A plush life for club PAs

LONDON'S many private members' clubs offer some excellent work environments among the charm of elegant buildings that are home from home for members, with extra facilities such as private libraries, roof gardens, a constant programme of outings, speakers and hospitality.

Gloria Proops is a live-in PA at the 17-bedroom Soroptimist Residential Club in Bayswater Road. "The building is owned by the shareholders so every time someone stays I try to sell them shares," she says. "I used to be in cosmetics PR but have been a Soroptomist for more than 20 years.

"My day starts at 7.30am and I let the breakfast waitress in at eight. About 9.15, I start all my admin: a huge pile of post, messages and emails. I deal with all the publicity, the budget, marketing, the website and bookkeeping in addition to some payroll and events.

"I try to sell four shares for pounds 20 to people who stay here; if they buy pounds 100 of shares, they get a five per cent discount on club services. We charge pounds 42 for bed and breakfast, which is cheap for central London.

"I meet and greet members, many of them businesswomen living outside London, and always say a few words at conferences or functions."

Jenny Paterson, PA at the Parrot Club in the Basil Street Hotel, says young businesswomen, many self-employed, use the club and its business centre for networking.

Paterson used to work in radio in Zimbabwe. "Now I write two newsletters a year and arrange 'London Belongs To You' lectures; aspects of the city and people in it," she says.

She deals with the telephone and email but "a lot of the job is customer contact, being an ambassador for the club and trying to help members". She adds: "We try to fulfil their every request. One French visitor arranged to have business cards done in London, but they were not ready in time. She was leaving for France, so we sorted it out.

"Lunch is from noon to 2.15pm and I may chat to guests then. In the afternoon I catch up on letters and meetings and join guests for afternoon tea. For this job you need excellent communication skills and diplomacy. You are also on show all the time."

Linda Zannis has been PA/receptionist at the New Cavendish Club in Great Cumberland Place for 12 years andsays it is home to particular groups of people, including magistrates, British Red Cross, WI, crime writers and romantic novelists.

"I often start at 7am. I combine my PA role with reception, so I'm booking in guests, checking function arrangements, dealing with the phone and email, billing and dealing with any tasks the manager gives me."

Zannis helps arrange trips and speakers. "We have a brisk schedule of outings and we always put on an escort.

I've been to Buckingham Palace and toured the Opera House. These are really nice social events, which are a great perk of the job. At the moment the club is arranging a trip to Paris so, if I'm lucky, I may get to go on that."

"I can order my lunch from the club and throughout the day we have endless supplies of tea and coffee. The chef looks after us and we have a beautiful roof garden.

"Computer skills are not really needed. This is more about diplomacy and customer-care, though you must be organised.

"We do have rules to keep the atmosphere peaceful: no mobiles in public rooms, no laptops, no bringing out paperwork or starting small meetings. Our members want to come here to relax."

Mandy Lax is PA to Nick Jones, boss of Soho House in Greek Street. It attracts media types, has 3,000 members and an 18-month waiting list.

Lax's work can range from scouring London for particular tiles for a new Soho House restaurant to looking after Jones's children, with trips to New York and Cannes in between. "We have a boat in Cannes and take members there once a year," she smiles.

"But the New York trip was a working trip, looking at a possible site there.

"There is such a variety of tasks, I am on the phone all the time. It could be anything, from getting a friend of Nick's a table on an impossible day to fielding Press calls and arranging trips to Babington House, another of our hotels, for journalists.

"My main tasks are operational, so I don't see the members much, but now and then I go to the bar and chat."

Lax uses PowerPoint, Excel and Word. "I book a lot of international travel for Nick, and also make quite a few trips to Babington House myself, to help in project management.

"We have opened a new club brasserie in Notting Hill and I was involved in sourcing furnishings for that.

"Every time we open, the new place must have the 'Soho House look'. I had to find certain types of chairs and I try to beat the suppliers down in price; negotiating on costs is one of my tasks. For this job you need energy and common sense and you must love your club; I do."

What you need to be a club PA

Maturity is a plus point.

Most private clubs prefer PAs in their 30s, 40s and older.

Customer care and meet and greet skills are vital.

Desktop publishing experience will help you get a job. Every club prints its own newsletter and regular mailers.

A second language (French, Spanish or German) is an asset.

Confidence to mix with members and to help out as hostess and escort is essential

You need to be at home with equipment such as overhead projectors, presentation kits, heating, windows and lighting

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