About Tracey Burkinshaw VA

Tracey Burkinshaw Virtual Assistant sitting in the kitchen with a mug of coffee

A Little Bit of Background

Hi I’m Tracey, I live in Sheffield and work remotely with small businesses and teams across the UK.

I’ve spent more than 30 years working in busy, varied and sometimes very demanding environments. Along the way, I’ve learned a lot about what makes businesses work, but also about what helps the people behind them do their best work: having the right support, the space to think and someone reliable to help get things done.

My career has taken me through a variety of industries, each one adding another layer to the skills I now bring to my clients:

  • 13 years in travel — from managing a travel agency to planning complex itineraries, cruise sales, and coordinating business and leisure travel.
  • 1 year Sabatical, Australia, Asia & South Pacific — temporary roles in diverse sectors, including PA support, vocational rehabilitation, financial services, cosmetics distribution, hospitality and farming.
  • 13 years in software sales administration — managing operations, order processing, stock control, technical support, tradeshow organisation, invoicing and credit control.
  • 5 years in employee benefits — benefit implementation, platform builds and maintenance, engagement strategies, joiner leaver and change administration, HR team and employee support.

That range of experience means I understand how businesses work, the moving parts, deadlines, operational noise and invisible workload behind the scenes. It’s also shaped the adaptable, people focused approach I bring to my work today. I’m comfortable figuring things out, learning new systems and finding practical ways to turn ideas and problems into something manageable.

A New Chapter Built on Balance

Like many people, the pandemic changed my world. I transitioned from bustling office environments to working from home, discovering that I could be just as effective, if not even more so, working independently. I’ve spent years working mostly solo, and enjoy the time I also get to collaborate as part of a team.

I have one default setting, to give 110% to everything I do. I put my heart and soul into my work, and I care deeply about the people I support.

My move into the employee benefits world came from a personal search for better work life balance and wellbeing. Ironically, it eventually delivered the opposite. I found myself working longer hours than ever, with little support, and little space left for anything else. It was unsustainable, and eventually I knew something had to change.

Inspired by my late Mum’s unwavering belief in me: “You are so clever darling. You can do anything.” I made the bold decision to build something of my own. Something that aligned with my values. Something that would help others avoid the burnout I experienced.

Brightly coloured sunflowers growing in a field with a sunrise and blue sky

Working Together to Thrive

In a world increasingly shaped by AI, human creativity, care, expertise, trust and personal connection matter more than ever. The people behind a business are what make it special. Your ideas, skills, experience and personality are things technology can support, but never replace.

Small business owners and small teams are incredible. They juggle ideas, clients, deadlines, decisions and all the behind the scenes work that keeps a business moving, often at the expense of their own time and headspace. I understand how heavy that load can feel, and how much difference the right support can make.

That’s where I come in.

I combine practical organisational support with digital tools and technology to simplify the way you work, solve problems and help bring your ideas to life, while keeping the human connection at the heart of everything I do. Sometimes that means taking a piece of work off your hands. Sometimes it’s finding a better way to do something, setting up a system, building a website, organising information or finally getting that project moving.

Whatever we’re working on, my aim is the same: to make things easier and create more time and space for what matters most to you.

With more than 30 years of experience, a meticulous work ethic and a genuine passion for helping people reclaim balance, I’m perfectly placed to support you and your business.

If any of this resonates with you, get in touch.