A financial services and business transformation professional with more than two decades of corporate experience has chosen the franchise route to launch her own virtual assistant business.
Lianne Marsh is preparing to launch her own Alchemy VA franchise after a career spanning banking, stockbroking, financial planning, people management and business transformation.
Based in Stockport, Lianne will officially launch Alchemy VA Stockport and Cheshire East in November, becoming the latest franchise partner to join the growing virtual assistant network.
Her move into the VA industry follows more than 20 years spent developing many of the skills now at the heart of her new business – from client management and research to creating processes, training teams, managing projects and identifying operational efficiencies.
For Lianne, however, choosing a franchise rather than establishing an independent VA business was an important part of the decision.
She said: “I knew I had the experience and transferable skills to provide the support businesses need, but running your own business is very different from being good at the work you are going to deliver.
“What appealed to me about Alchemy was that I could have the independence and flexibility of building something of my own while still having people around me who had already been through that journey.
“I spoke to franchise partners who had been with Alchemy for some time as well as someone who had only recently started, which gave me different perspectives. The training, support from Founder Suzy and the wider network really reassured me that there would always be someone in my corner.”
Lianne began her career with the Bank of New York, progressing from back-office operations into client services and managing relationships with major clients and their portfolios.
Alongside her career, she completed a degree in Financial Services before moving into stockbroking operations and subsequently financial planning at Ascot Lloyd.
More recently, she moved into a Transformation Business Analyst role, reviewing existing processes and identifying opportunities to work more efficiently.
That breadth of experience helped her recognise that the modern VA role could encompass far more than traditional administrative support.
“I knew about virtual assistance, but I don’t think I initially appreciated just how broad the opportunity could be,” she explained.
“When I looked properly at what I had enjoyed most throughout my career – organising, problem solving, improving processes, working with people and seeing something through from beginning to end – there was a really strong fit.
“I can now take all of that experience and use it much more directly to help business owners.”
As well as the practical support available through the franchise model, Lianne says Alchemy’s values and approach to training played an important role in her decision.
Suzy Sanders, founder of Alchemy VA, said, “We’re increasingly seeing highly experienced people coming to Alchemy after successful corporate careers who want greater flexibility and autonomy without leaving everything they’ve learned behind.”
“Those years of experience are hugely valuable. Our franchise partners aren’t starting again; they’re taking skills developed in demanding professional environments and applying them directly to the businesses they support.”
“The franchise model means Lianne can concentrate on turning her strengths into a successful business while having the training, established systems and community around her that can be much harder to replicate when starting completely alone.”
Through her new franchise, Lianne will provide support including process and procedure development, research and data gathering, new-starter processes and toolkits, project support, proofreading and publishing, blogs and content, marketing, social media and event support.
Her financial services background also provides a natural specialism, with financial advisers among the businesses she hopes to support.
The decision to establish her own business follows a significant period of change in Lianne’s life.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022, she spent almost two years away from work while focusing on her recovery. When she returned in 2024, she began reassessing what she wanted from the next stage of her career.
Greater flexibility to be present for her husband Ben and their two children was important, alongside having greater autonomy and the opportunity to build something herself.
Now, Lianne’s ambition is not only to create a successful business but eventually to build a team around it.
For more information about Alchemy Virtual Assistance, their services, or franchise opportunities, visit www.alchemyva.co.uk or contact Lianne directly at lianne.marsh@alchemyva.co.uk.
