“I worked with Helen for almost 25 years at the University of Manchester. From 1992 she was my PA and the Manager of the ARP office.

The Advanced Research Partnership (ARP) was a research management consortium of the Universities of Manchester, Bristol, Newcastle, Salford, Cardiff and UMIST. ARP provided a full service in respect of managing large, complex, international (EU) consortia-based projects. The nature of the project management service ranged from identifying project partners, drafting the project description through to facilitation of partner liaison, project execution and post-project exploitation.

ARP operated in a complex commercial environment with projects being funded from government, international and European organisations and industry. Helen played a vital role in the consortium management team in supporting both myself as Managing Director and the Chair of the Management Committee. This involved PA duties including diary planning and keeping, organising appointments, overseas trips and meetings, managing the office’s secretarial staff as line manager (including tasks allocation, monitoring performance and quality control, absence, sickness) dealing with clients, financial monitoring of projects, invoicing, and liaison with the administration of the member universities and external collaborators.

The skills required to successfully carry out such a complex and demanding job included the ability to multitask and to prioritise, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, a good understanding of the academic and industrial/commercial environment, a high degree of confidence and the stamina to work in a high pressure environment. I would not have retained Helen as my PA for so long if she had not been outstanding at her job, a first class professional and an essential part of a hugely successful team.”
Daniel Spagni, Director, ARP Europe, France; Senior Advisor, HSE, UK; Senior European Advisor UMainz, Germany

“Helen approached me in January 2008 to become a Consultant working for my Introduction Agency. This role involves following up enquiries made by telephone, arranging appointments with clients, visiting each of them at their own home to conduct an interview and then taking payment for membership. The Consultants organise their own time and diaries and can take on as much or as little work as they want according to their other commitments.

Helen has undertaken her role with enthusiasm and professionalism and her cheerful and approachable manner has made her very popular with our clients. She is a very organised lady and thorough with the administrative tasks associated with her work as a Consultant. She adopts a very flexible approach to her work also, responding to last minute changes to her schedule without fuss.

Taking the decision to become an independent PA following her 25 years at the University displays, in my opinion, Helen’s courage, confidence and determination to achieve her goals. ”
Nancy Jaeger, Area Director, Searchmate North West

“I have worked with Helen for a number of years on projects relating to the use of composite materials in the oil and gas industries. She has assisted me in all aspects of this work with competence and enthusiasm and her organisational skills are second to none. I am delighted to give Helen my enthusiastic endorsement.”
Professor A G Gibson, Director, Centre for Composite Materials Engineering, University of Newcastle upon Tyne

“I have the highest regard for Helen’s abilities as a professional administrator and have valued her contributions over the years to the project management of the research programmes that I have been involved with. Helen is very efficient at organising meetings and producing minutes, at the preparation of project proposals and she exhibits highly professional and independent skills in supporting such activities. She is a self-starter and has a wonderful personality. She is a team player and very supportive of project management activities at all levels.”
Ian D Cluckie, FREng, FICE, FCIWEM, FRMetSoc, FRSA
Professor of Hydrology & Water Management, Director – Water and Environmental Management Research Centre (WEMRC), University of Bristol