Heywood woman creates virtual office

Date published: 02/03/2006

A Heywood woman, Carmel Lambert, has set up a ‘virtual’ office working online to provide businesses cover when staff are off sick or on holiday or her service can be used on a regular or one-off basis when companies have a heavy workload.

Carmel has 20 years experience in the secretarial field – she worked for the National Westminster Bank for 13 years and her last employment was working for Rochdale Council Local Education Authority.

Carmel told Rochdale Online she decided to set up on her own as it is something she had always wanted to do. She said: "I decided to take the plunge as a result of my husband working in Liverpool and commuting. Because of the distance we started to use digital equipment which meant clients could be based literally anywhere and it worked really well – work was typed up and sent back as an email attachment and it proved a very quick service making distance no object."

Aimed at small and medium sized enterprises and individuals, Virtual Typing Services offers clients copy/audio typing, proofreading, PowerPoint presentations, internet research, curriculum vitaes, manuscripts and student theses and dissertations.

VTS uses the latest ‘digital’ dictating equipment (compressing voice files) and universal transcription software:  dictation can be sent online to her; she then transcribes the information and sends it back.

Talking about marketing her new business, Carmel said: "I am a member of Rochdale Women’s Enterprise Initiative which is a networking group for Women in Rochdale.  They are putting on an exhibition at Rochdale Town Hall  called ‘Made in Rochdale & Meet the Buyer’ where women in business in Rochdale will be showcasing their products and services to the general public and buyers.

"I will have a stand there, will be demonstrating my services, providing more information and having a quiz to test people’s level of grammar, punctuation, etc.

"I am hoping to attract small businesses from Heywood and Rochdale and to have a fun day."