Bizpro's Kerry-Anne Orr

What was your first job and where has your career gone from there?

My first job was as a shop assistant for Athena Galleries, the poster shop. It was great fun, and I quickly worked my up through the ranks to Shop Manager before leaving to pursue an office job at a Steel Stockholders. I’ve had quite a varied career from that point, having worked in a call centre for a couple of years, to working as Office manager and PA. My last role was as a Project Support Consultant for a software company. I now run my own VA (virtual assistant) company and also lead a business breakfast networking group, 4Networking, in Faringdon once a fortnight.

How did you become a VA?

I’d always wanted to run my own business, and whilst on maternity leave I was finding that I was still getting requests for my skills in presentation design and software knowledge from former colleagues, so I felt I had a lot of skills which would be of benefit to small businesses that couldn’t afford their own PA or administrator. I spent most of my maternity leave researching for my business and Bizpro was incorporated in December 2006.

Who or what inspires you?

I’m inspired by small business owners like me who have started their own business out of their passion for what they do, and who are not afraid to ask questions and also to answer them. Since starting my own business I’ve developed a large network of really inspiring local people who all have different stories to tell. To me it’s fascinating finding out how people started and what drives them, and certainly gives me food for thought with regards to my own business.

What other interests do you have?

I’m never usually far away from my computer, but when I am I have a motorhome which I use for weekends and holidays to travel around UK and Europe with my family. As a very creative creature I also enjoy oil painting, crafting and silver metal working when time allows.

What are your plans for the future?

Bizpro has been developed to create a one stop shop for business administration, and I’m planning to grow into new premises in the New Year, opening up more opportunities to assist our clients.

What's your favourite local pub or restaurant?

Carswell Golf and Country Club, in Faringdon. It’s in a beautiful setting with stunning scenery and with its roaring log fire it really creates a warm homely atmosphere. The 4Networking group I run meets there every other Thursday morning, and the breakfast, the service and the welcome is wonderful.

Favourite film:

I love cartoon films like Shrek and Monsters Inc. They’re great fun, and you always discover new things about them each time you watch them. Legends of the Fall is another favourite - Brad Pitt at his best, and it’s basically a love story about three brothers who all fall in love with the same girl.

What are you currently reading?

NLP for Lazy Learners! Neuro Linguistic Programming is an area I've been quite interested in for a while, and the small amount I've read on it so far makes so much sense. It's a very relevant tool for business and networking.

What's your philosophy for life?

Never regret. People make decisions everyday, and I believe that whatever decisions I make I make them for the right reasons at that time, so there's no looking back and saying 'what if?'

Desert island choices; one book one song, one luxury.

Ooh, hard one this! The luxury would be my laptop, (if it was solar powered with internet!), Choosing just one song is tricky as I really love music, and I have several favourites for various reasons. One of my all time favourites would have to be John Cales' version of Hallelujah. If it really was a desert island then the book would have to be one of Ray Mears' Survival books!