buy:time Lifestyle Management & Concierge Services
buy:time - Because there's never enough

Our people

Managing Director   Claire Brynteson
Financial Controller   Julie Smith
Administrator   Clare Schruers
Marketing Manager   Katharine Westbury
Supplier Management   Liz Silcock
Lifestyle Managers & Executive Assistants   Trista Connor; Liz Silcock; Helena Jackson; Sarah-Jane Adler; Deirdre Gollogly; Charlotte Rolls; Camilla Howarth; Nicki Sword; Rachel Brazier; Lucy Thin; Claire Deane; Silvia Smullen; Alexandra Stenning; Rebecca Hedges; Katharine Westbury

Within the buy:time team we have French, Spanish, German and Italian speakers, so please come to us with your language and translation requirements.

Claire Brynteson, Founder

I set up buy:time in 2002 to meet the everyday needs of all time-starved people. So many of us are trying to do too much by wanting to pursue a career, often with long working hours, together with running a home and a family all in 24 hours a day. The one thing in life that money simply couldn’t buy was time and so I put it on the market and it has proved a welcomed relief to many.

I am 41 years old and I have a working background in investment banking, which did not allow much scope for taking care of anything else in life, so who was going to do it? I needed a flexible helping hand, my own personal assistant for sometimes 1 hour a week and at other times 20 hours in a week.

I am now married with three small children and I need an assistant even more.  I use my buy:time PA to help run my company and free up my time for business growth.  I then need that same smart, experienced individual to step in and take over at home too, when I can’t be in two places at once or there are not enough hours in the day.

This service has evolved over the past decade through the demands of our customers, whose time is precious and worth more than anything else. The concept works and the team of people here at buy:time are exceptionally good at what they do. Try them; they make the difference.

Julie Smith, Financial Controller

I have 18 years accounting experience and have worked in practice, service, manufacturing and the public sector. Here at buy:time, I run the whole finance function; from day to day bookkeeping to producing final accounts and business projections, helping the business move from strength to strength. I also enjoy assisting our clients with book keeping and accounting requirements. I am developing this service for our customers under the banner of 'buy:time books'.

Clare Schruers, Company Administrator

I managed the lives of my portfolio of clients here at buy:time during the years 2004 to 2007. I then took some time out to have my two children and have now returned as the Company Administrator. I handle all the internal administration and make sure that every i is dotted and every t is crossed. It is vital for good systems and processes to be in place that can target maximum efficiency and effective communication for our clients, the PA’s here and the company. Left has to talk to right and I’m the one at the hub that makes that happen. Amongst other key duties, I keep records up to date, manage the files, the information flow and most importantly take care of our new customers as they join buy:time and start using the service. Every customer is different and each person and business has individual needs.

Prior to buy:time, I worked in Geneva as a PA before moving back to London to work in the relocation industry, followed by work as an international conference organiser.

Katharine Westbury, Marketing Manager

With an exceptional flair (and a love) for organising anything and everything, and 7 years of professional experience in Marketing and Communications, I joined buy:time in December 2011. I will be working with the team here in a combined Marketing Manager/PA role and will focus on growing the buy:time brand, communicating with our clients and promoting our services. I will also be providing support to clients, keeping me grounded in a hands-on role with our customers. I love organising, working with people, and am very thorough, hardworking, attentive to detail and have the ability to remain empathetic to client needs. I am looking forward to working with buy:time clients, meeting new people and tackling new challenges every day!

I have previously worked in a variety of industries including media, retail, finance, professional services and events. My experience has given me a range of valuable skills including copywriting, design, event organisation and project management. I live in West London and hold a Bachelor of Communication, majoring in PR and Journalism. I enjoy writing, travelling and discovering new places.

Helena Jackson

I joined the buy:time group in September 2007, to help meet the growing demand for personal assistance. Previously, I was a senior PA to a successful company owner, organising all aspects of his business and personal affairs – this could involve anything and everyday was different! I enjoy the unpredictability of not knowing what is coming next, being adaptable and flexible to meet any challenge. I also assist with buy:time operations to ensure that the internal elements of the business runs smoothly for the team and therefore for our customers.

Trista Connor

I have been organising the lives of those around me for as long as I can remember! I joined buy:time at the beginning of 2006 and have enjoyed building up a portfolio of customers based mainly in the north and east of London. Like the rest of the team, my background lies in corporate, Director-level personal assistant roles. I also have experience in the travel industry, child care and specialist interior decoration.

Liz Silcock

I joined the buy:time team in February 2008 to provide assistance with North and Central London based clients.  Prior to buy:time I worked in the banking and consultancy sector both here in London and in Australia holding account management, research and project management roles with every week presenting new and exciting challenges.  I look forward to the unpredictability of not knowing what lies around the next corner and aim to tackle each new task with a positive and professional approach, whilst not forgetting that all important personal touch.

I also hold the title of Supplier Manager here at buy:time, whereby I am responsible for the valuable database of preferred suppliers that we lifestyle managers use within our roles. I handle the supplier applications, alongside the initial vetting process and the database management, equipping the lifestyle managers with the right contacts to work with, when skilled or regulated trades are required by our customers.

Sarah-Jane Adler

I was pleased to join this exciting venture and provide such a wide scope of assistance to those people fortunate enough to have discovered buy:time so far. I feel well equipped for this continually challenging position, having worked in many different roles over my 26 year career - in particular; having run a small business of my own, with all the administration that goes with that, together with supporting a client base that relied on me to deliver and a team of people to lead. I have always organized peoples' lives, on both a private and a professional basis and thoroughly enjoy the diversity in not knowing what lies ahead with each new role taken on. I am an excellent communicator and good at multi-tasking. I am organized, practical and love a challenge. No task is too big or too small and I hope to make a difference to the people I work with.

Deirdre Gollogly

I have been managing people, organising and problem solving throughout my former career in the NHS. Since I left the NHS, I have coordinated substantial projects of my own and have gained invaluable experience in: managing property portfolios; organising personal and corporate entertainment; making travel arrangements; sorting out household finances; managing budgets and tax returns; setting up home and business filing systems; together with general home management. In my previous role as a Senior Sister, peoples’ lives depended on my organisational skills and attention to detail. I was interfacing with the public in a customer service capacity and working with my team to solve complex clinical, financial and operational challenges every day. I was constantly juggling to keep the service running. This all led me to buy:time where I support clients in South London, West London and Surrey.

Charlotte Rolls

I joined the buy:time team at the end of 2009 and am based in South London. Since graduating with a 2:1 BA Hons in Business Management in 2001 I have worked in a variety of industries in the Private and Public sectors. I have experience in event management and marketing and have utilised my skills whilst working as a top level Executive Assistant. I enjoy meeting new people, working with a varied portfolio and being able to use my experience to provide an exceptional service for our clients.

Camilla Howarth

I moved back to London from Los Angeles in 2009 and I have been working as a virtual assistant ever since. My back ground is in the music industry, where I worked as a Manager for 11 years, organising, managing and dealing swiftly and effectively with any task thrown my way. I went on to work in Real Estate as an assistant, and then agent. I like to have variety in my roles, and working for buy:time certainly offers me that. I have travelled extensively both for business and pleasure and speak fluent French. 

Nicki Sword

I have 12 years experience in customer relationship management and throughout this time have managed high profile clients at a variety of trade exhibitions across the globe, from the Middle East to China.  I specialise in travel management, as well as web & database development.  I also have experience in advertising, marketing and events; I relish the challenge of organising the lives of those around me and like nothing more than seeing a task completed well or plan coming together. I am driven by achieving the perfect outcome and like the variety of supporting multiple clients at one time.

Rachel Brazier

I have spent the majority of my career working for private households assisting with the day to day running of various properties both in the UK and abroad, leading me to travel extensively. I enjoy problem solving and making a difference, however small, to the lives of people I work for. I have a background in childcare and am a qualified Montessori Teacher. buy:time offers me diversity in the role, which I thrive on and relish in my professional life.

Lucy Thin

8 years of PA, organisational and administrative experience, with the latter 5 years spent in high level, client facing, event management and executive assistance roles, within blue chip investment banking and management consultancy firms.

The strengths and highlights of my working background come from managing multiple projects simultaneously, extensive contract negotiation, budgeting, delegate management and logistics. Working with Leadership to establish objectives, determine specific needs and recommend facilities that best meet their objectives.

I have a BA Hons in Sociology from Bristol University and I have worked widely in Europe, the Middle East and Australia. Organising high profile, international corporate events in particular requires a strong eye for detail, amongst other skills. I would like to put my expertise to good use in supporting entrepreneurs, business ventures and private individuals with as much as they can hand over to me, to increase the control of their own time and keep their focus where it should be.

Claire Deane

I have been pleased to work in creative and corporate industries, across both public and private sectors. I have a wealth of administrative and organisational experience, featuring a long list of varied skills to include: problem solving; budgets & expenses; document formatting & presentations; property & supplier management; diary management & complex travel itineraries; hospitality; dictation & minute taking; book-keeping; databases; mail outs; conferences & seminars; personal finances and the all important running of family homes and family life itself.

With over 10 years of providing dedicated support, I am able to turn my hand to most things. Lifestyle Management is the only role to date that I have been asked to dress up as a witch, organise a stag do and find 100 penny coins engraved with the Golden Gate Bridge - all in the same afternoon! It's about thinking on your feet, being resourceful and remaining incredibly focused, to not miss a single detail.

Silvia Smullen

Since 1998 I have experienced a variety of industries including Travel, PR, Oil Trading, Financial Services, Financial Management Consultancy and private home offices.

I have worked on client deliverables in Munich, sales bids in The City, liaised with CEOs, MPs, finance ministers, and personally escorted a life-sized portrait of Margaret Thatcher to Mayfair. I am comfortable with all aspects of business & lifestyle management, from the mundane to the extraordinary and enjoy the variety it offers.

I studied Computer Science at the University of Kent; I have a background in Complimentary Medicine and, coupled with my PA experience, can speedily restore you to the path of serenity.

Alexandra Stenning

Looking for autonomy, variety and creativity in my career, I came to buy:time. Educated at St James' & Lucie Clayton College, I am equipped with the traditional PA skills such as shorthand, touch typing & advanced presentation skills, alongside the foundations of Marketing, PR, Finance and Advertising. Mix in 7 years of PA experience and I am qualified to deal with any challenge head on.

I also have a creative flair and with that I pursued a personal interest to achieve a Professional Diploma in Interior Design at the KCL School of Interior Design. I took these skills to Kenya and developed a new business there for a year. This was a project I saw as an opportunity to gain invaluable professional experience and it delivered just that. I dealt with all aspects of the business from setting up & registering the company, to marketing the business, to delivering exceptional client service.

I'm looking forward to putting all these talents, ambitions and experience to good use for the clients I support here at buy:time. I am confident I can make a difference to entrepreneurs and new or growing ventures in particular, although I enjoy looking after private clients too and thrive on the diversity the combination of customers brings. I am adaptable, I roll my sleeves up and I'm not afraid of hard work.

Rebecca Hedges

I am a resourceful and practical individual and I am motivated by client satisfaction. I come from a service orientated background and I am excited about putting my organisational talents to good use here at buy:time for our customers.

After graduating with a BA Hons in International Tourism and Leisure, I went on to work within the Travel sector. I have worked hard and enjoyed 7 years in the industry and then it was time to evolve and utilise my skills with more diversity.

I have experience in both hands-on, practical roles and also fulfilling more of the consultation style functions, developing client relationships on one side and sales strategies for my employers on the other.

Researching and organising complex and ever changing travel itineraries, for many different people at once, is not to be underestimated. Extreme focus, patience and an impeccable, relentless eye for detail is required at all times – one mistake and someone ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time, potentially missing that all important bit of business. Good communications is paramount.

I have travelled extensively and learnt valuable life skills and I enjoy working with people.