Alchemy VA Spotlight - Heather Walker
Posted on 24th April 2025 at 09:35
Meet Heather Walker
Heather Walker is one of our trusted Virtual Assistant Franchise Partners who heads up all things Alchemy in York.
Starting her adventure into Virtual Assistance in 2024, Heather completed her Virtual Assistant Launch training in the winter of 2024 and officially launched Alchemy Virtual Assistance in Yorkshire in early 2025!
Tune in to what makes Heather tick, why she chose to start her Virtual Assistant business in partnership with Alchemy VA and discover the true value an Alchemy VA can bring...
Let's start at the beginning. Heather, please share a little bit about yourself...
I am the Alchemy VA Franchise Partner for York and have over 20 years of administration experience in the education, mental health and charity sectors. I have always loved connecting with people through my work and have volunteered for a number of charities over the years.
I live in the countryside just outside York with my husband, James, our two wonderful neurodivergent teenagers and our dog, Alfie. I grew up on a farm near Reading and have always loved animals and the natural world. I also always loved travelling and learning about other cultures which led me to have a memorable year living in Germany in my early 20's. I don’t get to travel as much these days but do love a good book to take me away to another time and place!
What did you want to be when you grew up?
From about the age of 6, I wanted to be a teacher. However, I figured out quite quickly after university that teaching wasn’t going to be for me after all!
How did you first discover Alchemy Virtual Assistance?
I started looking into becoming a Virtual Assistant during a break in employment to care for my family, and I came across Alchemy VA at this point and loved their values – I instantly felt a connection. However, this wasn’t the right time for me, but Alchemy kept coming back to me in various ways for a number of years. When I finally decided it was time to take the plunge into running my own business, I knew that it would be Alchemy VA that I would contact first.
What do you love most about being an Alchemy VA Franchise Partner?
I love having the freedom and encouragement to run my business in a way that works best for me, whilst having the support and guidance of the whole Alchemy team. They are always just a message or phone call away.
It is so reassuring knowing that the team are there to boost your confidence and cheer you on when needed.
In your experience and opinion - what is the most significant benefit to a small business working with Alchemy VA?
It is a huge benefit to a small business to know that their Virtual Assistant has a close-knit team behind them supporting them, who in turn are supporting their business too. Their Virtual Assistant has the benefit of years of invaluable experience within the wider team.
What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
Progress over perfection - start taking action (however small the step) and don't let the fear of making mistakes or being judged stop you from making progress. It’s better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all - you can’t learn if you don’t try.
What does a typical day look like to you?
After getting my son off to the bus and dropping my daughter at school, I come home, check my emails and make myself a list for the day, prioritising tasks to make sure I know what has to be done first. I am very much a list writer and love the satisfaction of ticking things off throughout the day!
I usually then get on with client work or responding to enquiries for the morning. I always get out for some fresh air and a walk with Alfie around lunchtime and then try to make time for some business development and planning before my teenagers come home from school.
When they arrive home, I will take a break to catch up on the day’s events with them. Then I sometimes have time for a bit more work before cooking tea. In the evening, I catch up on life admin or finish off any tasks from the day, and eventually chill out with a camomile tea and a book or something funny on TV, whilst trying to encourage my son and daughter to get to bed at a reasonable time (which doesn’t always happen!).
Lastly, what advice would you give someone considering getting the support of a Virtual Assistant?
If you’re considering it, you probably need it!
The sooner you start discussions with a potential Virtual Assistant; the sooner you can gain some clarity on what it is you might need help with.
You don’t need to have everything figured out straight away as your Alchemy Virtual Assistant can work with you to assess time and tasks, although it does help if you have some ideas.
And look for a VA whose vibes and values align with yours!
What next?
Interested in chatting with Heather about what level and type of Virtual Assistant support will make the most impact to you? You can get in touch here.
Perhaps you're not yet sure if you're ready for a Virtual Assistant? Why not take our free VA 'readiness' evaluation to gain valuable insights and personalised advice on maximising the outputs of a Alchemy Virtual Assistant.
If you're curious about starting your own Virtual Assistant business like Heather, the first step is to download a Virtual Asstistant Franchise Information pack.
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