About Me
Hello, I'm Mel Bates
Mum of 3
Wife
Hockey player
Lover of romcoms, Marvel and Harry Potter
Christmas? Say no more – I’m in
Travel enthusiast
AND
Business Owner & Virtual Assistant
Now, onto business...
With over 20 years’ experience in senior EA and PA roles - including 17 years in the legal sector - I’ve supported CEOs, Partners and senior leaders across national and international law firms, manufacturing, fintech and professional services. My career has seen me take on a mix of senior roles, including PA to Directors, EA to CEO & Chairman, PA Team Leader and Operations Manager and has given me a wide range of experience, which means I bring a well-rounded, commercially aware approach to every role I step into.
I understand what busy professionals and growing businesses need to keep things running smoothly and I tailor my support to match. I’m always proactive, practical and focused on finding the right solutions to get things done efficiently and effectively.
In September 2022, I launched Elite EA (now Elite Virtual Assistant Limited) - a modern, virtual support service - built to deliver agile and high-impact support to business owners, CEOs, senior leaders, SMEs and growing teams, wherever they’re based. I'm based in Solihull but the joy of being a Virtual Assistant means I can support from anywhere!
I support a broad range of clients across sectors including legal, events, professional membership and cyber security. Each brings its own challenges and opportunities - which is exactly what I love about this work.
My clients value my ability to step in, understand their world quickly and deliver seamless support that adds real value. I’m known for being organised, calm under pressure, commercially minded and a strong communicator - someone who builds genuine, long term relationships based on trust, integrity and results.
Whether it's orchestrating high-level board meetings, meticulously coordinating large-scale award ceremonies and conferences for up to 300 attendees, efficiently managing a professional membership portal, providing support with business operations or overseeing a dynamic team of 20 PAs and admins, all while juggling complex diary and email management - variety and the wearing of many hats is my specialism!
Where did the name "Elite" come from?
Growing up, my parents created the family business, Elite Windows Limited. They built the business based on trust and a commitment to quality customer service. Watching them run their business instilled in me work ethic, integrity and customer service and the importance of reputation. Their business came from word-of-mouth recommendations - a testament to their exceptional reputation in the industry.
When the time came for me to establish my own business, I wanted a name that would reflect the qualities and values I learnt from them, so it was only fitting to follow in the family footsteps and incorporate "Elite" into my business name. Just like my parents' business, my aim is to build a business with long-lasting client relationships and an exceptional reputation.
I started trading in September 2022 as a sole trader under Elite EA - Virtual Assistant but decided in May 2025 that now was the time to transition to the Limited Company I set up in 2024 - Elite Virtual Assistant Limited.
"Elite" will always play a special part in my business.