A good personal assistant can be the difference between a well managed, efficient household or a chaotic one! The personal assistant (PA) would be in charge of all aspects of your daily and weekly routine. In private homes, many principals choose to use their personal PA to help straddle the lines between business and domestic, the PA being in charge of diary management, travel booking, staff management, event management and more.
Busy families gain a great deal with using a personal PA as it means they can focus on family life, and not have to worry about admin and bills being paid.
In a private home, families might choose to hire a Butler, a personal assistant or a house manager, but for smaller households, it is possible (and highly successful) to combine roles in order to achieve streamlined staff, but still achieve the same results. But what are the differences?
The Butler
The Butler was traditionally the head of the household, in charge of managing the staff and ultimately being the right-hand man (or woman) of the principal. They would be highly skilled in service, from drink and food service, through to greeting and welcoming guests. In a modern household, they may also undertake additional duties such as clothing care, pet care and ensure that the property and principal security is managed correctly.
The Personal Assistant
Typically the personal assistant will manage all the administration and bookkeeping of a principal (and in turn the household). From paying bills, through to inventory and stock control, the PA becomes an extension of the principal, ensuring that communications between contractors and guests are dealt with efficiently. They may not always be based on the property, and can often work remotely due to the online nature of the role.
The House Manager
The House Manager has a similar approach to the Butler but will be likely less skilled in service and etiquette. They will also have a greater understanding of administration and bookkeeping (similar to the PA). They may also have extensive skills in Chauffeuring and Housekeeping, and be able to closely manage the other staff on the property. Modern households often expect the House Manager to evolve to including pet care, security and in some cases childcare!
The Butler Personal Assistant
We’ve seen a trend in recent years where families and principals don’t feel the need to have 2 or even 3 members of staff – and depending on the size of the household and indeed the size of the family, principals are now looking to streamline their staffing requirements. And so the Butler Personal Assistant was born.
The Butler Personal Assistant has all the skill sets of a Butler but also all the skill sets and organisation/admin skills of a PA. In some households, the Butler Personal Assistant will also undertake House Manager duties, as these are very similar to the cross-over between these two roles.
The Butler Personal Assistant has all the skill sets of a Butler but also all the skill sets of a PA. Share on XThe major benefit of the Butler Personal Assistant is that the principal has the highest level of attention to detail and care of both themselves, their family and their guests, with the confidence that their property and affairs are also managed to the highest degree. A very exciting option for many discerning clients.
If you are looking to hire a Butler Personal Assistant why not drop us a line and we can discuss how best we can help you with your search.