Hiring a great EA or PA is only half the job. Knowing how to onboard them well is what determines whether that hire becomes one of the best decisions your business makes, or quietly unravels before it ever had a chance to land. Business support roles are uniquely relational. When [...]
Not every employer invests in your development. Some don't have the budget. Some don't have the structure. Some simply don't prioritise it. If you're an EA or PA working in a fast-paced environment, it can feel like the expectation is that you show up, perform, and somehow figure out the [...]
If you are looking for Executive Assistant salary data for the UK, you are probably doing one of two things: working out whether what you are being paid reflects what you actually do, or trying to set a budget for a hire you cannot afford to get wrong. Either way, [...]
There is a pattern we see repeatedly in our work, and our 2026 Salary Survey has confirmed it with data: Business Support professionals are doing more than ever, taking on more responsibility than ever, and being rewarded at a rate that has not kept pace with either. If that sounds [...]
Every year, the question at the top of almost every EA and PA's mind is the same: am I being paid what I'm worth? And every year, the answer gets more complicated. The 2026 Lily Shippen Salary Survey, our most comprehensive to date, gives a clear, data-led view of what [...]
There's a common misconception in the EA and PA world: that personal brand is something reserved for entrepreneurs, influencers, or people who want to be visible for a living. That it's somehow at odds with the nature of a role built on discretion, support, and working behind the scenes. We'd [...]
You've heard the title. You've seen it appearing more frequently in job descriptions, LinkedIn profiles, and leadership team bios. But when someone asks what a Chief of Staff actually does on a Tuesday morning, the answer is rarely straightforward. That ambiguity is by design. The Chief of Staff role in [...]
Over the past few years, the Executive Assistant profession has experienced a noticeable shift. From the outside, it can appear that the market is thriving. Salaries have increased in many areas, the role has gained long overdue recognition, and more people are talking about long term career progression, strategic partnership, [...]
Over the past decade, the Chief of Staff role has quietly but decisively established itself as one of the most important and influential hires a UK business can make. What was once considered a relatively niche position, more commonly associated with US technology companies or political environments, is now firmly [...]
Over the past 12 months, one theme has come through consistently in candidate conversations. The hiring process itself is now a major factor in whether professionals choose to progress with an opportunity. This is not about expecting speed at all costs. Most candidates understand that strong businesses often have structured, [...]
