Inspiring Business by Sharing Success

Get Ahead regional director celebrates successful first year in business

Get Ahead regional director celebrates successful first year in business

Marketing expert Emma Barratt had always wanted to run her own business. During the global pandemic in 2020, the time finally felt right to make her dream a reality.

After researching various business options online, Emma launched Get Ahead East Midlands in September 2020. With 18 years of experience in marketing, sales and operations roles, taking her down to London and as far north as Scotland, Emma was keen to use her entrepreneurial flair to support businesses back home in the East Midlands.

“Some people may think I was crazy to start a new business in the middle of the pandemic, but I have been pleasantly surprised,” Emma says. “Initially, I was nervous about how I was going to build relationships when I could only meet people online. But everyone was in the same boat. Online networking has turned out to be very positive and successful in my first year.

I have enjoyed getting to know many different business owners and SMEs. It was clear from month one that there is a real need for quality, flexible, support in the form of virtual assistant services in the East Midlands. While still in the process of setting up the business, I signed up my first two clients and was delighted to hit the ground running!

I have already had the pleasure of working with over 30 fabulous business owners with interesting businesses, ranging from business coaches, health & safety consultants and property investors, to florists, charities and copywriters. Thanks to the variety of support Get Ahead offers, I love being able to say yes to helping make a business owner’s life easier, in almost any way they need it, from enquiry and diary management to a full social media marketing strategy, plus everything in between. Seeing the value I can add to them and/or their business gives me immense job satisfaction.

One of my highlights of the year was working with two amazing women who wanted to give something back after the Covid-19 pandemic by putting on a free virtual Wellbeing event. Due to Get Ahead’s unique business model I was able to utilise the expertise from 5 different virtual assistants in our team and provide everything from designing the logo and branding, recruiting the presenters for the event, marketing the event, full set up, right through to facilitation on the day. The clients were delighted that their initial idea had become a reality and the feedback from the guests was fantastic.

Over the next 12 months, I am focused on continuing to grow the business further by raising brand awareness and getting the Get Ahead name out there in the Midlands. Now more face-to-face events can take place, I am looking forward to attending more networking events and exhibiting at my first business expos.

I have visited expos as a delegate in the past, but now is the time for me to take part and exhibit. I am particularly excited about exhibiting at the Love Business Event in February 2022. The variety of great local businesses that attend, along with the presentations and networking opportunities, make it a great event to be part of. I also like the fact that the organisers really support the exhibitors and focus on their exposure. I can’t wait to have the opportunity to shout about Get Ahead’s wide variety of flexible and affordable business support, by promoting the huge benefits of outsourcing!”

You can find Get Ahead East Midlands on Stand T17 at Love Business EXPO on Thursday 17th February 2022 at the Holywell Park Conference Centre, Loughborough.

emma@getaheadva.com - T 01332 460 795 | 07368 979 582


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