Butler
Butlers are a specialised type of household staff responsible for efficiently running a formal household and meeting the employer’s personal needs. A butler is the embodiment of courtesy, discretion, and etiquette.
Butlers provide formal assistance within the residence though service of meals, managing gatekeeper duties and extensive wardrobe maintenance. A butler often operates at a more formal level than that of a housekeeper or houseman and is very front of house and client facing. Butler responsibilities can often be combined with House Manager duties depending on the size and scope of the residence’s staff.
Forbes Private Staff butlers are well-educated and have professional training in the field. Their knowledge ranges from formal serving protocol and household maintenance to personnel management and fundamental accounting skills. Our butlers understand the importance of flawless social etiquette, privacy, confidentiality, and problem solving.
Butler duties include many practical tasks. A butler position is very personal and hands-on, including such duties as personal shopping, wardrobe maintenance, correspondence, travel arrangements, chauffeur service and the list goes on.
- The smooth running of a household and the efficient cost effective management of the domestic lives of the employers. Overseeing the protocol etiquette and manners involved in the moral of the household.
- Hospitality servicing of principals and guests- hands on table setting and service, front of house .Knowledge and service of meals, food and wines and all beverages.
- Event management from small family celebrations to corporate and charity large scale fund raisers.
- Maintenance of the property on a regular basis. Household project management and overseeing outside contractors, service providers and suppliers.
- Overseeing household staff including recruitment work timetables holiday diaries and paperwork.
- Insurance documents, inventories, household manuals and car records.
- Accounts – keeping daily expenditure records, purchasing. Petty cash and credit card accounting.
- Household discretion and security- meeting and greeting visitors, handling mail and deliveries. CCTV and alarms . First point of contact and key holder.
- Key holder for the household valuables safe and cleaning silver, china, antiques keeping inventory and household manuals up to date.
- Covering for absent staff on days off where appropriate.
- Experience in a private household
- Formal training in a butler school or a business qualification – often having worked in Hotels and restaurants with experience of formal service of meals, fine wines and food, cigars humidors, cellar management
- Smart presentation with manners and calm nature. Leadership qualities but a team player.
- Expertise in Housekeeping caring for fine arts, antiques, silver jewellery and other metals.
- Valeting skills- packing laundry knowledge of fine purveyors.
A butler, is the most senior worker in a large household. Other titles are sometimes given in conjunction with acquired responsibilities:
- Majordomo
- Butler Administrator
- House Manager
- Staff Manager
- Chief of Staff
- Staff Captain
- Estate Manager
- Head of Household Staff
- Starting salaries are from £800 to £1000 upwards net per week. Full-time annual salary depends on candidate’s credentials, experience, and duties, as well as previous salaries had.
- Room & board to be provided by the family.
- Salary guide is based on a 5 or 5 and half day work week, 8-12hrs a day, and is presented to you as a guide. Final salary always varies depending on the overall package offered.
Butlers are a specialised type of household staff responsible for efficiently running a formal household and meeting the employer’s personal needs.
House or Estate Managers coordinate the smooth operation of your household, anticipating and managing daily family challenges.
A good housekeeper provides the client with a wide variety of professional domestic services and takes on the responsibilities of cleaning, laundry, cooking and running errands. Each household is unique therefore the duties and responsibilities are usually discussed at interview stage.
A Live-In Housekeeper gives a wide range of support and care to your family. It gives you the flexibility to call on them for additional hours if you need extra support. Live-In Housekeeper is a favourable option for many clients.
A Housekeeper Nanny is required when duties involve the household and not just the children. The duties are wide ranging, depending on the needs of the family.
For clients with large homes, estates or gardens, a domestic couple may be the most suitable choice.
Hiring a houseman is fantastic solution for many households, a houseman ensures the general upkeep of a home, offers versatility and added security for the household.
A private personal chef can be an excellent option for a household that require a high standard of cooking while also tailoring the meals to specific personal preferences.
In home Elderly Carers and Companions help makes aging at home possible, by running routine errands, doing light housekeeping and providing a helping hand with the everyday tasks that often become more difficult for the elderly.
An estate manager is required when there are large, multi-property estates owned by a family. An estate manager’s focus is largely on a bigger picture, making sure that each home runs consistently and efficiently.
A Lady’s Maid is hired to serve as a lady-in-waiting to her female employer. This means she serves as a personal maid to the lady of the house. The valet is a manservant to the gentleman of the house.
How We Work
Once you’ve decided what type of services you’re looking for, you need to register with Forbes Private Staff by filling out our client registration form. This will ask you to list your candidate preferences and unique requirements, as well as you will be able to read our Term of Business and familiarise yourself with our fees. Once registration is received, your information will be carefully reviewed by a member of our staff who will then contact you directly to discuss all your specific requirements in a greater detail, to note down all the final information we need to start your perfect candidate search.
The Steps We Follow
- Understanding Your Needs
- The Matchmaking Process
- Interview
- Contract
- Follow Up and Ongoing Support
Placement Fees
At Forbes Private Staff it is crucial that the candidate you choose is the right match for your family, and to ensure this we provide 12 weeks of free replacement and ongoing after-placement support.
UK Placements
- Client registration Fee – FREE
- Permanent Full-Time Placement in Childcare (52 weeks + ) - 15% of the Annual Salary
- Permanent Full-Time Placement in Private Household (52 weeks +) – 15% of the Annual Salary
- Full-time Governess or Tutor Placements – 17% of the Annual Salary
- Full-Time Dual Residency Placements - required to work in the UK and Overseas - 18% of the Annual Salary
- Part-Time Governess or Tutor Placements – 19% of the Annual Salary
- After School Childcare Placements – 18% of the Annual Salary
- Part-Time Placements in Childcare and Private Households – 18% of the Annual Salary
- Maternity Nurses - £170 per week, min 2 weeks.
- Temporary Placements – £100 per day or £450 per week.
- Trials - £450 per week, up to 4 consecutive weeks; or fixed daily fee of £90.
Overseas Placements
- Client Registration Fee - FREE for Permanent Placements
- Client Registration Fee - £100 for Temporary or Holiday Placements
- All Permanent Placements – 20% of the Annual Salary
- Maternity Nurses - £230 per week, min 2 weeks
- Temporary Placements – £100 per day or £500 per week.
- Trials - £500 per week, up to 4 consecutive weeks.
To our loyal returning clients and our current client referrals, we offer a 10% discount on your placement fees.
Our Registration is FREE of charge to all our candidates.
For more information, please contact us or register online, and we’ll contact you to discuss your requirements and answer any questions you might have.
What our clients say about us?
‘Impeccable staff, trustworthy and punctual. A great company to deal with who consistently deliver. Highly recommended.’
‘I’d like to say how pleased I and my wife have been with the service we received from you and from our housekeeper who has been reliable and efficient throughout the several years she’s been with us. All the best for the future.’
‘You were more than helpful at arranging the service I wanted and it was executed perfectly. I will most definitely be using your services again. Thank you.’
