Finding balance through outsourcing

Smart Resourcing: Bay Tree VA

In early 2024, the CEO, Warren Smyth (pictured), made the decision to enlist the support of a Bay Tree VA (virtual assistant) – the aim to release some capacity generally, and more specifically to delegate some of the governance work and some key project research.

He wanted a better work/life balance – just like those using the services at Abbeycroft Leisure.

“The team at Abbeycroft Leisure is amazing,” explains Warren. “As well as managing your local gym or pool, we tackle some of the biggest social challenges with community programmes and initiatives, reaching marginalised communities and deprived areas of our region. There is so much to do, prioritising can be difficult.

“Our Bay Tree VA, Katie, is highly skilled, and the more we work together the more she can apply her previous experience in business and add value. For example, we release a detailed Impact Report annually and Katie has taken responsibility for collating the information needed, working with my team, and coming up with the first draft. This has saved a great deal of time for everyone at Abbeycroft. Katie also called upon other expertise from Bay Tree VAs to develop a workflow and automate several processes to improve efficiency. In a very short time, we are really finding our feet with the outsourced resource that Bay Tree VA offers.”

A flexible approach

From the outset, the founder of Bay Tree VA, Jane Cattermole, has felt that the real success of her business would be measured in the ability to improve the lifestyle for both the clients and her team of VAs. So, has Warren managed to reflect on his own work/life balance?

“We will continue to scale the Bay Tree VA resource up and down in line with the needs of the business, whether that is specific projects or to release my own time. Going forward, I believe Katie will be key to delivering our strategy. Have I managed a better work/life balance? Well, it’s definitely improving!”