|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Regulars of this web site will be aware that we at the Bureau used to not promote any Butler School and in fact found a few of them unnecessary & over-priced.
Our general credo has always been that: if you are a catering, service professional with common-sense and the ability to research stuff then you know much of what you need to know already but could be nicely ‘fine-tuned’ via a 2/4/6/8 week residential course. Experience is what counts and that’s the ‘Catch-22’.
The other side of the coin is that if you have NO experience an 8 week residential course is not going to do any more than point you in the right direction which in an ideal world would be a trainee position.
Our view is that, for semi-professionals needing to ‘fine-tune’ themselves for a domestic service future then, yes, schools can help but at quite a cost.
Not all schools are created equal ! Employers should not blindly accept a school ‘graduate’ as being fully ‘trained’. Research the school thoroughly whatever your position.
Look at our list of questions (on the right) to ask any school before you sign up.
The list of Butler schools below (with relevant information) is just that - a list - and the Butler Bureau is not affiliated with any school featured here with the exception, possibly, of the International Institute of Modern Butlers (butler correspondence courses) as we are looking at the possibilities of teaming up with the IIMB to host training initiatives in the future.
.You can draw your own conclusions if a school is noticeable by its absence. Some so-called ‘famous’ butler schools we actively make a point of not mentioning, no matter how well known they are.
|
|
|
|
Training location: The Doncaster (small luxury hotel) near Canberra, Australia
Instructors: Ms. Pamela Spruce, assisted by four professional trainers, various experts and guest speakers
Length of course: 4 weeks (6 days a week)
Number of courses per year: Three
Cost: AU$5,000 including accommodations, field trips, training manual and all course material
Training location: Coes Creek, Queensland, Australia
Instructor: Ms. Josephine Ive
Length of course: 4 weeks
Number of courses per year: 2 major courses
Cost: AUD$4,500 plus tax. Accommodation is not included but is available at different price levels. Students pay all their own travel expenses.
|
|
|
Training location: London, England, and Las Vegas, USA
Instructors: Mr. Robert Watson and guest lecturers.
Length of course: 4 weeks (6 days a week)
Number of courses per year: 2
Cost: Contact the Academy for details.
|
|
|
|
|
 ..(see the video)
Mr. Richard Fink, a butler for 45 years, opened his Butler-Valet School in October of 2002.
The course focuses exclusively on the service required by today's top society, managing and running their private residences. Mr. Fink takes a practical approach with plenty of hands-on study as well as field trips. Students learn all the skills required to run a large household and be a professional butler-valet.
The school also offers short refresher courses.
Training location: A Georgian mansion located eight miles north of Oxford, England.
Instructors: Mr. Richard Fink; various guest speakers.
Length of course: 6 weeks
Number of courses per year: 2
Cost: £7,800 (US $15,000), which includes accommodations and food. The school also reimburses some travel fees.
Training location: Lavendon, Buckinghamshire, England
Instructors: Mr. John Thomas and his wife, Josephine Thomas.
Length of course: 5 weeks
Number of courses per year: 2-3
Cost: £3,500 (US $6,700), which includes coursework, books and visits but not food and accommodations.
TheTraining location:
Courses take place within a household Environment, in order to have access to suitable facilities.
The locations of the courses are:
Certificate Course: Woodchurch, Kent, UK
Diploma Course: To be confirmed
Course Instructors: Jane Urquhart, the Greycoat Academy Principal and her team of trainers and expert tutors, all with many years experience of working within prestigious households and private establishments.
Course duration:
The Certificate Course
The Certificate Course lasts for three and a half days and is held at a private household in the country.
The Diploma Course
The course is run over two days and is undertaken within a private household
.Number of courses:
4 Certificate Courses are delivered annually.
One Diploma Course (for Butlers and Housekeepers) annually, but dependent upon demand.
Contact Greycoat Academy or visit the website www.greycoatacademy.com to find out when the next courses are scheduled.
Cost: £950 plus VAT for Certificate Course. £500 plus VAT for Diploma Course.
Lunch and light refreshments are provided. Accommodation is not included, but the school can recommend several suitable local B&B or hotel options.
Bespoke Training and Consultancy
Many employers may feel that staff training is better conducted in their own household and Greycoat Academy can also offer tailor made courses for individual private households, on a one day or multiple day basis.
Online Training
Due to huge demand, Greycoat Academy has now introduced online training to its many training opportunities where students are able to study different modules at their own pace online. Students are able to accumulate different Module Credits leading to a Certificate in the theory of private service.
Contact Information
For further information about any of our courses or to arrange bespoke training please contact us:
Greycoat Academy
Grosvenor Gardens House
35-37 Grosvenor Gardens
London SW1W 0BS
Tel: +44 (0) 207 233 9950
Fax: +44 (0) 207 592 0096
Email: academy@greycoatplacements.co.uk
Training location: Hotel Petersberg in Königswinter (near Bonn) and the Chamber of Commerce in Bonn, Germany.
Instructors: Messrs. Killewald, Bloemertz and Brandenbusch (the school's principals) assisted by specialist teachers in specific subjects (such as two retired Chief Detective Superintendents who teach security and security-related subjects).
Length of course: The full course (all 9 modules) takes about 3 months.
Number of courses per year: The modules are delivered continuously and consecutively year-round so new students can enroll at any time.
Costs: Modules can be purchases individually and range in price from 1,230 Euros to 2,450 Euros. The full course, if purchased in advance, is discounted to 10,780 Euros. Accommodations are not included.
|
|
|
|
|
International Institute of Modern Butlers 
If you cannot afford to break away from work for a couple of months, or afford the fees for training at a formal butler school, then a correspondence or long-distance learning course becomes a viable option.
The I.I.M.B. has three courses available - one for Butlers in private service, another for Hotel Butlers and a third for Housekeepers.
The two butler courses take about four months to do part time and cost $2,500. Students are expected to purchase their own course materials (books) via Amazon, which will cost approximately $300 depending on whether you purchase new or used books, and the post and packaging costs of said books ( which will vary depending on where in the world you live).
The Housekeeper course takes about two months to complete on an intense part time schedule and costs $750. Four books and two DVDs are purchased similarly for about $200.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Training location: Huis't Veldt, Zutphen, The Netherlands. Each course includes a number of field trips.
Instructors: 6 professionals from around the world, including the school's director, each teach specific segments of the course. There are also a number of guest speakers.
Length of course: 8 weeks
Number of courses offered per year: 2-3
Cost: US $16,000 (EU 12,500), which includes room, board and tailored butler uniforms. The school also reimburses airfares for some students.
OPENS MAY 5th 2008
Training location: Graydon Hall Manor, Toronto
Instructors: A selection of experts in all the fields of Butling and Household Management - see PDF document for details here
Length of Course: 8 weeks,
Number of courses per year: To be decided.
Cost: $15,000 for the course. Fees include accomodation, textbook, uniform and lunch and dinner on each day of the school. Breakfast and food on days off are the responsibility of the students as is airfare to and from Toronto.
N.B. The Butler Bureau was pleased to read that the new Charles MacPherson Academy used the ‘Ask Questions’ List at the top of this page when formulating their curriculum. All are answered on their brochure here.
Training location: In the home of its founder, located in Powell, Ohio, USA
Instructors: Ms. Scudere, assisted by more than 25 guest instructors from different professions ranging from wine connoisseurs and chefs to a horticulturists and attorney.
Length of Course: 3 - 8 weeks, depending on the course you’re taking.
Number of courses per year: 4 courses each for Certified Professional Household Manager, Estate Housekeeping and Certified Administrative Household Management and Personal Assistant.
Cost: Between $3,500 and $6,500 per course, depending on which program you take. Books, materials, uniforms and room & board are additional.
|
|
| | |
