Forget the office secretary because the new type of assistant these days is completely virtual.

Already popular in the US, the virtual assistant is a growing industry in Britain and virtual assistant asklilach is going from strength to strength.

Lilach Bullock launched her VA business from her home in Apsley Lock last year and has seen such rapid growth she has employed a few staff and was a finalist in the National VA of the Year Awards held in Milton Keynes last April.

The awards ceremony, organised by Midlands-based CMA Coaching and Training, was the first national award of its kind and was aimed at raising awareness of the fledgling industry.

According to Carmen MacDougall, of CMA Coaching and Training, some 20,000 VAs work in the UK and Europe offering a variety of services to companies.

One of asklilach's clients, 4WARD PPM Ltd, nominated the company for the award and getting to the finals has given it good credentials in the industry.

As a VA Mrs Bullock offers a wide range of support to businesses with the added benefit of being cost effective because she is not on a company's payroll and works from home.

She does anything from administration to more skilled work, such as project management, event organising, human resources, diary keeping and personal management.

She can also attend business meetings with clients and go out to team meetings or to de-clutter office space.

Businesses can hire her services for a one-off project or on a regular basis and save on costs they would incur if they employed her on a temporary or permanent basis.

She said: "To be honest I never expected how quickly the business would take off and I think that's how I have done so well in a short space of time. There is so much need for VAs these days. A lot of my clients find my services cost effective because they don't have the time to train someone new or the space to put them. Then there's no obligation in terms of employee rights, such as sick pay."

Mrs Bullock was working part time, and looking after her now three-year-old daughter Emily, but was in need of work that could use her skills.

Having been a PA, with HR and legal secretary training, for 17 years, she thought offering PA work from her home would be a good way to challenge her while keeping a good work/life balance.

Little did she know that she was entering into a growing UK industry and one that has been established in the US for many years.

As she researched into it further the potential of being a success in the industry became apparent so she trained in being a VA for two months before launching her own business.

Now asklilach deals with about five or six clients at any one time and also has a small team of assistants helping with the work load.

"I'm planning on the business growing further," explained Mrs Bullock. "One thing that is important for the future is raising awareness about the VA industry.