Manchester PA Network’s soaring success
AN networking group for the region’s PAs and secretaries set up less than two years ago has smashed its membership targets and raised more than £10,000 for charity.
The Manchester PA Network, a not-for-profit organisation set up in July 2011 by three enterprising PAs, Amanda Barlow from Duff & Phelps; Melanie Sheehy from LateRooms and Hayley Harthern from Manchester235 Casino organises, a variety of events for members.
The growing network now has nearly 400 members, and due to its growth has appointed a fourth director to its board, Holly Moore of Make Events.
She became involved after her company sponsored the Christmas party at the Lowry Hotel which was attended by more than 100 members.
Amanda Barlow, co-founder of the Manchester PA Network, said: “We have been taken aback by the success of the network – there was nothing like this before and it was born out of the fact that many of us has spoken on the phone but never actually met.
“Each event we have held over the past two years has been bigger and better than the last, and there’s now a waiting list for venues wanting to host and sponsor future events.”
Members are invited to donate to a Just-Giving page set up for each event in lieu of payment for attending, and this has raised £10,500 for The Christie cancer charity.
