Hutchinsons has been leading the way in domestic staff recruitment for over 35 years. Led by Frances Atkinson, our team of expert recruiters have the enviable reputation of the most trusted name in household placements.
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One of London's foremost recruitment consultants, Mrs Atkinson has specialised in the Household Domestic Staff recruitment 'niche' for the past 35 years and has become prominent in her chosen field. Over the years she has built a client base across the globe and her patrons return time and again to seek her professional recruitment assistance and related guidance.
The daughter of a Chelsea antiques dealer and highly successful interior designer she has a fine eye for detail and her company has become acknowledged for providing a refined and bespoke domestic staffing service, offering reliability and efficiency, due in no small part to Frances' ability to recognise and act upon her clients' specific requirements.
Frances' special interests within the business are the Butler, Chef, House Manager, Couples and Yacht Crew vacancies and the liaison with the overseas offices to promote our international domestic staff department. However, she is the heartbeat of the business and maintains a careful and considerate interest in every aspect of Hutchinsons. Her business motto centres on the terms Reliability – Efficiency and Discretion.
Following twenty years as a Senior Nursing Manager within the Private Health Sector, Ms Upton is based in the London office.
Karen's 19 years with Hutchinsons has been instrumental in the development and expansion of the business, both in Europe and the USA.
Well known for her meticulous approach to her work within the domestic staff industry, Karen specialises in the couples, Governess, Housekeeper/Cook, Daily Housekeeper & Personal Assistant vacancies within the business. Her team leadership, her commitment to her role and her dependable decision making have made Karen invaluable and she is a firm favourite with both our clients and candidates alike.
Like Frances, Karen is active in all the various departments of Hutchinsons Domestic Staff and remains the linchpin of the London recruitment office.
Alyssa joined the Hutchinsons Consultancy team in the autumn of 2012, following a multi-year career in Cultural Exchanges. She has a wealth of experience, particularly in dealing with people and assisting them to reach their goals. We are delighted that she has moved seamlessly into the role of Senior Recruitment Consultant and she is currently based in the main office, in London.
Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, she now resides in Central London and has become a "true Londoner!" Alyssa contributes in many ways and is able to wear many hats and is primarily responsible for the smooth running of the entire recruitment sector. She works closely with Frances to effect the perfect introductions of Butlers, Chefs, House Managers and Valets but is equally adept in all the other sectors.
She provides masterful assistance with all aspects of the Hutchinsons Staff business.
Prior to joining the office in London, Paul had spent twenty five years in Estate & Stud Farm Management and therefore he understands the qualities required and the abilities essential to satisfy the demands within the domestic recruitment sector.
Widely travelled and often required as a consultant internationally, he brings to the London recruitment office his business management skills, together with his boundless enthusiasm for computer-related technology. He has a special interest in the Gardener and Estate Management vacancies and he also particularly enjoys working with the Chef section.
Paul deals with the financial aspects of Hutchinsons and is a partner in our sister company – County Couples, a business specialising in recruiting domestic staff for a wide variety of positions which are based in the rural environment.
Hutchinsons are proud to have been able to secure the Consultancy Services of Marian Clarke to run our important and prestigious Middle Eastern Desk, which specialises in securing VVIP clients, living throughout all areas in the Middle Eastern countries, with all manner of Private Residence/Palace Managers and hands-on staff. Be it a Palace Manager, Head Housekeeper, Food and Beverage Manager, Head Chef, Maintenance Manager, Maid, Butler, Waiters and Waitresses, Driver or Head Gardener required, Marian is here to help. She has worked with staff profiles in all departments from kitchen to maintenance and small works.
Marian has worked in the Private Family Palace sector for over 20 years.
Her previous corporate background means that she is able to apply general management principles to the household organisations and to Palace/Villa Management. Marian has recruited, trained and managed staff for large households, both in the Middle East and for Middle Eastern families in London.
Her experience ranges from running smaller households of 20 staff, to larger estates of 320 staff across multiple global properties and includes managing several properties for two Heads of State and senior members of Royal Families.
She is well-known for her focus on continuous training and development of all staff, including assessing training needs, as well as coaching and mentoring.
Her experience includes cross-training to create multi-functional travelling teams, which is key for international principals, and her training strategies ensure long term sustainability of the team.
Marian has broad experience of consulting and restructuring, including the elimination of corruption and poor practice.
Her services include site visits to clients based overseas, needing expert advice in restructuring a household, or training a team already in place and/or recruiting for the specific staff our clients require.
Candice has recently re- joined the Hutchinsons team as the Administrative Manager. She has over 20 years Administration experience and previously worked for us for over 3 years some years back, when she was living in the UK for 8 years.
During her time in the UK she joined us having come from a Recruitment background, where she ran the “Temp” desk for a bespoke London Agency, specializing in Personal Assistants and Secretaries. On joining Hutchinsons, Candice grew her administrative skills, working in various sections of the business.
Candice took the geographical opportunity available to her to travel to many European countries while based in the UK and she continues to travel around the world when possible.
She enjoys playing lawn bowls in her spare time and has competed in many tournaments around the Western Cape, South Africa.
Her passion to work as part of a team, providing a fast and efficient service to our applicants and clients is one of her greatest strengths and one to which the Hutchinsons staff are dedicated.
Candice who is based in Cape Town, South Africa, will be working closely with the Consultants to assist with administrative responsibilities.
Marc has more than 30 years experience in the butler profession. He studied in The Netherlands where he graduated Cum Laude at The International Butler Academy. As a qualified and experienced Butler Trainer, he trains all over the world. Marc trains on content and form, has a dynamic and inspirational style of training and understands and respects the advantages of working with local staff from different backgrounds.
Besides training, Marc does Butler Service himself upon request. His Energy, Passion and Commitment drive him not only to support others in the industry but also to enjoy the life of a butler. His clients include Luxury Hotels and Resorts, Boards of Directors, Private Families, the Dutch Royal House and high-profile personalities.
Peter O’Donovan and his team of experts operate our affiliate office in the United States. Of Irish descent, Peter migrated to the U.S. after finishing Hotel & Hospitality Management studies and attending the famed Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland. He furthered his career by attending other renowned institutions throughout the United States, including Berkley in California.
Over his 30-year career, Peter has traveled the world, managing various clients’ multiple properties as an Estate Manager and a Chief of Staff. He’s vetted, placed and trained all aspects of domestic staffing. Peter has also implemented health and well-being guidelines, managed senior care plans, given lectures in Harvard square, been awarded by the United Way, to say a few of his accreditations.
In his thirties, Peter launched a nationally-recognized business that was featured in Oprah Magazine, The Boston Globe, Gourmet, Travel and Leisure, and other national accolades. Peter’s upbeat Irish character and hospitality, along with his US-based placement agency, work in tandem with our UK team supporting our global customers and candidates.
Qandeel is one of the top Education Consultants in UK, with over 16 years of experience in the British and American curriculum. She has a degree in Biomedical Sciences from the prestigious King’s College London, as well as a published scientific paper in a renowned medical journal. She specialises in entry examinations such as the 11+ to highly ranked UK independent schools such as Eton, St. Pauls’ and Westminster. Qandeel has extensive experience of covering a wide range of subjects at GCSE and A Level, with her students obtaining the best grades.
As a consultant, Qandeel has worked in advisory positions with a range of institutions including UNICEF, as well as private families. With her experience ranging from 2 to 19 years old, Qandeel can advise parents on the best educational route for their children, starting from nursery to elite independent schools to universities, including Oxbridge and Russel group. Qandeel has experience of managing all aspects of a student’s life including delivering lessons, extracurricular activities, summer schools, sports integration, interview prep, mentorship, and public speaking. She can work with and organise nannies, governesses and tutors within the family office to optimise the child’s education.
Qandeel has a holistic approach and places strong emphasis on the overall well-being of children, which includes mental health and nutrition. With her background in Biomedical Sciences, Qandeel has previously worked with family chefs to produce meal plans that incorporate natural ingredients and specific dietary requirements. This comes together to enhance the student’s overall well-being, as well as educational performance.
Swiss Representative and Property Manager consultant François created a luxury concierge service company in Switzerland alongside his business partner. Hutchinsons Domestic Staff has partnered with Francois to provide an enhanced service for our Swiss clients.
Francois team provide a large array of services to international clients, from administrative support, facilities maintenance, organisation of ski holidays and the management of high-end luxury chalets in the Alps.
He started his career as Butler, Driver, PA for a CEO of a well know chemical company, and after successful training at International Butler Academy, he moved forward to become an Estate Manager/ Chief of Staff for a Swiss residence family. This role included the full management of multiple properties in different countries.
François now concentrates his time on consultancy for VIP clients who need advice on property management, specifically all areas that required knowledge of Swiss rules and law.
To contact Francois please email frances@hutchinsons-staff.com.
Richard is a high-performing hospitality professional with a wealth of experience assuring service excellence for large-scale commercial and private operations. He has travelled the world extensively and spent many years residing within the Middle East, where he has held several prominent positions.
Leading up to his recent position as Director of Service Operations for a private airline in Saudi Arabia, he understands the importance of attention to detail and delivering a seamless guest experience.
He has exposure to working within Luxury Homes, Palaces, Private Aviation, Superyachts for Royalty and UHNWI. Using this experience he is able make improvements and develop training programmes to ensure consistency and enhance operations.
He has a positive mindset, confident and articulate, with a talent for engaging effectively at all levels. In addition, he enjoys networking and sharing his own experiences with others.
With his in-depth knowledge of this industry, he is well versed in supporting the recruitment and placement of candidates.
Please contact Frances@hutchinsons-staff.com for further information and hourly/daily rates.
Candice has recently joined the Hutchinson’s team as Administration Assistant. Candice ran her own courier company in the Southern suburbs of Cape Town in the early 2000’s before relocating to Still Bay where she spent 15 years as a very integral part of building up an Eco-tourism facility on a family-owned olive farm including a coffee shop.
Candice also has a very humane and patient way of dealing with staff and patrons (and people in general) She has a very soft touch with animals and would often be nursing and caring for rescued and/or stray animals.
As the coffee shop developed into an al fresco restaurant, Candice’s duties became more managerial in nature. In this aspect Candice really came into her own and enjoyed a very successful tenure as manageress of The Press Room Café from 2010 until she departed for Cape Town in 2019.
Candice is an enthusiastic and positive team player and is not scared of getting her hands “dirty” if necessary and knows how to take the initiative when necessary.
On her return to Cape Town, she moved back into an administrative managerial position, she worked for a small local recruitment company and was shortly afterwards placed with a long-term client’s company as a PA and office administrative manager for a 2-year period before joining Hutchinsons.
She also took up lawn bowls and spends most weekends playing bowls in and around Cape town.
Dedicated to pairing our clients with the very best candidates
“Totally professional, impeccable taste, a host of long standing clients and an ability to assess what you're capable of in an instant, borne of years of experience. I wouldn't be where I am today without them and can't recommend them enough. 5 stars without question.”
Kettering
“Hutchinsons is a great, professional agency and one can only imagine by dealing with this company how much benefit clients get from the extensive know-how and amazing experience they offer. The vacancies they offer are always consistent and it’s a great pleasure and inspiration to be able to deal with people at the top of their game.”
France
“Excellent recruitment agency, by far the best anywhere! I’m always hesitant about recruitment agencies, they can make you feel ignored and “just a name on a list.” This is not the case with the Hutchinsons Staff. Frances and her wonderful team have always made me feel special and unique, as if I really matter!
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UK
“My experience with Frances and her team is definitely positive. In a business where many people reinvent themselves, not knowing much about how peculiar the world of UHNWI is, Hutchinsons is definitely a must use, both for candidates searching for true work ethic and honesty and for the most discerning clients who are willing to trust a company that does command the codes of luxury!”
France
“Thank you and your team at Hutchinsons Staff for all your help in our search for our new butler. He has settled in well and we are more than satisfied. We are grateful for your expertise and would recommend your company to our friends.”
France
“Our new housekeeper has arrived and is wonderful! Thank you for all your help in finding her.”
Oxfordshire
“Since the date of meeting with a representative from Hutchinsons, I had the most enjoyable experience. I had been in contact with various agencies in London who were very vague in terms of opportunities available, however this was completely different with Hutchinsons. Within 3 months of approaching Hutchinsons, I had secured a very desirable position which has the scope to travel the entire world.”
London
“Delighted with the service and efficiency of your consultancy. You did all you promised and more. We are very pleased with our new staff member and will return to Hutchinsons again in the future. Our thanks to everyone in your office.”
