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Alex Fontaine of Personal Time Saver Honoured with Inspirational Woman Award in Personal Support & Charitable Leadership 2026

From overcoming personal adversity to building a successful concierge business and supporting vulnerable individuals, Alex Fontaine’s journey reflects four decades of determination, compassion and a commitment to making a difference.

Innervision Global is delighted to recognise Alex Fontaine, founder of Personal Time Saver Ltd, as the recipient of the Inspirational Woman Award in Personal Support & Charitable Leadership 2026. The award celebrates her contribution to the personal support industry, her charitable work supporting those affected by addiction and mental health challenges, and her determination to help others overcome difficult circumstances.

Alex’s career has taken her from working as a private personal assistant to establishing her own business at a time when the concierge industry was still relatively unknown in the United Kingdom. Alongside her professional achievements, she has dedicated much of her life to charitable causes, earning recognition that includes an MBE for services to disadvantaged women and the Freedom of the City of London.

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Her entrepreneurial journey began in 1999 while working as a private PA for an international client who was familiar with the concierge industry in New York. As the concept began making its way to Britain, her client encouraged her to establish Personal Time Saver Ltd, recognising an opportunity in a market that few people understood at the time.

The idea of providing lifestyle management and personal assistance services to busy individuals was initially met with scepticism. Many questioned whether people would pay someone to manage everyday responsibilities, from household maintenance and property refurbishment to personal research and private PA services.

Nevertheless, Alex recognised that there was a genuine demand among individuals who had the financial means but lacked the time to manage every aspect of their personal and professional lives.

Starting with little more than a bicycle and a laptop, she began building a business that would eventually become part of an established and growing industry. Today, Alex is also a member of the Association of Celebrity Assistants, reflecting her continued involvement in the profession she helped introduce to a wider UK audience.

Behind her entrepreneurial ambitions, however, was a deeply personal story of recovery and resilience.

Having survived a violent criminal assault during a break-in at her home, Alex subsequently received treatment for depression, alcohol addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder. These experiences profoundly influenced her outlook on life and strengthened her determination to create a future defined by independence, purpose and helping others.

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Rather than allowing those experiences to determine the direction of her life, she channelled her determination into building a business and eventually supporting others who had experienced similarly life-changing circumstances.

Her approach to overcoming adversity was shaped partly by her upbringing and the influence of her father, an actor, entrepreneur and Second World War Burma Star veteran.

Reflecting on the lessons that have stayed with her throughout her career, Alex shares:

“My father was an older father, an actor and entrepreneur who was a Burma Star in World War II. He taught me, in life, you must ‘take the rough with the smooth’. Whatever happens, you can brush yourself down and start again.”

That philosophy became particularly important during the early years of Personal Time Saver, when Alex had no financial safety net and faced the pressures of establishing a business independently.

Her determination was driven as much by necessity as ambition. With rent to pay and nobody to provide financial backing, walking away from her entrepreneurial dreams was never a realistic option.

Over time, the business developed into a service built around discretion, trust and an understanding of the individual needs of clients and their families.

For Alex, the most rewarding part of running Personal Time Saver is not simply the flexibility of being her own boss, but the relationships she has built and the opportunity to improve people’s everyday lives.

Her approach extends beyond clients to the household staff and subcontractors she works alongside. She believes that remembering personal details, recognising individual contributions and creating an enjoyable working environment can make a considerable difference.

Small gestures have become part of her management style, including her tradition of “Chocolate and Treats Thursdays”, when she treats those around her to their favourite chocolate, savoury snack or ice cream.

It is a simple but thoughtful example of the importance she places on appreciation, kindness and bringing a little enjoyment into the working day.

Alex’s commitment to supporting others has also extended well beyond her professional career.

Drawing on her own experiences of trauma and recovery, she founded The Yellow Heart Trust, a charity supporting individuals affected by PTSD, addiction and mental health difficulties. The organisation continues its work and is now run by a survivor of the Marchioness River Thames disaster.

Through the charity, Alex has sought to provide understanding and support to people facing difficult circumstances, helping them find opportunities to rebuild their lives.

Her charitable contributions have received significant recognition, most notably through an MBE for services to disadvantaged women. She was also granted the Freedom of the City of London in recognition of her charitable work, an honour she particularly values as a Londoner.

Among her professional milestones, Alex was also featured in a BBC television documentary following life at Personal Time Saver, which brought attention to the business and the growing concierge industry.

Alex is equally passionate about encouraging other women to pursue entrepreneurship, particularly those who may feel discouraged by financial limitations, social expectations or a lack of confidence.

Having established her own company without outside investment, she understands the long hours, financial uncertainty and personal sacrifices involved in starting a business. She encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to prepare for demanding working weeks, recognise that profitability may take time and consider investment funding where possible.

She also believes women should have greater confidence in the qualities they bring to business, particularly compassion, emotional intelligence and the ability to approach challenges differently.

Despite her achievements, Alex continues to set herself new challenges.

Having travelled to 100 countries, she hopes one day to become the oldest woman to swim in both the Arctic and Antarctic. Inspired partly by her interest in cold-water swimming and mental wellbeing, the ambition would require sponsorship to become a reality.

As she receives the Inspirational Woman Award in Personal Support & Charitable Leadership 2026, Alex sees the recognition as a celebration of 40 years of hard work, perseverance and the people she has been able to help along the way.

Speaking about what the award means to her, she explains:

“If I can inspire just one woman to turn her life around, my life hasn’t been wasted. If I can inspire multiple women, that would be a life fulfilled.”

Her words reflect the motivation behind much of her professional and charitable work. While her achievements include prestigious honours and a successful business, the opportunity to encourage someone else to rebuild their confidence remains particularly meaningful.

Through Personal Time Saver and her charitable initiatives, Alex has demonstrated how professional expertise and personal experience can come together to provide practical, compassionate support.

Her recognition by Innervision Global acknowledges her contribution to personal support and charitable leadership, alongside the determination that has carried her through adversity and inspired her to create opportunities for others.

Alex Fontaine’s journey is a testament to resilience, compassion and the lasting difference that can be made by helping others find their own way forward.

Contact Information

Phone: 0780 1240217

Email: alex@personaltimesaver.co.uk

Website: personaltimesaver.co.uk