thebestof is an online information site that actively promotes local businesses and events within and around the Colchester area. I went to help support the owner in setting up administrative systems, making contact with the clients and dealing with day to day issues.

My husband started a Financial Consultancy Business; I researched potential clients and referrers, and helped create opportunities through database marketing. He has now merged the business with a local accountancy practice.

APT was a start up Estate Planners/IFA business and I was responsible for sales and marketing strategies, specifically generating new leads and potential clients, and putting administrative systems in place.

Reporting directly to the Managing Director/Owner my responsibilities were: generating new business and ensuring satisfactory service levels to clients, following up credit checks and quotations for potential contracts.Austin McKinlay Managing Director Universal Image Systems"What I liked most about Yvonne is that she would turn her hand to anything and was flexible in her approach to work. In particular her ability to speak with new customers to gather information about their needs is exceptional. She is invaluable in these situations and enables her to naturally get on with anyone. Because of this Yvonne easily fits in to any situation and quickly becomes a valuable member of the team, as she was here."

SVC managed its largest client's temporary workforce through an on-site office. I was in charge of that function with one assistant. My responsibilities included: ensuring that the client had sufficient temporary personnel to meet the fluctuating demands of their business (anywhere between 25 and 50 people per shift), making sure that all documentation was in order prior to employment, booking up to 20 staff per shift at another site, liaising with senior management, representing SVC on the client's Health & Safety Committee.

Reporting to the General Manager, I had one assistant and was responsible for: lead generation, pricing, negotiation and progressing of sales orders and contracts, general customer care and dispute resolution, liaison with holding company in respect of credit limits, sales reporting, monthly reconciliation of sales and production statistics, specific contact with the "top 20" accounts including servicing forward orders, general sales administration, and trouble shooting.

The company is a member of the London Metal Exchange. I worked in the small administration team and dealt with client orders and liaised with dealers on the LME floor. I also helped to organize the annual client event, a cocktail party involving other member companies of the LME, with some 500 clients and staff.

I was PA to the MD.

PA to the MD of Amari Plastics Ltd. Assistant Group Purchasing Manager - Aalco Ltd, and Administration Manager at Aalco Uxbridge LtdLes Bent Regional Director (Retired) Aalco Ltd "I have known and worked with Yvonne for a number of years. During that time I have come to admire her calm and reassuring manner which never fails to instill confidence in others enabling her to communicate easily with a wide variety of people. During her later years of working in a fast moving and customer responsive stockholding business she successfully took on the role of 'troubleshooter' working for concentrated spells at different locations helping to resolve problems by setting up new systems and procedures to improve customer service and ultimately client retention. She always brought an infectious enthusiasm and pride to any role she was asked to carry out and never failed to generate a positive response from the local teams she worked with."