MEET OUR FOUNDER - CATH HARRISON

Hi, I'm Cath,  Founder and Director of Bee-Assisted Limited. Award-winning Virtual Assistant,  I am a Fellow of the Institute of Administrative Management (FInstAM) and of the Executive Personal Assistants Association (FEPAA) with an employed 35-year PA / EA career in various private and public sector organisations, including over 17 years working within the IT Industry for Hewlett-Packard, having vast experience in different aspects of Business, and always willing to learn and take on new challenges. 

I am a highly conscientious, professional individual, able to coordinate and manage a high volume of projects, tasks and information usually working for clients over multiple time zones, to provide a comprehensive support service, delivering to the highest standards whilst maintaining a polished, confident, friendly and professional approach. 

I have over the years gained qualifications, including RSA typing, BTEC Business Studies, LCCI Private Secretary's Diploma, and completed many Microsoft package training courses.  I have also worked for some time in the Defence Sector and had Security Clearance whilst working in this area giving me a great understanding of the importance of confidentiality, data protection and privacy.  I am also fully insured as a VA, and am ICO registered.

In April 2020, after being made redundant at the start of a global pandemic, I decided to take the plunge and set up my own business.  Although quite a leap of faith, for someone who had been an 'employee' since leaving school over 30 years ago, in the circumstances with Covid 19, I had no choice but to go it alone. An opportunity to create a better work-life balance and use my wealth of experience to help other businesses grow and fulfil their potential (and of course to pay my bills!). Bee-Assisted Limited was born! 

During my career I worked from home for 10 years, little did I know that my experience of working remotely would put me in good stead and allow me to help even more business owners who found themselves thrown into remote work because of Covid 19.  

My role is more than to just support your business by providing VA support, which is provided by myself and my Team of VA's, we will manage the tasks that are proving to be time-consuming. It’s our job to understand your brand and to know what makes your business so special to your customers.  

I pride myself in managing my clients' businesses with the same style, tone and ethics that their brands are founded on.  My goal is to help my clients grow and succeed by ensuring that their company vision stays true.  

Outside of work, I’m very much a home-grown Derbyshire girl. I live in a small village in South Derbyshire, where I’ve spent my whole life, having grown up on a farm in the local countryside - something that’s given me a real love of community, nature, and good, honest living.

I’m a proud mum to two grown-up sons. My eldest is deaf, which has shaped our family life in ways that have made us resilient, adaptable, and incredibly close. Between my sons, we also have three much-loved dogs - two French Bulldogs and a Staffy - who I absolutely adore and who keep life lively.

I love spending my free time eating out at lovely restaurants, discovering artisan and makers’ markets, and supporting local producers whenever I can. I’m also a self-confessed gin lover! I enjoy discovering new gins and taking part in gin-making and distillery experiences - for me, travel and food are all about the stories, the craft, and the people behind them.

Now happily settled into this next chapter of life, I value experiences, quality time, and making memories - a huge part of why working with different clients, helping them get the most out of their own lives and family time means a lot to me.