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Guest Blog - The Changing Landscape of the Virtual Assistant

by Rebecca Bostock, Virtual Assistant, Virtual Satsuma Ltd


Hi, I’m Bec, owner of Virtual Satsuma Ltd. I set-up Virtual Satsuma in 2017.  I support clients with a variety of tasks from business admin, accounts, marketing, Wix website, social media, email management and everything in between.  This topic interests me, as I have been a Virtual Assistant for nearly 8 years, and in the last few years in particular the industry has changed massively.


2017

When I started Virtual Satsuma, the industry at that time was primarily focused on supporting clients with administrative tasks. We were hired to perform functions such as email management, scheduling appointments, accounts, tasks which small business owners needed to delegate, but who could not afford a full-time employee.  The industry at that time seemed very new, I remember there were really a handful of people offering VA training, and this often revolved around how to market your company.  The skill set required at that time was limited, and you just had to work things out for yourself, from setting up your business, to deciding the level of tech you required to run your business, to insurance and business compliance.


2025

So, let's fast forward 8 years, the industry has changed massively – Virtual Assistants are now seen as a vital asset for businesses and individuals alike, I have been told often.

 “That I could not run this business without you”. 

This evolution has been driven by several key factors; 

  • Technological advances

  • Changing workplace dynamics

  • Increasing complexity of business needs


Virtual Assistants today require a much larger skill set, which is why ‘niching’ is critical these days, you can no longer be the ‘jack of all trades’ you were 8 years ago.  If you do not niche into an industry I would seriously advise as a new VA setting up that you niche into a skill, whether this is social, CRM’s, automations, accounts, project management.  Even with social-media management, every platform is different and works in a different way, using a different algorithm, so maybe pick your social and become the master of one or two?


Becoming a VA in 2025

Okay, so this maybe where I create the controversy….

The VA market has become saturated. I saw a post on a Facebook group the other day, looking for an associate, paying £20 an hour – 4 hours a week for email management.  The VA who posted this received over 100 messages, so competition is fierce, and I do believe that we are getting to a point where supply is outstripping demand, which will have an impact on rate.  Often when these adverts as mentioned above, are posted, there will be a couple of people who will post about that is a terrible rate, I would not work for that – at this point I always think about the context – The minimum hourly wage in the UK is £12.21 for someone over 21, so £20 an hour is not so bad for an admin role.  


The Future of the Industry

We have some amazing Virtual Assistants in our community, with incredible skills supporting clients in so many ways.  The skill set required now is diverse, our need to understand technology is paramount and with AI I personally have no idea what my role will look like in the next 8 years.


So, we are a highly skilled, professional, adaptable industry.


BUT, we are not a regulated industry. There is self-regulation such as  https://societyofvirtualassistants.co.uk/ who alongside advertising your business, will also support on such matters as insurance, GDPR and business law.


Sadly, however, our industry is becoming saturated – would regulation control this?


So, is it time for better regulation? And how would that look?  


Conclusion

I started writing this blog on one thought path, and as I have written it moved to another.  My point is the market is saturated, the skills required are much greater and more diverse, rates can go from £10 per hour to much, much more. 


The role of the VA has changed considerably, people are entering the market daily, so is it time to regulate the industry?  To allow it the professional credentials it deserves.  


We all know an excellent Virtual Assistant can help save a Business owner time and money.


Rebeca Bostock 

Virtual Satsuma

 



I am based in Stafford in the West Midlands.  Before starting Virtual Satsuma, I worked predominantly in Education, starting as an administrator in Staffordshire University and finally qualifying as a School Business Manager – working in different schools across the Midlands, this experience has equipped me brilliantly for being a Virtual Assistant - as nothing fazes me. 

 

My skill set is diverse, I have had experience of all aspects of administration, including email and calendar management, organising meetings, travel and events. Since starting Virtual Satsuma I also have excellent experience with social media, automations, bookkeeping using Quickbooks and Xero plus building Wix websites.



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