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Butler

Alternative titles for this job include Household manager

Butlers carry out personal and household tasks for their employers.

Average salary (a year)

£15,000 Starter

to

£50,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

41 to 43 variable

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays away from home

How to become a butler

You could get into this job through:

  • applying directly
  • specialist courses run by private training organisations

Direct application

You can apply for work directly or through a housekeeping agency if you have:

  • experience of the hospitality or personal services industries
  • the ability to speak a second language, if you're looking to work with clients whose first language is not English

Other routes

You can get a qualification in butler skills which may improve your employment chances. There are private courses that teach traditional and modern professional butler skills, like:

  • valeting, including clothing and shoe care
  • setting a formal dining table and providing a waiting service
  • social etiquette, dining etiquette and international etiquette and protocols
  • confidence and deportment

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • active listening skills
  • customer service skills
  • sensitivity and understanding
  • leadership skills
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • the ability to work well with others
  • concentration skills
  • being able to use a computer terminal or hand-held device may be beneficial for this job.

Restrictions and requirements

You'll need to:

  • have a full UK driving licence and several years' driving experience

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

Your day-to-day duties may include:

  • personal assistant duties such as diary management and booking restaurants and travel
  • representing your client at meetings
  • managing the household and staff
  • table setting and serving food and drinks
  • chauffeur duties
  • looking after guests
  • wine cellar management
  • cooking and meal preparation
  • flower presentation and design
  • valeting such as clothing and shoe care
  • taking care of pets
  • organising shoots on country estates

Working environment

You could work at a client's home, in a hotel or on a cruise ship.

You may need to wear a uniform.

Career path and progression

Once you have a wide range of experience and contacts in the industry, you could look at setting up your own business, like a butler training school or a butler recruitment agency.

Training opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a butler right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

Hospitality Management - Higher National Diploma (HND) Top Up

  • Provider: CITY OF LIVERPOOL COLLEGE
  • Start date: 09 September 2019
  • Location: LIVERPOOL

HND in Hospitality Management

  • Provider: LAKES COLLEGE WEST CUMBRIA
  • Start date: 12 June 2020
  • Location: WORKINGTON
Find courses near you

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