Client Testimonials
“She doesn’t just complete tasks, she brings structure, clarity and momentum. I have more head space, more focus and far less of that constant feeling of juggling everything alone.”
Rachel Jannaway
“I can honestly say that having Jess in our business and my PA for almost 2.5 years providing her exceptional support has transformed not only my productivity - but the enhancements to our Business Support services and broader departments is partly because of Jess. The positive, productive and well connected network of 'fixers' and experts that you (Jess) are connected to continues to blow my mind and enhance our work. I cannot recommend Virtual Colleagues enough.”
Michael Johnson-Ellis
CEO & Co-Founder - My Surrogacy Journey
“I can vouch for how adaptable, efficient and pro active she is”
Having worked personally with Jess for the last couple of years I can vouch for how adaptable, efficient and pro active she is.
So I can only imagine the rest of her team are just as amazing.
Amy Martin
Director of Brand & Marketing - My Surrogacy Journey
“Working with you and your team Jess was one of the best decisions we've made. If anyone is reading this and wants an honest chat about what a VA can do for your business and what Working with The Virtual Colleagues is like message me and I'll happily tell you our experience.”
Sarah Mols
Director - Mastermind 9
“What I can say is look no further. Connect with Jess now. She won’t let you down, she’s loyal, adaptable, flexible and has a massive ‘can do’ attitude. “
“I have worked with Jess for the last 2.5 years - what I can say is look no further. Connect with Jess now. She won’t let you down, she’s loyal, adaptable, flexible and has a massive “can do” attitude.
Our loss will be your gain but we completely support Jess’s desire to build on her own business!
Jess’s biggest asset is her connection to your business objectives and goals. Her cheerful disposition, positive attitude and her solutions orientated approach make her a very valuable addition to any team.
Teamed with her knowledge of systems, curious mind and ability to solve problems, she can make a real difference.
That’s it - in a nut shell! Enough said! Don’t hesitate to reach out to Jess.”
Mary Tatlow
Global Operations Director - My Surrogacy Journey
“I just want to start by saying - it’s working really well. Across the board, my team is happy with how things are getting done. There’s a noticeable shift in how supported I feel day-to-day. Tasks are being handled, follow-ups are happening, and I finally feel like someone is truly owning the role.
Even this morning, one of my team members just said, ‘I love our new assistant!’ That says it all. For the first time in a long while, I feel lighter - like I can actually focus on growing the business instead of managing every detail myself.
Jess matched us perfectly. She really understood what I needed and delivered someone who just gets it. The Virtual Colleagues has made a real difference, and I couldn’t be more delighted.”
Pete Mols
CEO & Founder - Mastermind 9
“My children are also grateful they have their Dad back too! You rock, Jess.”
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Jess since January 2023, when I advertised for a PA to help manage my diary with the objective to improve my effectiveness so I can focus more on strategy.
Me and my husband manage a number of non-profits and businesses in the fertility and events space, the variety and the relentless pace of our work is far from dull and isn’t suited to everyone In fact, I delayed hiring for three years as I had convinced myself that I wouldn’t find anyone that would be able to organise my schedule at work and improve my balance of family life, as I have two small children who when Jess joined weren’t seeing me at my best. Jess has transformed our business support functions with her creative talent and extensive PA/EA experience. Her ability to find solutions to problems I’m not even yet aware of is one of the reasons why I’m proud to have her on our team. My children are also grateful they have their Dad back too! You rock, Jess.”
Michael Johnson-Ellis
CEO & Founder - My Surrogacy Journey
'Jess offers a comprehensive level of support to all areas of business and project management. She is a breathe of fresh air who somehow just gets what you need and commits to making that possible. Having her support in the growth of our charitable company has and confines to be both reassuring and valuable to our success.”
Kay King
Head of Strategy - My Surrogacy Journey
“Working with Jess has been a breath of fresh air. She’s positive, organised, and able to think and perform over and above what is expected of her.”
“Working with Jess has been a breath of fresh air. She’s positive, organised, and able to think and perform over and above what is expected of her. She shows great skills in managing timescales and people. As well as being efficient as what she does, she’s always thinking of others. Never forgetting to check in on how people are and offering her support.
Jess always has a smile on her face, is always upbeat and is a pleasure to work with. “
Amy Martin
Director of Brand and Marketing - My Surrogacy Journey
“Not sure where we’d be without you”
“Not sure where we’d be without you. Virtual Colleagues is such a good idea but even better is you, your team, and your approach to business. Inspiring. Keep going Girl!”
Paul Clutton
CEO & Founder - “Tomorrow” - The IFA Broker
“Whatever I throw at her, she doesn't just do it, she comes back with something way better than I asked for. ”
My final shoutout of the year goes to my wonderful VA, Nikki Downs.
She's an absolute legend. Whatever I throw at her, she doesn't just do it, she comes back with something way better than I asked for. She recently took my clunky back-end delivery (get your minds out of the gutter!) and turned it into a super-slick operation that relieves so much pressure on me. Seriously, she adjusted the whole delivery structure to work like magic. Nikki, you're the best, and I hope this puts a smile on your face!
Dave Plunkett
CEO & Founder - Collaboration Junkie
I just want to say thank you, properly…..
Your support this year has meant the world.
You understand how my brain works; you know when to say the right thing and your always honest with me about what’s working and what isn’t - for both of us - and I value that hugely.
You have made me feel seen and understood.
Perhaps for the first time with working with ANYONE in AS I really feel like I am not on my own because you just really get it – both me and my business and I truly feel that loyalty value that you show me.
Sarah Hunnable
CEO & Founder - Absolute Stitches
“The team have become friends as well as being a great support. Thank you”
“I have been using The Virtual Colleagues services for over a year now and it has helped me keep on track with monthly tasks that were previously slipping whenever I got busy. The team have become friends as well as being a great support. Thank you”
Nikki Shield
CEO & Founder - Designs Like These
“But she is more than a VA. She is a strategic partner in the growth of my business.”
“I’ve been working with Jess for around four months and the difference she has made to me and my business is immeasurable.
Jess is proactive, professional and delivers a fantastic service. But she is more than a VA. She is a strategic partner in the growth of my business.
She doesn’t just complete tasks, she brings structure, clarity and momentum. I have more head space, more focus and far less of that constant feeling of juggling everything alone.
Working with Jess has strengthened both how my business runs and how I lead it.”
Rachel Jannaway
CEO & Founder - Jannaways
Hi there. I'm Dave. I'm the founder of Collaboration Junkie, a consultancy, brand helping people, referrals and partnerships, and like many solo small business owners, consultants. I'm pretty good at what I do, but I can be quite haphazard about it sometimes and I'm not always great at delegating or even figuring out what I should be offloading. And sometimes I'm good at processes, writing processes, and I'm probably pretty bad at sticking to them in my own business, not those of my clients. And you know what? That's where a really good VA comes in. And Jess and the virtual colleagues absolutely fit that boat. I've worked directly with Jess when I first started work with her, and she's amazing. What I think her real skill set lies, though, is being able to match the perfect other VA to you and what you need.
When I started working with Nikki, it was just immediate, from the first call, the interview call, as you will, just how much of a match there was. And that isn't only a match in skills that I needed, it was also a match in personality type and what I was and what I need to manage me. And since then, have not looked back. I really enjoy working with Nikki. I really enjoy the fact that there is stuff that I can just hand over and I know it's going to get done better than when I did it. I love that she's proactive and actually takes it upon herself to not just do what's asked, but do what's asked and make improvements on that. And so it's just a wonderful experience. And that only comes from Jess's ability to match the right VA to the right client.
So if you're. If you've not had a VA before, but thinking that you might need some support or wonder what it should look like, you should absolutely do it. But you need to speak to the right people. And Jess and the virtual colleagues are certainly that. If you've had a bad experience of a VA before, then don't let that kind of judge everyone. Speak to Jess honestly. The impact it's had on my business has been spectacular.
I am the managing partner for the Lion Associates, Jess has worked with us as a consultant at The Lion Associates on several occasions, the last term was over the period 2021 / 2022.
Her role over this period was as a digital project manager, relating to the implementation of a new CRM, Marketing Automation platform for a business in the retirement sector.
This particular project involved quite a complex implementation, Jess was overseeing the integration and training of a team that had little experience of the digital age, her sensitivities to the situation, patience and communication capabilities made her a very popular project manager with the client team.
We always enjoy working with Jess, she is a very flexible and skilled manager, demonstrating high levels of proficiency working both independently and client side, Jess is very focused on delivery. Her level of competency in managing people is exceptional.
Jess has a set of skills that has been used to great effect over many of our client projects she is a positive, personable individual, who is popular with clients, self-motivated, responsible and quick thinking, she is happy to undertake projects at a high level and is extremely professional in her approach.
I would have no hesitation in recommending Jess, she is extremely likeable, has a genuine flair and interest for business at many levels.
Alison Lidderdale - Lion Associates
I am Paul Clutton, Managing Director of Business Brokering Solutions Ltd, with the trading style Tomorrow - the IFA broker..
At the time the business was gathering momentum and market presence however lacked structure, marketing direction, cohesive branding, and importantly robust internal processes and systems. In other words, I was making sales in a growing market but creating a mess around me.
Jess provided every facet I could have asked for and more. She took control of all aspects as if it were her own business and put in place structure - a website was created, a database of 9,000 contacts was created listing every IFA firm in the country, vendor files were created so storing confidential data, T&Cs were polished, IIR documents created with structure. Sales Memorandums were drafted for every vendor firm following a standard in-house style. Branding and marketing was addressed such that all documents internally and externally followed a consistent image and message.
Tomorrow is now one of the leading IFA brokerages with a £multi turnover and that it in no small part because of Jess.
At the time my focus was just upon developing the business and heaped responsibility and tasks onto her shoulders. Never once did she fail or let me down. Never once did I doubt her ability and commitment to deliver.
Would I recommend her? - in a heartbeat.
She has spirit, a can-do demeanour, professionalism and tenacity. Frankly she has it all and deserves to do well.
So, whatever you are looking for her to do, she will. And it'll be done well and on time. You'll not find another like her.
I'm now in the Autumn years of my career and employed dozens of PAs, administrators etc - none are as good as Jess. Not one came close.
“From day one, Jess took the time to really get under the hood of my business; its nuances, its challenges, its opportunities, and understood what I’m trying to accomplish. “
“Jess has opened my eyes to what I’d forgotten was possible.
Before working with her, my biggest challenge, like many, was not only trying to do everything myself, but knowing what to outsource, when to do it and how to go about it.
What is fabulous is that Jess has a magic list of every possible thing you might want to outsource. Things I didn’t even know I wanted, but that I definitely needed. From day one, Jess took the time to really get under the hood of my business; its nuances, its challenges, its opportunities, and understood what I’m trying to accomplish.
I’m someone who has a lot of ideas bouncing around, which can be difficult for others to navigate. Jess took the eclectic array of thoughts in her stride and has massively helped me streamline priorities and put important processes & tools in place to help us run more efficiently and begin to look at scaling.
In just a few months, together we’ve implemented a new CRM, set up a project management system, launched a podcast, started recruiting and conducted research into a number of different areas.
If you know you need support, but don’t know what that looks like, Jess will help you define what’s best for you right now and will make it easy for you to hand over more and more as you move forward.
Jess is an irreplaceable extension of me and my brain.”
James Quayle
Signal Shift