In 2015, the network launched the Manchester PA Awards, celebrating the incredible talent and dedication within the profession. Following years of growth and national recognition, the awards recently evolved into The National PA Awards, reflecting their impact on a UK wide stage.
Beyond networking and events, The Manchester PA Network is deeply proud of its charitable impact, having raised more than £255,000 for The Christie Charity since its inception.
About the Manchester PA Network
The Manchester PA Network was founded in 2011 by Amanda Hargreaves and Melanie Sheehy with a bold vision, to create a thriving community for PAs, EAs, VAs and Support Professionals outside of London. At the time, nothing like it existed in the North West and they took the challenge to change that.
What started as a local network has grown into one of the UK’s leading and most influential PA communities, creating connections through inspiring events, industry collaborations and the National PA Awards.
The network hosts exclusive events at some of Manchester city centre’s most exciting venues, giving members the opportunity to connect, learn and discover the very best the city has to offer. Every event is uniquely curated to showcase each venue while bringing together ambitious, like minded professionals from across the industry.
Building on its success, the network launched the Manchester PA Awards in 2015, the first awards of their kind in the city celebrating the incredible talent and achievements of business support professionals. Year after year, the awards have continued to grow, attracting increasing numbers of attendees, sponsors and industry recognition. Today, the awards have evolved into the National PA Awards, welcoming nominations from PAs, EAs, Support Professionals and Chiefs of Staff from across the UK.
Giving back remains at the heart of the network. Proud supporters of The Christie Charity, the network has raised more than £255,000 through events, raffles and fundraising challenges, helping to make a meaningful difference to cancer patients and their families.
Meet the Team
Melanie Sheehy
Melanie is the co-founder of the Manchester PA Network and the National PA Awards. She currently serves as Executive Assistant to the Group CEO of private equity–backed company Citation Ltd and is also a Chapter Administrator for the YPO organisation.
With over 20 years’ experience as a PA and EA, Melanie has worked across a range of high-profile organisations, including AstraZeneca, the Co-operative Bank and LateRooms.
Amanda Hargreaves
Co-founder of the Manchester PA Network and Manchester PA Awards. Amanda has worked in a variety of PA and EA roles during her career ranging from PA to the Managing Director of a small mortgage brokerage, to EA to the Board of a Global PLC Business and is currently PA to the Group CEO of Boohoo Group PLC.
The Christie Charity
When we founded the Manchester PA Network, we wanted to give back to a charity that is very close to our hearts, the Christie Charity.
By our members donating a small amount to attend each event, and buying a few raffle tickets along the way, since we launched, we have raised over £255,000
Amanda and Melanie have taken on numerous fundraising challenges which include marathons, ultra marathons, climbing 11 of the highest peaks in the UK, bungee jumping, sky diving and abseiling and have also had the support of members of the network who have also taken on their own challenges.
The Christie – Your Impact
As one of the largest hospital charities in the UK, The Christie charity supports the work of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, a specialist cancer centre in Manchester. Money raised for the charity enables the funding of projects, equipment, services and improvements so as to give patients the very best care, treatment and support possible.
Each and every supporter of the charity helps The Christie fund life-changing and potentially life-saving projects that would not be possible with NHS funds alone. This funding could be for new treatment buildings, world-leading research programmes or specialist equipment, ensuring that The Christie is at the forefront of scientific breakthroughs and developments.
How your donations are helping change lives;
Catherine Stewart, a 40 year old doctor and a patient at The Christie, has had her life significantly extended thanks to a Christie clinical trial. She was diagnosed with a rare form of melanoma five years ago when she was 37 weeks pregnant. Because of her pregnancy, Catherine was unable to have the immediate treatment normally recommended and, following the birth of her son, she discovered that the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes.
Thanks to two separate clinical trials at The Christie, Catherine has received new treatments that have rapidly shrunk her tumours and allowed her to spend precious time with her son and husband.
Without the generous donations they receive, The Christie simply would not be able to run such an extensive and world-leading programme of clinical trials so it is thanks to every one of their supporters that The Christie remains at the forefront of early phase clinical trials worldwide.
