Virtual Assistant Best Practice
SVA developed the first code of ethics for UK virtual assistants back in 2007 in response to increasing numbers of complaints from clients about virtual assistant best practice. In 2017 we updated those standards to reflect the changing nature of the industry and increased legislation which VAs should operate under.
It is free to join and be listed, there is no reason why a professional UK based VA would not be a member, unless they aren’t able to comply with these simple rules.
Virtual Assistants wanting to be an approved SVA member should comply with the following VA Standards & Best Practice:
- Have a website of professional quality. Including a UK mailing address, Client T&Cs (how you run the business / what’s included in your pricing etc), + Website Terms and Conditions, cookie policy*, privacy policy*, and acceptable use policy*.
- Have professional email addresses. These must be domain specific and no @gmail.com/@btinternet.com.
- Back up data securely off site.
- Answer phone calls or emails received within office hours next working day. Or to have an answerphone or autoresponder giving further information about when you will respond to the query.
- Be professional. Only take on tasks which you are fully capable of completing and have suitable professional indemnity insurance. Should not offer paid training/mentoring for other VAs without being listed as an Approved VA Trainer with SVA and proving they have appropriate experience.
- Be based in the UK. We do not list offshore VAs.
- Be ICO registered. Have data controller registration via Information Commissioner’s Office.
- Contribute. Have contributed to the industry by interacting with our forums, facebook pages or in another demonstrable way.
- Link. You must link back to our website and prove your commitment to #CollaborationNotCompetition – working together to improve the UK VA Industry.
* if relevant to your business – this might include collecting data via Google Analytics, using WordPress, hosting comments on a blog or collecting email addresses. If you don’t use these things, you can tick the box as you comply by not using these tools.