✦ 15+ Years Experience
✦ Complete Household Teams
✦ London & Dubai
✦ Full Discretion

Building the right household team is one of the most important — and most underestimated — decisions a VIP family makes. This guide covers everything from deciding which roles you need to making your first placements successfully.

The right starting question is not “what staff do we need?” but “what does our household need to run well?” — from the answer to that question, the right roles usually become obvious.

The Core Household Team

House Manager

A house manager oversees the day-to-day operations of a private residence — managing household staff, coordinating contractors, overseeing budgets and ensuring the property runs to the principal’s standards at all times. For a fully staffed household, the house manager is usually the first senior appointment — they then build the team beneath them.

Family PA or Private PA

A family PA manages the administrative, logistical and scheduling side of private family life — correspondence, travel, school liaison, household staff coordination and personal affairs. For many families, a PA and house manager together form the backbone of the household operation.

Nanny or Governess

For families with children, the VIP nanny or governess is usually the most emotionally significant hire. A nanny focuses on childcare and emotional development; a governess combines care with structured academic education. Some families benefit most from a Nanny PA — a hybrid providing childcare and wider household admin.

Private Chef, Chauffeur & Butler

The daily-life roles that make the most immediate difference to quality of life. Many UHNW families regard a private chef as non-negotiable from the very first hire. A chauffeur is a trusted figure — the first and last person the principal interacts with each day. A butler oversees service, presentation and the running of the principal’s personal environment.

Estate Manager

For families with multiple properties or large estates — an estate manager oversees the entire portfolio, managing house managers, maintenance teams, seasonal opening and closing of properties and capital projects across all sites.

Which Roles to Hire First

1. House manager or PA first — someone with the operational capability to help you build the rest of the team.
2. Childcare second — if you have children, this is usually the most time-sensitive placement.
3. Chef and chauffeur — the daily-life roles that make the most immediate difference to quality of life.
4. Butler and additional service staff — once the core team is in place.

2025 Salary Benchmarks

Role	Typical net salary range
House Manager	£45,000 – £80,000
Family PA / Private PA	£40,000 – £65,000
VIP Nanny	£35,000 – £60,000
Governess	£40,000 – £70,000
Private Chef	£45,000 – £80,000
Chauffeur	£35,000 – £55,000
Butler	£40,000 – £65,000
Estate Manager	£55,000 – £100,000+

Ready to build your household team?

Register as a client and one of our consultants will contact you to discuss your requirements. All enquiries are handled with complete discretion.