This year’s PA of the Year is Bethany Burns, personal assistant to James Watt, co-founder of Scottish brewery and bar chain BrewDog.
Support staff job site SecsintheCity’s annual awards - this year taking place virtually - celebrated the UK’s best PAs, executive assistants (EAs) and office managers.
Having had a hand in transforming its distillery into an NHS sanitiser factory, creating special drinks and organising online bar sessions for the craft beer community, Burns impressed the judges with the contributions she has made as her boss and his company have navigated the global pandemic.
“I am so honoured to be recognised alongside the best and brightest in the field,” she said. “SecsintheCity, alongside Tay Associates, has done a phenomenal job of elevating the visibility of the invaluable work carried out by EAs, PAs, office managers and the like - I’m really proud to represent this amazing group of talented people.”
SecsintheCity received more than 600 nominations by and on behalf of PAs and EAs, which judges whittled down to 20 finalists across three categories: PA of the Year, Legal PA of the Year, Office Manager of the Year and an Outstanding Achievement Award.
Sarah EL-Doori, marketing director of Reach Work and PA of the Year Awards judge, explained: “The aim of the awards is to champion the profession and acknowledge the significant contribution that PAs and EAs make, especially in these immensely challenging times.”
The Legal PA of the Year category was won by Tanya Jennings, PA to a partner at global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, while Office Manager of the Year went to Sarah Kingdom, office manager at ghd.
The Outstanding Achievement award was given to Gemma Hughes, PA to Chris Leader, vice principal of Salford City Academy.
