A Lifetime of Trust — Supporting Michael Through Every Stage of Business and Beyond

Background

Office Assistants MD Lynn Watson has known Michael since 1992 — long before Office Assistants was founded. When she set up the business in 2003, Michael was one of her very first clients.

Michael has been running his quality hair salon near Romford for over 45 years. Known for its fantastic team and supportive environment, the salon became a training ground for young stylists, offering NVQ Level 3 qualifications and producing many successful professionals in the industry.

At its peak, the business employed around 25 people. Over time, as Michael moved towards a more relaxed pace of life, the salon transitioned to a rent-a-chair model and, over recent months, Michael has been working as a freelance stylist.

Our Relationship

Since the early 1990s, Lynn has supported Michael through every stage of his business journey — from the days of handwritten cheques and regular cash banking to the modern world of digital bookkeeping.

She has handled every aspect of the salon’s finances — bookkeeping, payroll, VAT returns, paying suppliers, managing deposits, and liaising with HMRC. When Office Assistants launched in 2003, Lynn’s growing team continued that same high level of care, combining professionalism with the personal touch that has defined their long-standing relationship.

Challenges Along the Way

One major challenge came when the salon’s lease expired in September 2024. The landlord’s executors were slow to negotiate, and the situation became increasingly complex when the property was sold the following July. With the new landlord taking a tough and aggressive stance, Lynn worked closely with Michael’s family and legal advisers to guide them through a difficult decision — ultimately helping them step away from the salon after 45 years.

This was a pivotal moment for everyone involved. Lynn and her team began taking on wider responsibilities — communicating with suppliers, arranging solicitor appointments, and keeping Michael’s wife informed and involved throughout the process. It was a period that demanded not only professional expertise but also compassion and understanding.

Continuing Support

In recent years, and particularly since Michael’s dementia diagnosis, his family has turned to Office Assistants for more day-to-day help with both his business and personal affairs.

The team now helps Michael manage his post, banking, and payments, and regularly liaises with suppliers and service providers on his behalf. They keep his wife updated via WhatsApp to make sure she’s aware of anything that might affect his health, the family, or finances — while taking care of day-to-day matters quietly in the background to ease her burden.

The family’s trust in Office Assistants has allowed Michael to maintain his independence and dignity, knowing his affairs are being managed by people who have known and cared about him for over 30 years.

Reflections

“I am so fond of Michael. We’ve worked closely for over three decades, and it makes me sad to see him confused at times because I remember him as an inspirational business leader. He’s one of the kindest and most knowledgeable people I’ve ever worked with.”
— Lynn Watson, Director, Office Assistants

Lynn believes this story perfectly illustrates the ethos that underpins her family-run practice:

“We only work with clients we genuinely like and care about — it makes it easy to go the extra mile. Michael’s story is proof of how that approach builds real, long-term relationships that go far beyond bookkeeping.”