What is agile working?

These days, you don’t necessarily need to sit a team of full-time employees in your office between 9am and 5pm to run – and grow – your organisation. 

Agile working empowers your staff to work where, when and how they choose, with maximum flexibility and minimal constraints. It uses technology to enable people to work without being limited by where they live, or whether they can work a standard working day; it’s based on the concept that work is an activity we do, rather than a place we go!  

Opening up your operations to agile working can feel daunting, but when implemented correctly, it really can bring out the best in your team and help them deliver a world-class service to your customers. In fact, agile working has been proven to reduce costs, increase business productivity and complement your company’s commitment to a greener, more sustainable way of doing business.  

What do VAs do?

Virtual assistants – otherwise known as VAs – are the ultimate ‘agile workers’. From handling basic admin to running full-blown marketing campaigns on your behalf, these highly capable and incredibly versatile business support specialists can take on all the work that you and your staff don’t want to do, without taking up desk space in your own HQ. 

Why do I need a VA? 

If you find yourself constantly spinning plates and playing catch-up, you need to start outsourcing some of your everyday tasks to somebody else. Somebody like your very own VA. You need to do this in order to free up your time so you can focus on the things that bring you joy and generate more revenue – not the things that weigh you down and distract you from pushing your business forwards. 

What are the benefits of hiring a VA instead of a full-time member of staff? 

Well, hiring a VA is a much more flexible option than bringing somebody in-house. Full-time employees need training, they need equipment, and they need to pay for themselves several times over to really bring value into your business – but working with a VA is a totally different experience. 

After you have put them through a simple onboarding procedure, your virtual assistant will be able to slot into your existing processes quickly and easily. He or she will purchase and look after all the basic technology they need to do the job – so unless you need to give them access to specialist software, you won’t need to worry about supplying computers, laptops, phones and all the other expensive tools you would otherwise need to buy for a new starter. 

A VA will look after their own tax affairs and billing procedures, so you don’t need to worry about adding them to your PAYE system. They will manage their own holidays and sick days, and if they are not able to work for any reason, they will make sure another assistant is able to step in where needed and complete the job on time. Additionally, you can give a VA as much or as little work as you like. If business is slow, you can contract them for as little as an hour a month; if things are picking up and you need more help, you can increase their retainer as you need to. 

Is now the right time for me to hire a VA? 

Most businesses will benefit from hiring a VA at any point in their development. However, it’s important to work out how this kind of agile worker can bring the most value into your current setup.

Before engaging a virtual assistant, you need to have a clear idea of the tasks you want to outsource to them. Keep track of every repetitive job you do each day, week or month, so you can work out what’s really eating into your time. Bring this information to your initial consultation, and the team here at Cue Virtue will help you put together an outsourcing plan that will enable you to focus on growing your business, increasing your revenue, and achieving that all-important work/life balance. 

How much will a VA cost?

Less than you think! You can take a look at our retainer prices and hourly rates here.

How do you charge?

It depends on the package, event or bespoke agreement we’ve put together for you – but generally speaking, your agreed fee will be charged in advance on the 1st working day of the month and will be payable within 14 days. Discounts are given for packages purchased on a long-term scale of 6 months +.

What happens if I do not use the hours I’ve paid for? 

Again, it depends on the terms of your initial agreement. In most cases, we will be happy to carry these unused hours forward to the following month. 

I’d prefer to pay as I go. Can you help?

Yes! There’s no need to commit to a monthly retainer. You can contract our virtual assistants for an hourly rate instead. We’ll take a look at your project requirements, then quote for the recommended amount of time you’re going to need from our team. We’ll track all time spent on the task(s) and present this timesheet to you with your invoice. All times will be rounded to the nearest 15 minutes. 

If my circumstances change, can I change my support package at a later date? 

Yes! The beauty of hiring a VA is this: you only pay for what you need. We’ve designed our services to allow you to scale your package up or down at any time to suit your precise requirements. To adjust your support package, make sure you call us in advance of your renewal date (or just before your current project comes to an end). 

I’m worried about confidentiality. Can you put my mind at ease? 

At Cue Virtue, we have a strict confidentiality policy. If you’d like us to, we can also arrange a non-disclosure agreement, which will be designed to protect all your vital business information. We will happily add in extra protection if needed. 

Can you make purchases on my behalf?

Yes, we can! We can place orders, make purchases and schedule payments safely and securely on your behalf. Our security measures and policies will be outlined in more detail in your contract. 

Can you help me personally, as well as professionally? 

Without a doubt. In fact, many of our clients come to us for help with looking after their life admin and keeping on top of their busy diaries!

Whether you need us to pick up your shopping, source a cheaper utilities provider or manage your kids’ social calendar, we’re always on hand to make your life just that little bit easier. With more than 30 years’ experience between us, we've purchased approximately 360 pairs of socks, 60 anniversary gifts, 150 Christmas gifts, 460 birthday gifts, 4,062 pens and 970 notebooks. In fact, we reckon we know the layout of Selfridges, Harrods and John Lewis better than their floor staff!