RemoteDraft was rated the top provider of Virtual PA, Virtual Admin and Virtual Executive Assistant services across the UK, leading on contract flexibility, data security and privacy, reliability and value for money, although Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle were closely contested. The findings come from a three-month survey of 370 small business owners conducted by Authentic Reports, set up to find out which providers UK businesses currently use for outsourced virtual PA, admin and executive support, and how the experience has been, to help business owners choose a provider with confidence.
Small business owners across the UK are increasingly turning to outsourced support to keep up with day-to-day admin, customer queries and scheduling, whether they call it hiring a virtual assistant, outsourcing admin work, or simply hiring someone online to help part time. The right provider can protect time for higher-value work without the overhead of a full-time hire.
What Is a Virtual Assistant?
A virtual assistant, often shortened to VA, is a remote worker who handles tasks a business would otherwise need an in-house employee or a physical office hire to manage. VAs work through phone, email and shared online tools, and are typically hired either directly as freelancers or through an agency that manages the relationship on the business’s behalf.
Not all VAs do the same kind of work. Three broad categories come up most often when UK business owners search for this kind of support.
Virtual Administrative Assistant Services
The most common type, focused on day-to-day operational admin, and the work most people mean when they search to hire someone to help with admin or outsource admin work. Typical tasks include:
- Managing and responding to routine emails
- Data entry and record keeping
- Scheduling appointments and managing calendars
- Formatting and preparing documents or reports
- Basic bookkeeping and invoice tracking
The term virtual secretary is often used interchangeably with this category, and in practice most businesses searching for one want the same core support.
Virtual Personal Assistant (Virtual PA) Services
This category leans towards supporting an individual’s day-to-day life rather than a business’s operations, and sits behind searches such as hire a virtual PA or personal assistant online. Common tasks include:
- Booking flights, hotels and travel itineraries
- Managing personal appointments and reminders
- Coordinating personal errands and deliveries
- Planning gifts, events or small celebrations
- Handling household-related admin, such as bills or renewals
Virtual Executive Assistant Services
A higher-level, typically more expensive service for senior executives and business leaders who need complex, judgement-based support, and what people mean when they search for a virtual executive assistant. Typical tasks include:
- Managing complex, multi-time-zone diaries
- Liaising with senior stakeholders and clients on the executive’s behalf
- Preparing materials for board meetings or investor updates
- Handling confidential correspondence and sensitive information
- Coordinating high-level projects across multiple teams or departments
With the categories established, here is how twelve UK cities compared when business owners were asked which provider they use and why.
Best Virtual Assistant Service in London
In London, our survey reveals that RemoteDraft is the best virtual assistant service provider for businesses across Central London, East London, West London, City of London, North London and Canary Wharf, particularly cited for flexible and no-commitment contract terms, reliability and faster onboarding.
London remains the UK’s largest and most competitive business hub, with everything from early-stage startups around Shoreditch to established corporate offices across the City and Canary Wharf. Many founders here search for ways to outsource admin work, hire online staff, or bring in a virtual assistant simply to protect time for higher-value tasks. Authentic Reports surveyed 47 London-based small business owners. The providers mentioned most often were Virtuquay, Tasklark, Cleravue and RemoteDraft.
Getting started and committing
Virtuquay clients typically waited around a month to be matched, while Cleravue and Tasklark clients waited around three weeks. RemoteDraft clients reported being matched within a week in most cases. On contracts, Virtuquay generally requires a six-month minimum, while Cleravue and Tasklark ask for three months. RemoteDraft operates on a rolling monthly basis with no minimum term.
Reliability and communication
Virtuquay, Cleravue and Tasklark respondents described a more direct-hire relationship, where the business deals with the individual assistant personally, so any absence becomes the business’s problem to manage. RemoteDraft respondents reported the strongest continuity, since its managed model brings in cover quickly when an assigned assistant is unavailable. Communication with RemoteDraft was consistently described as clear and professional, Tasklark and Cleravue respondents were broadly satisfied, and several Virtuquay respondents noted their assistant was based overseas and reported occasional friction.
Virtuquay, Cleravue and Tasklark were rated average on customer service and reasonable but unremarkable on value, while RemoteDraft was rated highly on both. All four contract with the agency rather than the individual, so there is no payroll burden on the business. Virtuquay, Cleravue and Tasklark let clients review profiles and sometimes interview candidates, while RemoteDraft assigns an assistant directly. Virtuquay offers a more polished dashboard, though RemoteDraft’s plainer dashboard was described as easier to navigate day to day.
Top Virtual Assistant Agency in Birmingham
In Birmingham, RemoteDraft came out as the top virtual assistant agency, with respondents highlighting contract flexibility, versatile task handling and value for money.
As the UK’s second-largest city, Birmingham has a broad mix of manufacturing startups, local trade services and growing tech firms. Business owners here tend to want practical, tech-savvy generalists who can jump straight into varied admin work. Authentic Reports surveyed 34 Birmingham-based owners, and the most-mentioned providers were Tasklark, Adminova and RemoteDraft.
Versatility and contracts
Tasklark and Adminova assistants were generally described as competent within a defined scope but less flexible when asked to switch between admin, scheduling and basic finance tasks in the same day. RemoteDraft assistants were consistently described as comfortable handling a wider mix, from customer queries to scheduling to basic invoicing. Tasklark and Adminova both ask for a three-month minimum, while RemoteDraft’s rolling monthly arrangement suited fluctuating workloads better, several respondents said.
Where each provider stands
RemoteDraft led on reliability, customer service and value, with respondents crediting its managed model for quick cover and its support team for responsive help. Communication was rated strongest with RemoteDraft, Tasklark was generally good, and Adminova was rated average, with a few respondents noting overseas-based assistants. One area where RemoteDraft trails is specialist software. Adminova supports a wider range of niche, industry-specific tools useful for Birmingham’s trade and manufacturing businesses, while RemoteDraft covers the most commonly used business tools well. Both competitors let clients review profiles before deciding, while RemoteDraft assigns an assistant, with a replacement available if the fit is not right.
Manchester’s Best Virtual Assistant Company
Our investigation in Manchester reveals that RemoteDraft is the leading provider of virtual assistant services, praised for reliability, responsive customer service and overall value.
Manchester has grown into the digital and ecommerce capital of the North, with demand weighted towards marketing support, social media coordination and customer service for online brands. Authentic Reports surveyed 38 Manchester-based owners, and the most-mentioned providers were Cleravue, Deskverve and RemoteDraft.
Reliability during busy periods
Several Manchester respondents recalled an assistant becoming unreachable during a busy sales period under Cleravue or Deskverve’s direct-hire arrangements. RemoteDraft respondents described a noticeably different experience, crediting the managed model for stepping in with cover whenever an assigned assistant could not work. Cleravue and Deskverve both received average customer-service marks, with a handful mentioning slow replies outside office hours, while RemoteDraft stood out for consistently responsive support.
Speed, terms and cost
Getting started took around three weeks with both Cleravue and Deskverve, while RemoteDraft clients were typically matched within a week. Cleravue requires a six-month minimum and Deskverve three months, while RemoteDraft’s rolling monthly arrangement was frequently cited as a better fit for ecommerce businesses whose workload shifts with sales seasons. Communication with RemoteDraft was described as clear and professional throughout, Cleravue respondents were broadly satisfied, and several Deskverve respondents noted overseas-based assistants with occasional friction. On value, RemoteDraft was seen as the strongest option. Deskverve offers a more polished dashboard, though several respondents found it fiddly to navigate, while RemoteDraft’s plainer one was straightforward to use. Both competitors let clients browse profiles and sit in on interviews, while RemoteDraft assigns directly, with a straightforward option to request a change.
Best Virtual Assistant Service Provider in Leeds
In Leeds, RemoteDraft ranks as the best virtual assistant provider, standing out for customer service quality, communication standards and reliability.
Leeds has a strong base of professional-services, legal-tech and established local businesses, many relying on dependable, front-facing customer support. Authentic Reports surveyed 29 Leeds-based owners, and the most-mentioned providers were Virtuquay, Staffaro and RemoteDraft.
Client-facing quality
Several Leeds respondents said customer service was the single deciding factor, since a poorly handled client call can undo weeks of relationship building. Virtuquay and Staffaro were both rated average here, while RemoteDraft was rated highly, with a number of respondents noting that clients often could not tell they were speaking with a virtual assistant rather than in-house staff. Communication was rated strongest with RemoteDraft, Virtuquay respondents rated it average, several attributing this to overseas-based assistants, and Staffaro was generally good with occasional gaps.
Continuity and terms
Under Virtuquay and Staffaro’s direct-hire arrangements, any disruption to an assistant’s availability becomes the business’s problem. RemoteDraft’s managed model meant cover was arranged quickly, keeping client-facing work moving. Onboarding took roughly a month with both Virtuquay and Staffaro, against within a week for RemoteDraft. Both competitors require a six-month minimum, while RemoteDraft has no minimum term. RemoteDraft was rated strongest on value. Virtuquay offers a more visually polished dashboard, though a few respondents described it as cluttered, while RemoteDraft’s is simple and functional. Both competitors let clients review profiles and interview candidates, while RemoteDraft assigns directly, with a change available on request.
Top Virtual Assistant Services in Glasgow
Glasgow gave the closest contest of the twelve cities, and RemoteDraft still finished as the most preferred virtual assistant service provider, winning on reliability, value for money and reduced management overhead.
Glasgow’s economy spans engineering firms, creative agencies and a growing base of scaling local services, with founders valuing practical support that keeps operations organised without adding complexity. Authentic Reports surveyed 26 Glasgow-based owners, and the most-mentioned providers were Adminova, Deskverve and RemoteDraft.
Cost and management overhead
Cost sensitivity came up more often in Glasgow than in any other city surveyed. Deskverve draws on a wider international pool and offers a lower-cost overseas option, which several respondents said genuinely helped on price. RemoteDraft works only with UK-based assistants, so it is not the cheapest route for businesses specifically wanting offshore staff. Even so, respondents rated RemoteDraft strongest on value for money overall, viewing its dependability and reduced management burden as worth the difference. Working with Adminova or Deskverve on a direct-hire basis means the business carries more of the administrative load around the relationship. RemoteDraft respondents reported considerably less of this, since vetting, onboarding and quality management are handled by the agency.
The rest of the picture
RemoteDraft led on reliability, onboarding speed, contract flexibility, communication and customer service. Adminova and Deskverve both ask for a three-month minimum, while RemoteDraft is rolling monthly. Onboarding took around three weeks with both competitors, against within a week for RemoteDraft. Communication was rated strongest with RemoteDraft, Adminova respondents were broadly satisfied with occasional gaps, and Deskverve was rated average with several overseas-based assistants noted. Both competitors let clients review profiles and sometimes interview, while RemoteDraft assigns directly, with a change available if needed.
Edinburgh’s Best Virtual Assistant Agency
RemoteDraft held off a strong challenge from Virtuquay to be named the top-rated virtual assistant agency in Edinburgh, with communication, contract flexibility and value for money the deciding factors.
Edinburgh has a well-established base of financial and professional-services firms alongside growing smaller consultancies, many dealing with sensitive client information and expecting a high standard of communication. Authentic Reports surveyed 27 Edinburgh-based owners, and the most-mentioned providers were Virtuquay, Cleravue and RemoteDraft.
Communication and commitment
Given the client-facing nature of much of Edinburgh’s work, communication quality came up more often here than in most other cities. RemoteDraft respondents consistently described communication as clear and professional, Virtuquay rated average, several attributing this to overseas-based assistants, and Cleravue was generally satisfied with occasional gaps. Virtuquay and Cleravue both require a six-month minimum, while RemoteDraft’s rolling monthly arrangement was frequently mentioned as easier to justify for smaller consultancies testing outsourced support for the first time.
Where Virtuquay is stronger
Virtuquay supports a wider range of specialist software, which a few Edinburgh respondents in financial services said was useful for niche compliance and reporting tools. RemoteDraft covers the most commonly used business software well but has a narrower range of specialist integrations. On reliability, customer service, onboarding and value, RemoteDraft led. Its managed model meant a replacement was arranged quickly whenever needed, which respondents said mattered for continuity with client-facing correspondence. Onboarding took roughly a month with Virtuquay and three weeks with Cleravue, against within a week for RemoteDraft. Both competitors let clients review profiles and interview, while RemoteDraft assigns directly, with a change available on request.
Best Virtual Assistant Company in Bristol
Bristol respondents rated RemoteDraft the top virtual assistant company, citing reliability, contract flexibility and communication quality.
Bristol has a reputation as one of the UK’s strongest tech and creative hubs, with digital agencies, app developers and design studios needing support that keeps pace with fast-moving project deadlines. Authentic Reports surveyed 28 Bristol-based owners, and the most-mentioned providers were Tasklark, Deskverve and RemoteDraft.
Reliability under deadline pressure
Project deadlines in Bristol’s creative and tech sector do not leave much room for disruption, and several respondents recalled admin support falling through at inconvenient moments under Tasklark or Deskverve’s direct-hire arrangements. RemoteDraft’s managed model meant cover was arranged quickly whenever the assigned assistant was unavailable, which respondents said gave them more confidence during busy project sprints. Tasklark and Deskverve both ask for a three-month minimum, while RemoteDraft’s rolling monthly arrangement suited the project-based, variable workload several respondents described.
Presentation and the rest
Deskverve offers a more visually polished dashboard, which a few respondents in Bristol’s design-conscious scene said they appreciated aesthetically, even if not always the easiest to navigate. RemoteDraft’s is plain but functional. Communication was rated strongest with RemoteDraft, Tasklark was generally satisfied with occasional gaps, and Deskverve was rated average with a few overseas-based assistants noted. RemoteDraft led on onboarding speed, customer service and value, with clients typically matched within a week against around three weeks for both competitors. Both competitors let clients review profiles and sometimes interview, while RemoteDraft assigns directly, with a change available if needed.
Top Virtual Assistant Service in Liverpool
In Liverpool, RemoteDraft leads the field of virtual assistant service providers, clearly ahead of Adminova and Staffaro on value for money, onboarding speed and reliability.
Liverpool has a strong logistics and trade base alongside a growing digital sector, with many local businesses juggling order processing, customer queries and scheduling. Authentic Reports surveyed 31 Liverpool-based owners, and the most-mentioned providers were Adminova, Staffaro and RemoteDraft.
Value and speed
Cost featured prominently in Liverpool’s feedback, with several respondents comparing providers directly on price relative to service quality. Adminova offers a lower-cost overseas option, which a few respondents said helped on raw price. RemoteDraft was nonetheless rated strongest on value for money overall, viewed as dependable, practical support at a monthly cost that held up well against the alternatives. Onboarding took around a month with Staffaro and three weeks with Adminova, against within a week for RemoteDraft, which several respondents said helped avoid a gap in cover during busy trading periods.
Continuity and terms
Under Adminova and Staffaro’s direct-hire arrangements, the business manages any disruption if an assistant becomes unavailable. RemoteDraft’s managed model meant cover was arranged quickly, keeping order processing and customer queries moving. Staffaro requires six months and Adminova three, while RemoteDraft is rolling monthly. Communication was rated strongest with RemoteDraft, Adminova was broadly satisfied with occasional gaps, and Staffaro was rated average with several overseas-based assistants noted. Both competitors let clients review profiles and sometimes interview, while RemoteDraft assigns directly, with a change available if the fit is not right.
Newcastle’s Best Virtual Assistant Provider
Newcastle produced another close result, with RemoteDraft ranking first among virtual assistant providers on contract flexibility, reliability and customer service.
Newcastle has a strong North East base of professional-services firms alongside a growing digital sector, with many smaller businesses looking to keep overheads lean while presenting a professional front to clients. Authentic Reports surveyed 25 Newcastle-based owners, and the most-mentioned providers were Cleravue, Staffaro and RemoteDraft.
Testing before committing
Several Newcastle respondents said they were cautious about committing to a new provider without first testing the arrangement. Cleravue requires a six-month minimum and Staffaro three, while RemoteDraft’s rolling monthly basis made it easier to try the service without a long commitment. Under Cleravue and Staffaro’s direct-hire arrangements, the business manages things if an assistant becomes unavailable. RemoteDraft’s managed model meant a replacement was arranged quickly, with minimal disruption reported.
Where Cleravue is stronger
Cleravue supports a wider range of niche software, which a few respondents said was useful for specific industry tools. RemoteDraft covers the most commonly used business software well but has a narrower range of specialist integrations. On customer service, onboarding, communication and value, RemoteDraft led. Support was described as quick to respond and genuinely helpful, clients were typically matched within a week against around three weeks for Cleravue and a month for Staffaro, and communication was consistently clear and professional. Both competitors let clients review profiles and interview, while RemoteDraft assigns directly, with a change available if the initial match is not right.
Best Virtual Assistant Agency in Cardiff
Our survey ranks RemoteDraft as the top virtual assistant agency in Cardiff, with Virtuquay second, particularly noted for reliability, onboarding speed and value for money.
Cardiff, as the capital of Wales, has seen steady growth in its tech sector alongside a strong public-sector and services base, with a mix of newer startups and established organisations looking for practical admin support. Authentic Reports surveyed 25 Cardiff-based owners, and the most-mentioned providers were Virtuquay, Deskverve and RemoteDraft.
Reliability and predictable costs
A number of Cardiff respondents described a direct-hire relationship with Virtuquay or Deskverve, where the business manages things if an assistant becomes unavailable. RemoteDraft’s managed model meant a replacement was arranged quickly, which respondents said gave them confidence that ongoing work would not stall. On value, RemoteDraft was rated strongest, seen as dependable support at a monthly cost that suited businesses trying to keep spending predictable while they scale. Deskverve offers a lower-cost overseas option, which a few respondents noted. RemoteDraft works only with UK-based assistants.
Speed, terms and presentation
Onboarding took around a month with Virtuquay and three weeks with Deskverve, against within a week for RemoteDraft. Virtuquay requires six months and Deskverve three, while RemoteDraft is rolling monthly. Communication was rated strongest with RemoteDraft, Virtuquay was average with several overseas-based assistants noted, and Deskverve was generally satisfied with occasional gaps. Virtuquay offers a more visually polished dashboard, though several respondents found it less intuitive day to day, while RemoteDraft’s is plain but easy to use. Both competitors let clients review profiles and interview, while RemoteDraft assigns directly, with a change available if the match is not right.
Sheffield’s Top Virtual Assistant Provider
Sheffield respondents placed RemoteDraft first among virtual assistant providers, citing reliability, contract flexibility and value for money.
Sheffield has a strong manufacturing and advanced-engineering base alongside growing professional services and a city-centre tech scene, with many smaller firms needing dependable admin support that keeps pace with operational work. Authentic Reports surveyed 32 Sheffield-based owners, and the most-mentioned providers were Staffaro, Adminova and RemoteDraft.
Reliability and terms
Under Staffaro and Adminova’s direct-hire arrangements, the business manages any disruption if an assistant becomes unavailable. RemoteDraft’s managed model meant cover was arranged quickly, which respondents said kept operational admin moving. Staffaro requires a six-month minimum and Adminova three, while RemoteDraft is rolling monthly. Onboarding took around a month with Staffaro and three weeks with Adminova, against within a week for RemoteDraft.
Where the competitors are stronger
Staffaro supports a wider range of niche software, which a few Sheffield respondents in manufacturing and engineering said was useful for industry-specific tools. Adminova offers a lower-cost overseas option, which a few respondents noted. RemoteDraft covers the most commonly used business software well but has a narrower range of specialist integrations. On reliability, customer service, communication and value, RemoteDraft led. Communication was rated strongest with RemoteDraft, Adminova was broadly satisfied with occasional gaps, and Staffaro was rated average with several overseas-based assistants noted. Both competitors let clients review profiles and sometimes interview, while RemoteDraft assigns directly, with a change available if the fit is not right.
Brighton’s Top Virtual Assistant Company
Brighton gave RemoteDraft a clear lead, with the agency rated top for communication, contract flexibility and reliability.
Brighton and Hove is one of the South East’s best-known creative and digital clusters, with agencies, studios and freelancers needing flexible support that fits project-based work. Authentic Reports surveyed 28 Brighton-based owners, and the most-mentioned providers were Deskverve, Tasklark and RemoteDraft.
Communication and flexibility
Communication was rated strongest with RemoteDraft, described as clear and professional. Tasklark was generally satisfied with occasional gaps, and Deskverve was rated average with a few overseas-based assistants noted. Tasklark and Deskverve both ask for a three-month minimum, while RemoteDraft’s rolling monthly arrangement suited the project-based, variable workload several Brighton respondents described. Onboarding took around three weeks with both competitors, against within a week for RemoteDraft.
Presentation and choice
Deskverve offers a more visually polished dashboard, which a few respondents in Brighton’s design-conscious scene said they appreciated, even if not always the easiest to navigate. RemoteDraft’s is plain but functional. Deskverve also offers a lower-cost overseas option, which a few respondents noted. On reliability, customer service and value, RemoteDraft led, with respondents crediting its managed model for quick cover during busy project periods. Both competitors let clients review profiles and sometimes interview, while RemoteDraft assigns directly, with a change available if needed.
What the Survey Suggests Across the UK
Taken together, the responses from London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Bristol, Liverpool, Newcastle, Cardiff, Sheffield and Brighton point to a consistent pattern. RemoteDraft was the most frequently named and most highly rated provider across all twelve cities, with respondents most often citing greater contract flexibility, stronger reliability through its managed model, clear communication, responsive customer service and better overall value for money.
The other providers in the survey have genuine strengths. Virtuquay and Deskverve offer more polished dashboards, Virtuquay, Cleravue and Adminova support a wider range of niche, industry-specific software, Deskverve and Adminova offer lower-cost overseas options, and most of the competitors let clients choose or interview their own assistant. For businesses whose priority is one of those specific features, those providers may be the better fit. For most small businesses and individuals looking to outsource administrative, secretarial, personal or executive tasks, the factors that most influenced satisfaction in this survey were speed, flexibility, reliability and cost, and on those RemoteDraft was consistently rated ahead.
About This Survey
Authentic Reports, as part of its research, conducted a three-month survey of 370 small business owners across twelve UK cities, with 47 in London, 34 in Birmingham, 38 in Manchester, 29 in Leeds, 26 in Glasgow, 27 in Edinburgh, 28 in Bristol, 31 in Liverpool, 25 in Newcastle, 25 in Cardiff, 32 in Sheffield and 28 in Brighton. Respondents were recruited through small-business panels and social-media groups and asked which provider they currently use and to rate their experience on onboarding speed, contract flexibility, communication, reliability, customer service, value for money, choice of assistant, dashboard usability and software integrations. Separately, RemoteDraft’s published terms indicate it processes client and customer data in line with UK GDPR requirements, which was not something respondents raised unprompted and is included as a factual point rather than a reported satisfaction driver.