Organisation and curriculum 7 week Personal Assistance and Butler course

The art of giving unobtrusive personal service in style and managing a fine, 21 st century household requires training and practice. Our curriculum, regularly updated with the latest market requirements, teaches a personal service expertise and organizational structure that supports the management of complex homes and lifestyles. The 7 week course is for students who have decided to enter the domestic or hospitality service, or those who want to extend their practical knowledge.

Theory and practice are blended to a extensive mixture that will put you to the test the whole course through. Our instructors have the experience to coach you and to 'engrain' the skills and mindset required in this industry.

As a red line all through the course we focus on your mindset and attire by coaching you on a daily basis. As we say: everybody can learn tricks, but you as a person can only make for a top butler. But don't take us wrong here as we will also teach you how to use your hands.

 

Curriculum (selection)

Personal level

• Butler traits and self management.
  • The right mindset and attire.
• Communication and body language.
  • How to 'read' a person without asking questions, the language of service, the service relation.

Professional level

• Protocol & etiquette and modern manners.
  • The modern manners currently applicable in the luxury world; addressing persons of different cultures and titled persons, acquiring social confidence, social correspondence and good manners.
• Communication and body language
  • Cultural differences, and media and public relations
• Day-to-day butling.
• • Valet skills, personal standards, what does 'service' mean, dress codes, maintaining inventories and packing suitcases.

Practical level

• Household management.
  • All aspects, that make up for running an efficient household; includes the technical skills (such as cleaning silver and handling antiques), setting schedules and standards.
• Travel management
  • From making the arrangements for the flight to suitcase packing and security.
• Table- and event management.
• • Theory and practice for running a perfect event with confidence and style; setting and serving meals, styles of service, table manners.
• Food & wine.
  • Theory and practice to balance food and wine and to cook a simple but exquisite meal.
• Security.
  • Safety and security at home and when travelling, surveillance.
• Staff management.
  • Interviewing, hiring and firing, dealing with agency staff, employee and house rules.
• Estate management.
  • Tools and skills that go with the many aspects involved in running an estate.

Special curriculum

• Field trips.
  • During dedicated specialised field trips we talk to experts and experience the practical side of the theory.
• Internships.
  • For those interested we have a limited number of internships available.

Please note that the curriculum is under supervision of the VTE (association for voluntary control of exams). This is a Dutch organisation of the private sector who applies the same criteria in approving educational institutions as the government does for non-private schools.

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Facts about the organisation

• The course takes 7 weeks.
• Every week has 6 days of instructions and one day off, with a maximum of 8 days off all together.
• Accommodation and meals are provided for.
• Local transportation, if part of the lectures is provides for.
• Personal coaching is available 7 days a week.
• The curriculum and exams are approved and controlled by the VTE.
• Exams take place after every instruction period.

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Course dates

Please see our Course Calendar.

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Diploma and then..

Students are coached towards a position through intensive training of interview techniques and resume writing.

Through our contacts with several agencies all over the world we try to provide a suitable position as soon as possible. However we can not guarantee a position as part of the success depends on the chemistry between a family and you and your own capabilities and attire.

Through internships however we will prepare you as much as possible.

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Tuition Fee

• The total fee, all included, is Euro 10.250,-, due 30 days before the start of the course (no financial arrangements available).
• Included are all travel expenses within Holland, accommodation, all meals, butler suit, syllabi, book.
• Not included are personal expenses (e.g. telephone, travel not part of curriculum)

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Application

Applications are open for everybody. Based on the application form for one of the courses of our Butler Academy we will decide whether to accept the applicant to the course. Depending on the course reference check can be part of the application procedure.

Whenever you have questions or would like to have more information on the Academy, the application etc. please feel free to contact us at any time. We are at your service to support you in any way we can.

On receipt of the application form we will start the application procedure.

You can download the application form and send it to us my postal mail.

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