happy Christmas!

Our students were celebrating on Friday 11 December during lunch-time with our Christmas fuddle, to mark the end of term and our last qualification group before the Christmas break. With champagne, chocolates and a cake (or two!) brought in our students, we raised our glasses to 2021, and hoped it would be a better year! Thank you to all our talented EA students who have continued to attend classes, face-to-face, in 2020, even during lockdown…. yes, we were allowed to open and have successfully been seeing students in person since the end of June 2020. Here’s to 2021!

The impact of education on real-life EAs in the workplace

It's always a pleasure to see our students' success stories. In the last few months, even in the current uncertain labour market, we have seen many of our EA students be promoted or get new jobs. Here is a summary of a few case studies of EAs that we've educated, and that we are incredibly proud of:

• Two EAs promoted to Business Support Manager, in recognition of their increased responsibilities;

• One EA got a salary increment, which she was told was very, very rare - not only due to the pandemic, but also due to her grade in the firm;

• One EA secured a new job (in lockdown) as EA in a major blue-chip organisation;

• One EA secured a new job (in lockdown) as EA to CEO of a blue-chip financial services firm;

• One Senior EA is redefining her role as Business Support Manager, and employing an Assistant to support her;

• One PA has been promoted two grades higher than her current role, even though she was discouraged from applying;

• One EA has become Senior EA with a total redefinition of her job scope, and is also recruiting a junior PA to relieve her of the routine aspects of the job.

We are delighted for our current and former students above (you know who you are!) and it just goes to show how valuable professional education and qualifications can be on the progress and recognition of the EA.

You can't beat talk and chalk!

We are still getting enquiries from new and existing students asking: “Are you open?” The answer is yes! We are, and classes run here face-to-face, and have done so since March this year, even throughout the lockdown restrictions. The latest Government advice clearly states that schools and colleges can remain open, and travel is allowed for educational purposes. Even in the Tier 3 lockdown, this was the case too. While ever we can teach, face to face, we will do so! Online learning is always our last resort - because you can never beat ‘talk and chalk’. The interaction between students, peer learning, socialising (albeit with social distancing!) and the coaching-style of delivery in our groups - not to mention the personal touch - will never be replicated by online learning. We are grateful to all our students who make the effort to attend… it’s always great to see you in person!

Finance doesn't have to be boring!

Finance for Executive Assistants is one of our most popular units on our EA Diploma programme. Gosh, that might surprise you! After undertaking this two-day Unit, our EAs are no longer baffled by the balance sheet, or perplexed by the profit and loss account! The image here shows students from 14-15 October 2020 who attended their classes face-to-face in our Manchester training studio. What a superb group they were! You see, finance doesn’t have to be boring! For more details of our Level 3 Finance course, click here.

Performance Management for Line Managers - new one day programme!

In the modern commercial world, it’s highly common that business support professionals, such as Executive Assistants, Personal Assistants and Office Managers, are now Line Managers. In fact, it’s highly likely that if you are going to extend your responsibility and breadth of your role, one day you’ll be asked to line manage a member of staff such as an Administrator or Junior EA.

Our brand new course, Level 4 Performance Management for Line Managers, is designed to equip new and existing line managers with all the practical tools they need to performance manage and have difficult conversations; no easy task. Our inspirational one-day programme will help you become a better line manager. You can find out more about this course by clicking here.

The Executive Assistant Manifesto - your personal copy

We know Executive Assistants and Personal Assistants, the world over, love Adam Fidler’s Executive Assistant Manifesto - and that’s why it’s now had over 1.5 million views, worldwide! Now, even if you’ve not attended a training programme with us, you can purchase your own copy to display on your desk or use as screensaver. Click here for more details.

Learning & Collaboration Day - 25 September 2020

Our annual Learning & Collaboration Day took place last Friday, 25 September, at the ultra-trendy Whitworth Locke Hotel in Manchester. With current and former students from Bristol, Glasgow, Hertfordshire, Chester, Liverpool and Manchester, who says that you can’t travel during the lockdown restrictions? With plenty of social distancing, we really did socialise, and learn together! Our delegates thoroughly enjoyed their day which included topics such as 'Job Evaluation and Job Descriptions - From the HR Director’s Perspective’ and ‘Executive Assistant Types’ enabling our cohort to leave with the most up-to-date and fresh thinking on the true EA role. “A big thank you to all those who attended, especially those who came quite a way,” said Adam Fidler, “Zoom will never oust face-to-face learning and we proved that on Friday!”.

To survive, EAs need scholarship - not more soft-soaping and socialising

“To survive, EAs need scholarship - not more soft-soaping and socialising” says Adam Fidler.

The Coronavirus pandemic has put a spotlight on the role of the EA and PA, amongst others. In our latest piece of thought-leadership, Adam Fidler, shares tough love on why now, more than ever, EAs and PAs need to really reflect on their roles and undertake scholarly activity. You can read the article here.

Dates for your diary! Training Day and Alumni Event

We’re delighted to confirm the dates of two exclusive events this Autumn - not only for our students, but for any ambitious PA or EA that would like to join us! This year’s Collaboration and Learning Day takes place on Friday 25 September 2020 at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester. For those that missed last year’s event, then you’re in for a treat! Fresh and exciting content, superb speakers and a three-course meal… what more could you wish for! And, the night before (Thursday 24 September), we have our annual Alumni and Networking Event at the Whitworth Locke Hotel, Manchester - where we’ll celebrate the success of our EA students over champagne and a bite to eat. Everyone is welcome! For more details and to book, please see our events page.

Enrolling now for September!

We’re enrolling now for programmes starting in September 2020! Whether you’re looking or a two-day intensive course, or want to gain a formal qualification, we’re the first choice college for EAs and PAs of ambition! This September, you could be starting your Level 4 EA Diploma (our most comprehensive study programme) or our best-selling two-day The Strategic EA course… We have programmes to suit all levels and you can find out more on the courses page here.

For feedback from those who have studied with us, then our success stories and testimonials speak for themselves.

So, why not enrol for September and raise the bar as an Executive Assistant?

Back to class

This week (w/c 22 June 2020) we welcomed students back into the classroom, albeit with smaller group sizes and social distancing! What a delight it was to be back to integrating with our learners face-to-face! Maddie, one of our EA Diploma students commented: “The online learning experience via Zoom was good - but being back this week just showed me how much I’ve missed being in the classroom with other PAs, the interaction, and ability to talk to others in the lesson and during break-times”. We agree with Maddie, and state quite confidently that Zoom will never zap face-to-face learning! We’re looking forward to seeing new and returning students in classes throughout July and August… it’s so good to be back!

National Typewriter Day

Did you know there’s a National Typewriter Day? This week, on Tuesday 23 June, we saw the celebration of all things ‘typewriter’! The image above shows just a selection of the typewriters on display here at Adam Fidler Academy, which are often the talking point amongst students. Says Adam: “I learn touch-typing as a schoolboy, using a typewriter. It was one of the best skills I ever learnt!” There’s been a resurgence of interest in typewriters in recent years, due to their mechanical, ‘what you see is what you get’ functionality. The good old days! Who remembers using a typewriter? Who remembers their typing classes? We’ve certainly come a long way since the office used typewriters - but, is it all for the better?

Welcome back!

We’ve missed you - and we know that our PA/EA students have missed us! Our face-to-face classes resume in July, and we’ve also re-arranged new dates for our Autumn evening self-development and networking events.

Also, don’t forget that the Adam Fidler Academy Alumni and Networking event will now take place on Thursday 24 September 2020, the day before our annual Training Day. The Alumni is free to any current student of Adam Fidler Academy and non-students are also welcome - so do come along for a bite to eat over a glass of champagne at another brilliant venue in Manchester.

For the details of these events, and others, check out our events section here. We look forward to seeing you!

We're taking bookings!

We know that many of you have been enquiring about when our courses will be back and running, following the Covid-19 situation. We’ve missed you - and our learners have said how much they’ve missed us!

Well, following Government advice for schools and colleges, we hope to be running classroom based courses again from July 2020 (if not before) and we’re now taking bookings for all our programmes. You can see the latest course dates under the relevant course title under our courses section - or see our updated course dates here.

We are also actively enrolling for September 2020 intake for our Level 3, Level 4 and Executive Assistant Diploma qualifications - as well as our new Level 5 qualification.

You can’t beat face-to-face interaction, informal and friendly groups, and learning together. We look forward to seeing you on one of our programmes very soon!

Professional Master for Executive Assistants - new online learning programme

We’re delighted to announce the launch of a brand new online learning platform for Executive Assistants! The Professional Master for Executive Assistants is an online, certificated programme for EAs - where you can study in your own time and at your own pace! Adam Fidler Academy is the co-creator of this unique programme, alongside Företagsuniversitete, a top Swedish University. For more details about the programme and to enrol, please click here.

How the coronavirus lockdown will change the role of the Executive Assistant forever

If you’ve not seen our latest piece of thought-leadership, then it’s well worth a read!

This article, by Adam Fidler, discusses how the current situation will impact the role of the Executive Assistant in the long-term.

It’s received much attention, and comments, on social media and you can read it here.

NEW! Webinars for high-performing EAs with by Adam Fidler

Throughout May and June, Adam Fidler is offering EAs and PAs the chance to undertake some of his unrivalled learning and expertise on the EA role in a series of 1-hour webinars. At just £45.00 per webinar (plus VAT), these are an incredible way to hear Adam’s perspectives and practical ideas to make you a better EA. The next upcoming webinars can be found here.