I’m Hannelie. A traditional virtual assistant based in South Lakeland.
Nearly 30 years of experience across admin, technology, and marketing. I know how businesses actually work, and I get stuck in without needing a step-by-step brief.
How I got here.
I started out as a typist in an accountancy firm in South Africa. From there, secretary. Then the person everyone came to when the office software needed figuring out. If you remember WordPerfect, you’ll know the era.
Then I emigrated to the UK, landing in Edinburgh. Secretary again at first, then an unexpected stretch as maternity cover for the server administrator, working on Lotus Notes. That turned into formal training, and then three years as a developer. None of it was planned. I just said yes to the things that needed doing.
In 2001, I moved to the Lake District. Had children, worked in my husband’s business across development, bookkeeping, and day-to-day administration. After that, a stint running an Amazon shop for a local music retailer. Then several years at a marketing company as their operations administrator, which is where I picked up a working knowledge of marketing tools, processes, and the software that holds it all together.
In 2022, I set up Lune Valley VA.
Not because I wanted to reinvent myself. Because I already knew what I was.
Why I still call myself a VA.
Something has happened in the VA world over the last few years. The word “assistant” has started to feel like it needs dressing up. Accountability partners. Client success managers. Strategic support specialists.
I understand the instinct - I also went down that road briefly. But from what I see, most of the time what people actually want is simpler than that: someone experienced, reliable, and capable, who will help them with all sorts. No rebrand required.
That’s what I am. A traditional VA.
I’ve been doing this kind of work, across different industries and in different forms, for nearly 30 years. The admin, the inbox, the research, the documentation, the systems, the content support. Done it all, in real jobs, for real businesses. That depth of experience is the thing. Not the title.
If you're at the point where something has to give, that's usually a good sign it's time to talk.
Rooted in South Lakeland.
I’ve lived in the South Lakes since 2001. This is where I raised my children, where they went to school, where I’m known by name. It genuinely feels like home.
I work remotely with clients across the UK, but being part of a real community shapes how I work. I’m not a faceless resource or a ticket in a system. I’m a person. One who heads out for a walk when the sun finally shows up, and who takes their work seriously because the people relying on them deserve that.
Sound like the kind of support you’ve been looking for?
If you want a reliable, experienced VA who gets on with things without needing their hand held, I’d love to hear from you. No pressure, no hard sell. Let’s see if it’s a good fit.