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Bristol PA Finalist for National Award

NEWS RELEASE

14th September 2004

Chance For Office Superstar To Win Luxury Holiday

Mel Joseph from Thornbury, a PA to the Head of Performance, Reward & Management Information Strategy at Lloyds TSB Head Office in Bristol, has been selected as one of just four finalists in the inaugural Smart Secretary/PA of the Year Award - a competition organised by Smart PA magazine and sponsored by leading staffing specialists Kelly Services.

The competition was aimed at raising the profile of secretaries and PAs who play a key role in any office but are very often an under-appreciated asset.

The winner of the prestigious Smart Secretary/PA of the Year Award 2004 will enjoy the recognition of being the best secretary or PA in the country, a fantastic holiday for two in a five-star hotel in Cyprus, a luxury spa break at Champneys, a hamper from Harrods, as well as other prizes.

Mel now goes forward with the three other finalists to an event on Friday 1st October where she will be put through a series of tests by a distinguished judging panel, before the overall UK winner is selected.

To get to this stage Mel had to ask her boss at Lloyds TSB to provide a 250 words nomination and she also had to complete a series of questions.

In his nomination Simon New, Head of Performance, Reward & Management Information Strategy at Lloyds TSB said: “A happy team is a productive team. Mel brings a spark to the working day – a sense of reality, fun and dedication that acts as a constant ray of sunshine. Without Mel the team just wouldn’t be the same. I consider myself lucky to have a PA who is determined to excel and who takes a proactive approach to everything she does. She doesn’t just report problems; she recommends solutions rather than waiting to be told. She constantly keeps me on my toes, helping make me a more effective leader of my team.”

Clare Francis, Kelly Services Head of Communications said: "The traditional role of a secretary and PA - taking dictation, shorthand and answering the telephone - has changed dramatically and even though they are still key skills of the role, broader skills such as proficient use of computer applications and strong interpersonal and communication skills are also essential in progressing your career.  Modern secretaries and PAs have to be real multi-taskers and qualities such as integrity, confidentiality and commitment are considered very important.  We wish Mel and the other finalists the best of luck for their big day on 1st October.”

-ENDS-

Note to editors:

About Kelly Services

Kelly Services is a leading UK recruitment and human resources organisation, placing around 20,000 temporary staff into jobs each week and more than 10,000 people in permanent work annually through a network of 120 offices across the country.  Kelly Services, Inc. is a Fortune 500 company offering human resources solutions that include temporary services, staff leasing, outsourcing, vendor on-site and full-time placement.  With more than 2,500 company owned and operated offices in 26 countries, Kelly provides to its customers nearly 700,000 individuals annually, with skills including office services, accounting, engineering, information technology, law, science, marketing, light industrial, education and health care.  Visit www.kellyservices.com for more information.

About Lloyds TSB

Lloyds TSB Group is a leading UK-based financial services group, which was created in 1995 following the merger of the TSB Group and the Lloyds Bank Group, the history of which can be traced back to the 18th century.  Its businesses provide a wide range of banking and financial services in the UK and overseas, principally through branches of Lloyds TSB Bank and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Cheltenham & Gloucester and Lloyds TSB Scotland.  In 2000, Lloyds TSB Group acquired Scottish Widows; this transaction positioned Lloyds TSB Group as one of the leading suppliers of long-term savings and protection products in the UK.

About Smart PA magazine

Smart PA magazine is an A4 glossy magazine targeted at a UK national audience of 150,000 Corporate buyers of Conferences & Incentives Venues, Business Travel, and Corporate Hospitality. Visit www.smartgroup.eu.com