Personal PA service trebles client base after funded business startup support

By Boost Business Lancashire

12 Aug 2021

catherine-cocklin-quality-time-pa-services.jpg

A Lancashire woman who set up a personal assistant business just as lockdown hit is now in the process of recruiting her own team after gaining more than 30 clients with the help of Boost; Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub.

Quality Time PA Services, a virtual assistant service, is the brainchild of former project co-ordinator and office manager Catherine Cocklin. It offers a wide range of online business support services from invoicing and expense management, email and diary management to copy writing, file management, document creation and proofreading.

Catherine first considered the idea of running her own business in early 2019, while still in employment. She Googled ‘business support’, contacted Boost and received guidance with her prestart plans.

Catherine needed help with planning and marketing as well as reassurance that her business idea could actually work.

She sought further support from Boost later that year and was introduced to growth explorer Tony Roberts, at Enterprise4All, a delivery partner for the Flying Start Programme on behalf of Boost.  

Tony said “Catherine contacted Boost about the Flying Start Programme once she had set up her business. She was lacking a clear direction and, by her own admission, a little short on confidence.

“I helped Catherine to secure her first client. She then went on to gain several more clients before deciding to commit full time to her business and leave her employment.”

Catherine said: “The Boost workshops gave me many practical tools to help set up my business. It was also great to meet other businesses in a similar position to me. The planning tools which were provided during the programme were particularly helpful resources.

“My one-to-one sessions with Tony helped my confidence immensely. The sessions also gave me ideas to consider about planning my business. In addition, the speakers on the Flying Start programme were very informative, some even helped me many months after I had attended their workshops.”

Boost is Lancashire's Business Growth Hub and is led by the Lancashire LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) and Lancashire County Council and supported by funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

As a funded business support service, Boost helps Lancashire business owners and leaders navigate the local, regional and national public and private sector business support landscape, to find the right support for their business. Boost also delivers a number of funded programmes for start-up, established and fast-growing businesses.

Boost’s fully funded Flying Start Programme is designed to support individuals and SMEs in Lancashire achieve their growth aspirations and be better equipped to deal with challenges in areas such as sales, marketing, finance, business planning and recruitment.

It took nine months for Catherine’s business to begin to recover after several setbacks during lockdown, but she has now grown from earning zero income from the business, to matching her salary from her previous employment, working fewer hours.

After starting in 2019 with one client she now has 33. They include business coaches, tradesmen, recruitment consultants, marketing professionals and personal trainers.

Catherine is now looking to engage a team of virtual assistants to expand her business.

She added: “My plan for the next three to five years is to grow a team of reliable virtual assistants to work with me. I want to be so busy I can help them grow too. This will also increase the number of virtual assistant services I can offer.

“The support from Boost has been invaluable. People looking to set up a business should get in touch with Boost not only to seek professional guidance but to gain confidence. You also have access to a network of like-minded people all starting on the same business journey.

“The support is fully funded which is very helpful for start-ups. I must say, without Boost, and Tony, I may never have got going.”

Latest news

1

Roundhouse secures approval for new £15m office and industrial scheme in Preston Momentum

Roundhouse secures approval for new £15m office and industrial scheme in Preston

25 Jul 2025

2

Homebuilder's high-performing sales advisers clinch awards Ben Garland and Julia Lorente

Homebuilder's high-performing sales advisers clinch awards

24 Jul 2025

3

Work is set to start on Multiversity project Multiversity Blackpool

Work is set to start on Multiversity project

24 Jul 2025

4

BAE Systems welcomes MOU between Republic of Turkiye and UK for purchase of Typhoon aircraft Typhoon production Warton

BAE Systems welcomes MOU between Republic of Turkiye and UK for purchase of Typhoon aircraft

23 Jul 2025

5

Assystem to double UK jobs to deliver Sizewell C EDF Assystem

Assystem to double UK jobs to deliver Sizewell C

22 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

Preston Tech Connection: Buzz Word Bingo. Challenging Todays's Buzzwords In Tech
July PTC banner long updated.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Buzz Word Bingo. Challenging Todays's Buzzwords In Tech

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th
Navy--Event Tile.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
14 Aug 2025 - 14 Aug 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (24).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
21 Aug 2025 - 21 Aug 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

Morecambe Bay Walk
Walk.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
30 Aug 2025 - 30 Aug 2025

Morecambe Bay Walk

Arnside, CARNFORTH, LA5

09:30 - 14:00

Longridge Soap Box Derby
Screenshot 2025-06-10 090035.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
14 Sep 2025 - 14 Sep 2025

Longridge Soap Box Derby

Berry Lane, Longridge, PR3 3WH

10:00 - 16:30

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV 123 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin