Monday 15th June 2026 was a day I had been looking forward to for quite a while.
For the first time, I wasn’t attending the Midlands VA Conference as a delegate.
I was exhibiting.
Even now, a few days later, that still feels a little strange to say.
I’ve attended networking events, conferences and business exhibitions for years, but there is something very different about arriving at a venue knowing you have your own stand, your own space and your own business on display.
As I arrived at the National Conference Centre and watched exhibitors setting up around me, there was definitely a mixture of excitement and nerves. Not because I was worried about speaking to people, anyone who knows me knows that isn’t usually a problem, but because this felt like a genuine milestone for Vicki Admin Fairy®.
As I unpacked my banners, books, resources and promotional materials, it slowly started to feel real.
This wasn’t somebody else’s stand. This wasn’t me attending as a visitor.
This was my business, my products and my journey sitting right there in front of me.
Why Exhibiting at Midlands VA Conference Mattered to Me
One thing the day gave me was the chance to stop and reflect.
When you’re running a business, you’re usually focused on what’s next. The next client, the next project, the next opportunity or the next goal.
You rarely stop and look at what you’ve already achieved.
Vicki Admin Fairy® started small, just like many businesses do. My first client was a social media client paying £40 a month and at the time I was absolutely delighted to have them. I certainly wasn’t thinking about writing books, exhibiting at conferences or being invited to speak at events.
I was focused on doing a good job.
Then another client came along.
Then another.
And before I knew it, this little business had grown into something far bigger than I could ever have imagined.
Looking around the exhibition hall on Monday, surrounded by talented Virtual Assistants from across the UK, I realised just how much has happened since those early days.
Since starting Vicki Admin Fairy®, I’ve had the privilege of supporting businesses across the UK, working with disabled and neurodivergent entrepreneurs, becoming an award winning Virtual Assistant, writing books and creating resources designed to help both VAs and small business owners.
Monday reminded me that sometimes it’s important to stop and appreciate the journey.
One of the things I love most about the Midlands VA Conference is the people.
The event brings together Virtual Assistants at every stage of business. Some are just starting out, some are building momentum and others have been running successful businesses for years.
What they all have in common is a willingness to share experiences and support one another.
Throughout the day I had conversations about confidence, client boundaries, social media, systems, pricing, business growth and trademarking.
I spoke to people who were thinking about becoming VAs, people who had recently started their businesses and experienced VAs looking for fresh ideas and support.
What I love about the VA community is that people are honest.
We all know that running a business can be rewarding, but we also know it can be challenging, lonely and overwhelming at times.
Events like this remind you that you are not figuring everything out on your own.
More Than Just Admin
Most of my working week is spent behind the scenes helping clients.
As a Virtual Assistant, I support small business owners with everything from email and diary management to invoicing, social media support, website updates, trademark applications and general business administration.
I genuinely love that work.
Helping business owners free up their time and reduce their admin overwhelm is exactly why I started Vicki Admin Fairy®.
But Monday reminded me how much I enjoy getting out from behind the laptop too.
I love meeting people face to face.
I love hearing their stories.
I love finding out what challenges they’re facing and sharing ideas that might help.
There is something about being in a room full of business owners, entrepreneurs and VAs that gives you energy and inspiration.
By the end of the day, I realised just how much I had enjoyed exhibiting and being part of the event.
Sharing My Books and Resources at the Midlands VA Conference
One of the nicest parts of the day was seeing people stop at my stand and take an interest in the resources I have created.
On display were copies of The VA Companion, Protect Your Brand Without Panic and my VA Confidence & Clarity Pack.
Each one has been created from real life experience.
The VA Companion was written to help Virtual Assistants navigate the realities of running a business.
Protect Your Brand Without Panic helps small business owners understand trademark applications and protect their brands with confidence.
The VA Confidence & Clarity Pack contains practical templates, scripts and resources designed to help VAs build confidence and create stronger business foundations.
Seeing people browse through them, ask questions and genuinely connect with what I’d created was incredibly rewarding.
I was also delighted to sell books on the day.
Amanda Johnson reminded me that selling books at my first exhibition was something worth celebrating, and she was absolutely right.
As business owners, we’re often so focused on the next goal that we forget to acknowledge our wins.
Monday was definitely a win.
Familiar Faces and New Connections
One of the highlights of any event is catching up with people you already know and meeting new people along the way.
It was lovely to spend time with Gwen Backhouse and Amanda Johnson.
And of course, there was Dawn Owen, who always manages to make me laugh.
Some people have that ability to brighten your day the moment you see them and Dawn is definitely one of those people.
It was also lovely meeting people who knew me through social media, had seen my posts or were familiar with my journey.
It still surprises me when somebody says, “I’ve been following you for ages.”
You forget sometimes that people are quietly following along and cheering you on from the sidelines.
A Moment That Stuck With Me
One thing that really struck me during the day was that nobody saw a wheelchair.
They saw a business owner. They saw an exhibitor. They saw an author. They saw a fellow Virtual Assistant.
And that’s exactly how I like it.
I’ve always believed that disability is part of my story, but it has never been the whole story.
Standing behind my stand, talking about my business, sharing my knowledge and connecting with people reminded me that I have built something I’m genuinely proud of.
That felt pretty special.
Looking Ahead
If Monday taught me anything, it’s that this definitely won’t be my last exhibition.
For years, most of my work has happened quietly behind the scenes, and that will always remain at the heart of what I do.
But I’ve realised that I genuinely enjoy exhibiting, networking and sharing my experiences with other business owners.
The day left me feeling excited about what comes next.
More exhibitions. More opportunities to meet people. More chances to share what I’ve learned. And perhaps even more speaking opportunities too.
A few years ago, I would never have imagined saying that.
Yet here we are.
Sometimes the best opportunities come from saying yes to things that feel a little outside your comfort zone.
Monday felt like another one of those moments.
Not a finish line.
Just the start of another exciting chapter
A huge thank you to Mel and Dan for organising such a fantastic event.
Events like this take an incredible amount of work behind the scenes and it showed throughout the day.
The atmosphere was welcoming, supportive and genuinely enjoyable from start to finish.
Thank you as well to everyone who stopped by my stand, bought a book, asked a question, shared advice or simply came over to say hello.
You all helped make my first exhibition one to remember.
A Stand That Turned Heads
Before I finish, I have to say a huge thank you to Adriana Nicolle.
One of the things people commented on throughout the day was my stand and branding.
The colours, the layout, the professional look and the way everything came together helped me stand out in a room full of talented businesses.
When you’re exhibiting for the first time, having branding that reflects who you are and what your business stands for makes a huge difference.
Adriana has done an amazing job helping me create a brand that feels completely “me”. Professional, recognisable and a little bit magical.
Several people commented on the stand during the day, and I know that was down to the thought, creativity and expertise Adriana has brought to the Vicki Admin Fairy® brand.
So thank you, Adriana. You helped make my first exhibition stand one I was incredibly proud to stand behind.
I can highly recommend Adriana Nicolle https://adriananicolle.com/
If You Missed Me at the Conference
If you missed me at the Midlands VA Conference, don’t worry.
The VA Companion, Protect Your Brand Without Panic and the VA Confidence & Clarity Pack are all still available.
These resources have been created from real experience, real lessons and real business moments, not theory from a textbook.
So whether you’re a Virtual Assistant looking for guidance, a small business owner wanting more confidence and clarity, or someone looking to protect their brand through trademarking, there’s something there to help.
You can find out more here: https://vickiadminfairy.co.uk/va-confidence-clarity-pack/
Vicki
Where Admin Chaos Ends and Business Confidence Begins