UK businesses waste thousands of pounds annually on administrative tasks that could be delegated. Hiring a full-time UK-based virtual assistant costs £24,000-£30,000 per year, plus recruitment fees, equipment, and benefits. For startups, SMEs, and growing companies, these costs are often prohibitive—leaving founders and executives drowning in admin work instead of focusing on revenue-generating activities.
Sri Lankan virtual assistants offer an intelligent solution: highly skilled, English-speaking professionals who handle administrative tasks at 70% lower cost than UK hiring. Whether you need email management, calendar scheduling, data entry, or customer communication, TalentsBridge connects you with pre-vetted VAs who integrate seamlessly into your business.
This guide shows UK businesses exactly how to hire virtual assistants from Sri Lanka and reclaim valuable time while cutting costs dramatically.
Why Sri Lankan Virtual Assistants Are Perfect for UK Businesses
1. Fluent English Communication
English is an official language in Sri Lanka:
- Clear written communication (emails, reports, documentation)
- Professional phone etiquette for client calls
- No language barriers or misunderstandings
- British English familiarity (colonial heritage)
- Ability to represent your business professionally
2. Strong Administrative Skills
Sri Lankan VAs are trained in:
- Email and calendar management
- Document preparation and formatting
- Data entry and spreadsheet management
- Research and reporting
- Travel booking and itinerary planning
- Customer communication and follow-ups
- Social media scheduling and monitoring
- Basic bookkeeping and invoicing
3. Technical Proficiency
Modern Sri Lankan VAs are experienced with:
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
- Google Workspace (Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Sheets, Drive)
- Project management tools (Asana, Trello, Monday.com, ClickUp)
- CRM systems (HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, Zoho)
- Communication platforms (Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Teams)
- Scheduling tools (Calendly, Acuity)
- Basic design tools (Canva, Figma basics)
4. Time Zone Advantage
Sri Lanka (GMT+5:30) provides:
- 3-4 hours overlap with UK business hours
- Morning UK tasks completed by afternoon
- Extended workday coverage
- Flexibility for early/late meetings
5. Professional Work Ethic
Sri Lankan VAs are known for:
- Reliability and punctuality
- Proactive problem-solving
- Attention to detail
- Confidentiality and professionalism
- Long-term commitment (80%+ retention after 2 years)
Cost Comparison: UK vs Sri Lankan Virtual Assistant (2025)
UK Virtual Assistant
| Cost Item | Amount (GBP) |
|---|---|
| Base Salary (Full-time) | £24,000-£30,000 |
| Employer NI (13.8%) | £3,312-£4,140 |
| Pension (3%) | £720-£900 |
| Recruitment Fees | £2,000-£3,500 |
| Equipment & Software | £1,000-£1,500 |
| Training & Onboarding | £500-£1,000 |
| Year 1 Total Cost | £31,532-£41,040 |
| Year 2+ Annual Cost | £29,032-£36,540 |
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Sri Lankan VA via TalentsBridge (Remote)
| Cost Item | Amount (GBP) |
|---|---|
| Base Salary (Full-time) | £8,000-£11,000 |
| Recruitment & Vetting | £0 (no fees) |
| Payroll & HR | Included |
| Equipment (remote) | £0 (home office) |
| Training Support | Included |
| Legal Compliance | Included |
| Year 1 Total Cost | £8,000-£11,000 |
| Year 2+ Annual Cost | £8,000-£11,000 |
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Your Savings Per Virtual Assistant
- Year 1: Save £20,532-£30,040 (65-73%)
- Year 2+: Save £18,032-£25,540 (62-70%)
- 3 Years: Save £60,000-£80,000 per VA
For a team of 3 VAs: Save £180,000-£240,000 over 3 years
Virtual Assistant Services We Provide
Administrative Support
- Email management and inbox organization
- Calendar scheduling and appointment coordination
- Meeting preparation and note-taking
- Document creation and formatting
- File organization and cloud storage management
- Travel booking and itinerary planning
- Expense tracking and report preparation
Customer Communication
- Email and chat support
- Customer inquiry responses
- Follow-up communications
- Appointment scheduling
- Order confirmations and tracking
- Feedback collection and surveys
Data Management
- Data entry and database updates
- Spreadsheet creation and management
- CRM data entry and maintenance
- Contact list organization
- Report generation and formatting
- Research and data compilation
Social Media Assistance
- Content scheduling (Buffer, Hootsuite, Later)
- Basic graphic creation (Canva)
- Community engagement monitoring
- Comment and message responses
- Analytics tracking and reporting
Bookkeeping Support
- Invoice creation and sending
- Expense tracking and categorization
- Receipt organization
- Payment follow-ups
- Basic financial reporting
- QuickBooks/Xero data entry
Project Coordination
- Task management and tracking
- Team communication coordination
- Deadline monitoring and reminders
- Document collection and organization
- Meeting scheduling and follow-ups
How TalentsBridge Ensures Quality
✅ 5-Stage Vetting Process
- English proficiency test – Written and verbal assessment (IELTS 6.5+ equivalent)
- Administrative skills assessment – Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, task management
- Technical skills test – Software proficiency, typing speed (60+ WPM)
- Communication evaluation – Email writing, phone etiquette, professional tone
- Reference checks – Previous employers and clients
Only 22% of applicants pass our complete vetting process.
✅ Skill-Matched Candidates
We match VAs to your specific needs:
- Executive Assistant level: Senior support, strategic planning, high-level communication
- General VA: Day-to-day admin, email, calendar, data entry
- Specialized VA: Social media, bookkeeping, customer service focus
- Industry-specific: Real estate, legal, healthcare, e-commerce experience
✅ Software & Tools Training
Candidates are trained or experienced in:
- Microsoft Office 365, Google Workspace
- Asana, Trello, Monday.com, ClickUp
- Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Teams
- HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive
- Calendly, Acuity Scheduling
- QuickBooks, Xero, FreshBooks
- Canva, Mailchimp, WordPress basics
✅ Complete HR & Payroll Management
You receive work-ready virtual assistants:
- Employment contracts (remote-compliant)
- Payroll processing (one monthly invoice)
- Performance tracking and reporting
- Holiday and leave management
- Ongoing HR support
✅ 90-Day Performance Guarantee
If your VA doesn’t meet expectations within 90 days, we’ll find a replacement at no cost. This happens in less than 15% of placements.
Real Success Story: Edinburgh Tech Startup Saves £72,000 Over 3 Years
The Challenge:
An Edinburgh-based SaaS startup struggled with:
- Founder spending 15+ hours weekly on admin tasks
- No budget for full-time UK assistant (£30,000+ annually)
- Missed opportunities due to poor email management
- Disorganized calendar causing scheduling conflicts
- Customer inquiries taking 24-48 hours to respond
The TalentsBridge Solution:
- Hired 1 full-time Sri Lankan VA in 4 weeks
- VA had 3 years experience with tech startups
- Trained on HubSpot, Asana, and Google Workspace
- Total annual cost: £9,600 (vs £30,000+ UK assistant)
Results After 18 Months:
✅ £72,000 saved over 3 years (vs UK hiring)
✅ Founder reclaimed 15 hours/week for product development
✅ Email response time: Reduced from 24-48 hours to 2-4 hours
✅ Calendar efficiency: Zero scheduling conflicts
✅ Customer satisfaction: Increased by 34%
✅ Scaled to 2 VAs within budget as company grew
“Hiring a VA through TalentsBridge was the best decision we made. She handles everything from emails to customer inquiries to CRM management. I’ve reclaimed my time to focus on building the product, and we’ve saved over £20,000 annually.” — Founder & CEO, Edinburgh SaaS Startup
Hiring Timeline: 3-5 Weeks
Week 1: Consultation & Requirements
- Free 30-minute consultation
- Define your VA needs and tasks
- Discuss skills, experience, and availability
- Determine full-time vs part-time
Week 2: Candidate Matching
- Receive 3-5 pre-vetted VA profiles
- Review resumes, skills, and experience
- Watch video introductions
Week 3: Interviews & Selection
- Conduct video interviews
- Test task assignments (optional)
- Select your preferred VA
Week 4: Onboarding & Training
- TalentsBridge processes contracts
- VA receives access to your tools and systems
- Training on your processes and preferences
Week 5: Start Work
- VA begins handling assigned tasks
- Regular check-ins and performance tracking
- Ongoing support from TalentsBridge
Full-Time vs Part-Time: Which Option Is Right?
Full-Time VA (40 hours/week)
Best for:
- Businesses with consistent daily admin needs
- Executives needing dedicated support
- Companies managing high email/customer volume
- Teams requiring project coordination
Cost: £8,000-£11,000 annually
Availability: 8 hours/day, 5 days/week
Part-Time VA (20 hours/week)
Best for:
- Startups with moderate admin needs
- Solopreneurs needing occasional support
- Businesses testing VA services
- Specific project-based work
Cost: £4,000-£5,500 annually
Availability: 4 hours/day, 5 days/week (or custom schedule)
Transparent Pricing
Full-Time Virtual Assistant (40 hours/week)
Salary: £8,000-£11,000 annually
What’s Included: ✅ Candidate sourcing and vetting
✅ English proficiency and skills testing
✅ Software and tools training
✅ Employment contracts
✅ Payroll and HR administration
✅ Performance monitoring
✅ 90-day replacement guarantee
👉 Book your free consultation with TalentsBridge today.
No setup fees. No hidden costs. One monthly invoice (£667-£917/month).
Part-Time Virtual Assistant (20 hours/week)
Salary: £4,000-£5,500 annually
Same all-inclusive package as full-time.
Monthly cost: £333-£458/month
Get Started: Hire Your Virtual Assistant Today
Stop wasting time on administrative tasks. Delegate to a skilled VA and focus on growing your business.
TalentsBridge makes it simple:
- 3-5 matched virtual assistant profiles
- Detailed cost breakdown (full-time vs part-time)
- Hiring timeline and onboarding process
Contact TalentsBridge:
📧 Email: hello@talentsbridge.co.uk
🌐 Website: talentsbridge.co.uk
💬 WhatsApp: WhatsApp Us
📞 Phone: +441312721337
Stop drowning in admin work. Start delegating to your dedicated virtual assistant with TalentsBridge today.
FAQs about Hire Virtual Assistants UK: Remote Admin Support from Sri Lanka (70% Cost Savings)
People Also Ask
1. How much does a virtual assistant cost in the UK?
UK-based virtual assistants typically charge £20–£35 per hour, but through TalentsBridge, businesses can hire skilled Sri Lankan VAs for up to 70% lower costs.
2. How much should I pay for a virtual assistant?
With TalentsBridge, you can expect to pay £6–£10 per hour for professional, English-proficient virtual assistants — ideal for startups and SMEs in the UK.
3. How to become a virtual assistant with no experience in the UK?
TalentsBridge provides training and placement guidance for Sri Lankan professionals to start remote VA careers with UK clients, even without prior experience.
