Is This for You?
This course would be great for anyone looking to start their own business working as a Virtual Assistant.
Award and Associated Qualifications
VA Essentials
EA/PA Courses
If you’re thinking of becoming a Virtual Assistant, our VA Essentials course will help give you a rounded overview of what is involved in running your own business as a Virtual Assistant.
Start DateFlexible
Study TypeIn centre, online, or a combination
Training TypeCourse
DurationAround 2 hours
About This Course
You’ll look at the complete picture of the role of a VA. You’ll look further into the career and lifestyle of a VA, necessary attributes for the role, business plans, equipment and software, legal requirements, risk management, data protection, finance and marketing, the delivery of the VA service and much more.
The course is accessed online so you can study at a time and place convenient to you. You’ll have the support of our Course Advisors if you need it, and once you’ve completed the course, you’ll gain a Pitman Training Certificate to validate the knowledge gained.
In this online course there are 5 modules: –
- Module One Introduction – This module includes an introduction to who the Virtual Assistant is and the role they perform; the VA’s potential client and case studies.
- Module Two Becoming a VA – In this module you’ll cover the reasons to become a VA; business goals; the attributes necessary to be a VA; the career and lifestyle; peer support.
- Module Three Starting up a Business – You’ll look at the business plan; types of business; your office location; equipment and software; business name; legal requirements; risk management; insurance; data protection; finance; accounting/tax/IR35; marketing and USPs.
- Module Four Providing the Service – The fourth module looks at the initial contact; consultation preparation; consultation structure; safety; structuring services and packages; the contract; customer care; hours and charging; legal responsibilities regarding clients; complaints; recommendations; cover and contingency.
- Module Five Summary – The final module gives a course round up and you’ll have the opportunity to test yourself on the knowledge learnt.
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Aims and Objectives
VA Essentials is designed to give you an excellent insight into the role of a Virtual Assistant and look at everything the role comprises, from not only delivering the VA service to clients, but also covering all aspects of running your own business.
Pre-Requisites
Finance Options
Wherever possible our training is tailored to your needs. The cost of our training programmes depend on the course(s) you choose and varies according to duration and breadth. Rest assured we have a number of payment options available to ensure the cost of training is affordable and can be worked alongside your other financial commitments. Common ways people fund their training include: –
Self-Funded:
- Flexible payment plans to help you spread the cost* available at many of our centres;
- You could opt to pay upfront.
Company Funded:
Requesting funding from your employers needn’t be a daunting task. Many employers support and encourage their employees with their professional development and consider it a worthwhile investment to fund any training required.
What we can help with:
- Providing a comprehensive training programme outlining learning outcomes
- Tailored personnel letters
- Communication with finance departments to arrange payment options (upfront or payment plan*).
Funding & Grants:
There may be the opportunity to apply for funded grants that can help towards the cost of training. These include the Skills Development Scotland ITAs and the ReAct programme in Wales. All schemes will have different terms and conditions that will need to be met in order to qualify for a grant and these are managed by each individual centre.
We’d recommend you speak to a Course Advisor in your local centre to find out whether they are registered to offer any such schemes and discuss your requirements further.
* Terms and Conditions apply. Speak to a Course Advisor for full information on the options available to you.
Career Path
Further study on a wider range of subjects such as bookkeeping, marketing and social media can lead to a full and rewarding career as a self-employed Virtual Assistant.
What’s the Difference?
We offer a range of training packages in a range of subject areas and can offer blended learning opportunities to best meet your needs.
Our courses are practical in nature and focus on a single subject and can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days.
Diplomas are designed to give you a complete skillset mapped to a specific career path and contain a number of core and elective courses.
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