Why We're Creating the Conference We Wish We'd Had

Sometimes the best ideas start with a simple question.

For us, that question was:

Why isn't there an assistants conference in the East of England?

The truth is, the idea wasn't originally mine.

It was Clare's.

As someone who is deeply passionate about supporting the assistant community, Clare had been thinking about the lack of events available for assistants in our region. Whilst there are some fantastic conferences and events across the UK, many require significant travel, overnight stays and additional costs that simply aren't practical for everyone.

As busy business owners, parents and professionals, that's a reality many of us face.

So Clare did what many great business owners do. She put the idea out into her community and asked whether anyone would be interested in helping bring the first East of England Assistants Conference to life.

The moment I saw her post, I knew I wanted to be involved.

Saying Yes to the Opportunity

I'd met Clare several times through networking events and immediately connected with her energy, passion and vision.

I loved what she was building within the assistant industry and knew this was something special.

At the time, both Clare and I were finalists in the UK VA Awards, which felt like an exciting reflection of how much the assistant profession continues to evolve and grow.

Ironically, whilst we were both finalists, I wasn't able to attend the awards ceremony itself because of childcare commitments and the distance involved.

As disappointing as that was, it reinforced something we had already been discussing.

There were assistants across the East of England facing similar challenges.

Talented, ambitious professionals who wanted opportunities to connect, learn and develop but couldn't always justify travelling across the country to do so.

Why should assistants in our region have to miss out?

Why couldn't we create something closer to home?

Something accessible.

Something valuable.

Something built specifically with our community in mind.

Then There Were Three

Initially, it was just Clare and me working behind the scenes, exploring what this conference could become.

But as the plans developed, Clare suggested bringing Sam into the team.

The answer was an immediate yes.

Sam brought another layer of expertise, experience and creativity to the project, and suddenly what had started as an idea began to feel like something much bigger.

The three of us each bring different strengths, different perspectives and different experiences to the table.

And honestly, that's what makes this work.

We've challenged each other's ideas, built on each other's strengths and shared a vision of creating something genuinely meaningful for the assistant community.

Because none of us could have done this alone.

More Than Just a Conference

From the very beginning, we knew we didn't want to create just another business event.

We wanted to create the kind of event we would have loved to attend ourselves.

A conference where assistants feel welcomed from the moment they walk through the door.

A place where people can learn from industry experts whilst also building meaningful relationships with others who understand the realities of the profession.

A space where nobody feels like they're walking into a room full of strangers.

Most importantly, we wanted to create opportunities for genuine connection.

Because whilst speakers and workshops are important, it's often the conversations between sessions that create the biggest impact.

The person you meet over coffee.

The conversation that sparks a new idea.

The assistant who understands your challenges because they've experienced them too.

Those moments can change everything.

Why This Matters

As someone who runs networking events for women in business, I see every day what happens when people find the right community.

Confidence grows.

Ideas flourish.

Opportunities appear.

Friendships form.

And people realise they don't have to navigate business alone.

The assistant profession can sometimes feel isolating.

Many of us work remotely.

Many of us spend our days supporting everyone else.

Many of us don't often get the opportunity to be surrounded by people who truly understand our role.

That's why this conference matters.

Not just because of the learning.

Not just because of the speakers.

But because of the people who will be in the room.

The Conference We Wish We'd Had

If we're honest, we're creating the conference we wish we'd had access to ourselves.

One that is accessible.

One that is inspiring.

One that champions assistants and celebrates the incredible work they do.

One that brings together a community that deserves to be seen, supported and invested in.

And on 17th September, that's exactly what we hope to do.

If you haven't secured your ticket yet, we'd love you to join us.

Because we're not just creating a conference.

We're creating a community for assistants across the East of England.

And we'd love for you to be part of it.