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The Plus One Virtual Assistant

Helping small businesses to be bigger, better, slicker and happier

05/03/2026

GALA SPOTLIGHT #2 | Luminate Careers

As we continue shining a light on the brilliant businesses supporting the Bridge the Gap Gala Dinner, we couldn't be more thrilled to introduce our next spotlight! ❤️🌈

Welcome to the spotlight — Jessica Townsend & Kat Garland from Luminate Careers.

Read on to find out why they're joining us on the night:

"At Luminate Careers, we work with young people aged 13–18, supporting them with high-quality careers guidance and helping them take their next best step.

We believe that every young person deserves the opportunity to realise their potential — regardless of their starting point. Through learning, employment and informed decision-making, we help young people see the possibilities available to them and build the confidence to move forward.
That’s why the work of Bridge the Gap is so important.

Emotional literacy and mental health support are fundamental to a young person’s ability to engage with learning, make career decisions and thrive in their communities. Without wellbeing, aspiration can feel out of reach. The support Bridge the Gap provides to students, parents, schools and communities creates the foundation that allows young people to grow, progress and succeed.

We are proud to be attending the upcoming Gala Dinner to support this vital work. Investing in young people’s mental health is investing in their futures — and we are honoured to stand alongside others who believe the same.

And yes — we’re looking forward to getting dressed up for a fantastic cause.’
Jess Townsend: Luminate Director

Thank you so much, Luminate Careers — we are so glad to have you with us!

Tickets are still available. Email [email protected] for details — and any shares are hugely appreciated.

22/12/2025

Christmas 2025 |

Wishing my amazing clients, friends and followers a very happy and healthy Christmas and New Year.

This year, instead of Christmas cards, I’ve chosen to donate to Bridge the Gap — an emotional literacy service supporting children in Derby 💛🌈

If you’d like to learn more about the incredible work they do, visit:
www.jwbridgethegap.com

I’ve been lucky enough to start volunteering with Bridge The Gap this year and can vouch for the invaluable work they do. Please check them out, and also keep your eyes peeled for further news on an exciting event they have planned for 2026. It is one not to be missed (further details to follow)….

From The Plus One Virtual Assistant, thank you for all your support this year. The year has flown and I have been rubbish at investing time into my socials once again 😂. I am logging off now BUT exciting things, and some changes to come for 2026. Please bear with, and stay tuned!

24/12/2024

Wishing my clients, friends and followers a wonderful festive break. What a whirlwind 2024 has been! Christmas card monies have been re-directed to a wonderful charity, Autistica who I only discovered recently but plan to support more in 2025. See you on the other side all. I’m off to eat aaalll of the cheese! 🧀🎄❤️

26/09/2024

The Plus One Virtual Assistant is ONE today 🥳 |

As promised, my second post in as many days to mark the day went public. And what a year it’s been.

A big thank you to my AMAZING clients, family and friends for all of the support. I can honestly say it’s been a joy and I’ve learnt so much. The year saw me welcome another new client onboard to reach full capacity, I hosted my lovely niece on work experience for a week and she later joined one of my clients for paid summer work experience; an old work colleague and a neighbour also found work via my clients. I’ve worked on so many different projects and have truly pushed the boundaries of what it means to be a VA. Apols for the very un-British blowing of my own trumpet, but I’m just so pleased and proud to have found flexible and rewarding work doing something I love. So toot toot (sorry) 🎺😂.

Etta and I had a juice-toast this lunchtime, and we have Birds cakes for later. Here’s to the next year! Thank you for reading, and supporting ❤️

25/09/2024

A day in the life |

👋 hello, I’m back! Tomorrow is an exciting day for so in anticipation, I am going to over-deliver and do a post today, AND then another tomorrow. Madness I know….

The most common question I get when I say what I do for a job is ‘so what actually is that?’. And the truth is, it really does vary from day to day, and VA’s can do many different things for many different businesses. I was going to do a day in the life reel, but when I thought about it, you’d just see me dashing about herding cats (kids) and then my concentration face at my desk. So not that fun. Instead, I thought I’d explain the kinds of tasks I do, as more of a flavour….

So at the moment, I have two regular (very different) weekly clients who I work an agreed amount of hours for, per week. I then have an ad hoc (different industry again) client who I do a quarterly task for, for an agreed fee, and then help with more sporadic tasks if they need, and my diary allows. Regular tasks include meeting facilitation, diary management, project management, client onboarding, managing category projects (my old pre job), raising/logging/chasing/paying invoices and managing HMRC payments, sending client newsletters, liaising with suppliers (accountants, IT support etc), facilitating paperwork with legal such as contracts, employee training on things like excel and Mailerlite, the list goes on! So this is why I struggle to say what I do. Any ideas of a quicker explanation?

Whilst I don’t have any room for new clients at the moment, I’m always happy to chat to fellow VA’s or anyone who is interested in exploring this as a job. I’m really enjoying the variety, flexibility and find it my most rewarding job yet ❤️.

Thanks for reading this far, it’s been quite the essay! Signing off now and will be back tomorrow. 😃

08/03/2024

Happy international women’s day 2024. I am lucky to be surrounded by so many inspirational women. I see you all, and appreciate you ❤️❤️❤️. But my post today is dedicated to the OG feminist: my lovely Dad. We lost Dad almost two years ago now but Dad was THE biggest cheerleader of women. He was born to be a Dad of girls, always supporting me and my sister in whatever we wanted to do, in all our dreams and ambitions, no matter how big or small. Dad would buy us books like ‘Lean In’ (we love you Sheryl Sandberg) and write little notes inside. He’d support his girls, his students, his friends, anyone who needed him, to go after their goals, and to be the best version of themselves. Today let’s celebrate the women. But let’s also celebrate the cheerleaders. I’ll be having a drink for you tonight Pops, and will continue to LEAN IN (read it if you’ve not already!) ✌️❤️

11/02/2024

‘Hello, it’s me. I was wondering if after all these years you’d like to meet’. (Adele, 2015).

I hope Adele wouldn’t mind me quoting her, but I realised today that I haven’t posted anything on my business account since LAST YEAR 😂.

I just wanted to check in quickly to confirm that:
1) I am still alive.
2) My lovely clients are busier than ever, and in turn, so am I.
3) I will endeavour to post again this year!

I’m thinking of sharing some more content on what a day in the life of a VA looks like, as this is one of the most common things I get asked.

If there’s any other requests, please drop me a line.

Thank you. And Happy New Year! (better late than never?!).

I’ll be back.
Thea 😘

21/12/2023

Wishing my AMAZING clients, friends and followers a fabulous Christmas and New Year. Instead of Christmas cards, I have donated to Umbrella Derby & Derbyshire: a wonderful Derby-based charity supporting disabled children and young adults to realise their full potential.

A huge thank you for supporting The Plus One Virtual Assistant this year. It's been a busy few months which has been reflected in my posting, or lack of. So thank you for bearing with!

More updates and plans coming in 2024. Less terrible photoshopping of Christmas hats and mugs. You. Are. Welcome!

08/11/2023

‘So she’s done six social media posts promoting her business and then is taking a holiday?!’ Erm yes, sorry about that! In reality, The Plus One Virtual Assistant has been a labour of love for well over a year, I haven’t left the UK in six years and my laptop has come on holiday with me for as long as I can remember. So I am going on holiday. Without my children. Or my husband. Or my laptop… I don’t know which is scariest! Thank you to my clients, old and new for trusting me with your businesses, and keeping me so busy that I’ve only managed six social media posts 😂. I will try and be better when I return. I have BIG plans! Thank you to my lovely husband for encouraging me to take a child free holiday and for looking after everything and everyone whilst I’m gone 😘. But until then, I’m ✈️🌎🍾

23/10/2023

There are a few reasons to why The Plus One Virtual Assistant came to fruition. Part one of my ‘why’ are these two small people: my people. Meet Myles and Etta.

Their hobbies include eating ice cream, trashing our house and making a LOT of noise. I wouldn’t have it any other way.... apart from the mess bit.

I hope Myles and Etta will come to appreciate the business that I’m building, and the flexibility we are rewarded with. I hope that it’s a model that can eventually grow and benefit more families like ours. This may, or or may not be the ‘Part Two’ installment...

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