Since the UK’s departure from the EU, staffing discerning homes with EU nationals has transformed. Brexit ended free movement in 2021, shifting how London and UK households hire housekeepers, nannies, or chefs from Europe. At Marshall Harber, we’ve adapted to these changes, offering expert guidance to clients navigating this legacy. Here’s what you need to know about employing EU staff in 2025.

Brexit’s Impact on EU Staffing
Pre-Brexit, EU nationals made up 29% of UK migration; by 2025, this has dropped as non-EU immigration rose to 79%. Free movement is replaced by visa requirements, with many EU workers needing settled status (deadline 30 June 2021) or new visas. This shift has reduced the pool of available EU talent, prompting a reliance on alternative recruitment strategies.

Visa and Legal Requirements
• Settled Status: EU nationals living in the UK before 31 December 2020 can apply for settled status, allowing them to work without visas.
• Skilled Worker Visa: Required for new EU hires, needing a sponsor license, a job offer, and a minimum salary (£38,700 in 2025, rising to £41,700 in July).
• Right-to-Work Checks: Mandatory, with fines up to £60,000 per illegal worker.
Existing EU staff can stay, but new hires face stricter rules, impacting roles like live-in staff.

Pros, Challenges, and Strategies
• Pros: EU nationals often bring diverse skills and cultural alignment with UK homes.
• Challenges: Visa costs, language requirements (B1-B2 English), and reduced availability.
• Strategies: Partner with a specialist agency like Marshall Harber to vet candidates and manage compliance, ensuring a smooth hiring process.

Expert Support from Marshall Harber
Brexit’s legacy requires careful navigation. Our team meets every candidate, verifying their status and skills to match your discerning household needs. Trust us to bridge the gap left by these changes.

For discerning households in London and the UK, choosing between live-in and live-out staff is a pivotal decision. Whether you need a nanny, housekeeper, or chef, the arrangement impacts your home’s dynamics, budget, and staff satisfaction. At Marshall Harber, we understand these nuances and help clients and candidates find the perfect fit. Let’s explore why clients choose each option, the differences in roles, and the pros, cons, perks, and trade-offs from both client and candidate perspectives.

Reasons for Choosing Live-In or Live-Out Staff
Clients opt for live-in staff for round-the-clock support, ideal for busy families or estates needing constant care. Live-out staff suit those preferring independence or part-time help. A client in Kensington might choose a live-in nanny for young children, while a Mayfair homeowner might prefer a live-out chef for flexible dinner services. Candidates, meanwhile, may prefer live-in roles for accommodation or live-out for work-life balance.

Differences in Roles and Responsibilities
Live-in staff are often on call, managing tasks like overnight child supervision or estate maintenance, with accommodation provided. Live-out staff work set hours, focusing on specific duties (e.g., daily cleaning or meal prep) and commuting home. The distinction affects availability—live-in staff offer immediacy, while live-out staff provide boundaries, shaping the household’s routine.

Pros & Cons

Client Perspective:
Live-In: Pros include 24/7 availability and reduced commuting logistics with seamless support; cons involve less privacy and higher accommodation costs as well as space and boundary management.
Live-Out: Pros include privacy, flexibility and cost efficiency; cons are limited availability outside of hours and include scheduling challenges.

Candidate Perspective:
Live-In: Pros include free housing and job security with a sense of community within the home; cons are limited personal time and may include isolation from friends and family.
Live-Out: Pros include personal freedom and family time with more work-life balance; cons are commuting costs and may include less job stability.

Finding the Right Fit with Expert Guidance
Whether live-in or live-out, the key is alignment with your household’s needs. Vetting ensures reliability—Marshall Harber meets every candidate, matching their preferences and skills to your requirements. This tailored approach helps you navigate these nuances for a harmonious home.

In today’s discerning homes across London and the UK, the demand for versatile household staff is on the rise. Hybrid roles—such as a housekeeper-chef or a nanny-driver—offer a practical solution for busy families seeking efficiency without sacrificing quality. These multi-skilled professionals are reshaping private staffing, and vetting them requires a new approach. At Marshall Harber, we’re experts in identifying and matching candidates with the right combination of skills—here’s how to navigate this evolving trend.

Understanding Hybrid Roles in Household Staffing
Hybrid roles combine traditional duties into a single position, tailored to modern needs. A housekeeper-chef might maintain your home while preparing gourmet meals, while a nanny-driver could care for children and handle school runs. This trend reflects the desire for streamlined staffing in discerning homes, where space or budget constraints make multiple hires less feasible. Identifying which hybrid role suits your lifestyle—perhaps a butler-gardener for a country estate—is the first step.

Vetting for Versatility and Reliability
Vetting hybrid staff goes beyond standard checks. Assess their proficiency in each skill set through practical demonstrations—ask a housekeeper-chef to cook a meal and clean a room, or a nanny-driver to manage a child’s schedule and drive safely. Verify references from past roles that required similar multitasking, ensuring consistency. At Marshall Harber, our consultants meet candidates, evaluating their ability to juggle multiple responsibilities with professionalism and care.

Practical Tips for Hiring Hybrid Staff

• Test Multi-Skills: Request a trial day to observe how they handle combined duties, revealing their true versatility.
• Clarify Expectations: Define priorities (e.g., cooking over cleaning) to avoid role confusion.
• Check Experience: Seek candidates with proven hybrid roles, not just separate skill sets.
• Rely on Specialists: A modern home staffing UK agency like Marshall Harber can source and vet hybrid talent efficiently.

Embrace Efficiency with Hybrid Staffing
The rise of hybrid roles offers a smart way to meet the demands of modern households. By understanding your needs, vetting for versatility, and partnering with experts, you can build a flexible, reliable team. Trust in specialized recruitment to bring these innovative solutions to your home.

For discerning households in London and across the UK, a private chef is more than a luxury—it’s a key part of daily life and special occasions. But finding the right culinary talent means matching their skills and style to your family’s unique tastes. Whether you prefer gourmet French cuisine, health-conscious meals, or international flavors, the process requires careful consideration. At Marshall Harber, we specialize in pairing households with chefs who elevate their dining experience, and here’s how you can ensure the perfect fit.

Defining Your Culinary Preferences
Start by identifying what defines your household’s taste. Do you value organic, locally sourced ingredients for sustainability? Are your children fans of kid-friendly yet nutritious dishes? Or perhaps you host frequent dinner parties requiring elegant, multi-course menus? Pinpointing these preferences—whether it’s a love for Italian classics or a focus on dietary restrictions—sets the foundation for finding a chef who aligns with your vision. For example, a family in Mayfair might seek a chef skilled in fine dining, while a countryside estate may prefer rustic, seasonal cooking.

Assessing Culinary Style During Hiring
Once your preferences are clear, evaluate candidates through targeted steps. Request a trial menu or tasting session to sample their cooking firsthand—this reveals their creativity and ability to adapt to your tastes. During interviews, ask about their experience with specific cuisines or dietary needs, and review their professional portfolio, including past menus or client feedback. At Marshall Harber, our consultants meet every chef candidate, ensuring their culinary style matches your household’s expectations through detailed discussions and reference checks.

Practical Tips for a Perfect Match

• Trial a Menu: Invite the chef to prepare a meal tailored to your preferences, observing their approach and the results.
• Discuss Flexibility: Ensure they can adapt to special diets or last-minute guest requests, a key trait for private homes.
• Check References for Taste: Ask past employers about the chef’s ability to cater to specific culinary styles and household dynamics.
• Leverage Expertise: A household chef London agency like Marshall Harber can streamline this process, connecting you with pre-vetted chefs who fit your taste profile.

Elevate Your Dining with the Right Chef
Matching a private chef’s culinary style to your household’s taste transforms mealtimes into a personalized experience. By defining your preferences, assessing candidates thoughtfully, and seeking specialist support, you can hire a chef who not only cooks but also enhances your family’s lifestyle. Trust in a tailored hiring guide to bring the perfect culinary partner to your table.

For discerning households in London and beyond, hiring household staff goes beyond skills and experience—it’s about finding someone who truly aligns with your family’s values. Whether you’re welcoming a nanny into your home or a butler to manage your estate, trust and cultural fit are paramount. At Marshall Harber, we understand the importance of this alignment, and we’re here to share how you can vet for trust to ensure a harmonious household.

Understanding Your Family’s Core Values
Before beginning the vetting process, take time to define what matters most to your household. Are discretion and privacy non-negotiable? Do you prioritise a warm, nurturing approach for your children? Or perhaps sustainability and eco-conscious practices are central to your lifestyle? Identifying these values—whether they centre on professionalism, empathy, or tradition—creates a clear benchmark for assessing candidates. For example, a family in Kensington might value multilingual skills for their children’s education, while a rural estate may prioritise staff who appreciate a slower, community-driven pace.

Vetting Techniques to Assess Alignment
Once your values are clear, the vetting process should go beyond standard checks to evaluate cultural fit. Start with scenario-based interviews: ask candidates how they’d handle situations that reflect your priorities, such as managing a confidential family event or adapting to your household’s eco-friendly routines. Next, dive deeper into references—don’t just verify employment history, but ask past employers about the candidate’s demeanour, adaptability, and alignment with their household’s ethos. At Marshall Harber, our consultants interview every candidate, ensuring we understand their personality and values to match them with the right family.

Actionable Tips for Ensuring a Value-Driven Match

• Involve the Family: If possible, include key family members in the interview process to gauge personal chemistry. A brief meeting can reveal whether a nanny’s warmth resonates with your children.
• Trial Periods: Consider a short trial to observe how the candidate integrates into your household. This hands-on approach can highlight whether their values align with yours in practice.
• Communicate Expectations Early: Be upfront about your values during the hiring process. For instance, if punctuality is critical, ensure the candidate understands and shares this priority.
• Rely on Specialists: A household staff agency in London, like Marshall Harber, brings expertise in identifying value-driven matches, saving you time while ensuring a seamless fit.

Building a Trusted Household Team
Vetting for trust is an investment in your household’s harmony. By prioritising alignment with your family’s values, you create a foundation for long-term relationships with staff who feel like an extension of your home. With the right vetting approach—or the support of a specialist agency—you can confidently welcome staff who share your vision and enhance your daily life.

For London’s discerning homeowners, hiring household staff isn’t just about filling a role—it’s about finding a trusted professional who seamlessly fits into the fabric of their home. Whether it’s a housekeeper for a busy family in Holland Park or a domestic couple for a rural estate, the stakes are high. So why are more private households turning to specialist recruitment agencies rather than handling hiring themselves? The answer lies in three key benefits: rigorous vetting, unparalleled discretion, and significant time savings.

Thorough Vetting for Peace of Mind
Hiring household staff requires more than a quick scan of a CV. A specialist household staff agency in London brings expertise in vetting candidates to ensure they meet the highest standards. At a reputable agency, every candidate is personally interviewed, their references meticulously verified, and their qualifications—like Enhanced DBS checks for nannies—thoroughly reviewed. This level of scrutiny minimizes risks and ensures that only the most reliable professionals are placed in private homes. DIY hiring, while tempting, often lacks the depth and resources to uncover potential red flags, leaving families vulnerable.

Discretion That Protects Privacy
For discerning households, privacy is non-negotiable. A specialist agency understands this implicitly, offering a confidential service that protects both the client’s and candidate’s sensitive information. From initial consultations to final placement, the process is handled with the utmost discretion—something that’s difficult to achieve when managing a DIY hiring process, where public job postings or informal networks can expose personal details. Agencies also have the experience to navigate complex requirements, such as sourcing staff for high-profile residences or even private yachts, all while maintaining confidentiality.

Time Savings for Busy Lives
Managing a private home in the UK often comes with a demanding schedule. Sifting through applications, conducting interviews, and verifying credentials can take weeks, if not months. A specialist recruitment agency streamlines this process, leveraging an extensive database of pre-vetted candidates to quickly match the right staff to your needs. For example, agencies can swiftly source a live-in housekeeper for a Surrey estate or a chauffeur with experience driving luxury vehicles in London, saving clients countless hours. Many agencies also offer guarantees, such as a replacement period if the placement isn’t a perfect fit, providing added assurance without additional effort.

Why Choose a Specialist Agency?
The value of a private home staffing UK agency lies in its ability to deliver not just a hire, but a long-term solution. Discerning homeowners in London and beyond recognise that the investment in a specialist agency pays off in the form of trusted, high-caliber staff who enhance their household’s daily life. By prioritising vetting, discretion, and efficiency, these agencies take the guesswork out of hiring—leaving you free to focus on what matters most. Contact Marshall Harber to discover how we could help you navigate this delicate process.

For London’s discerning homeowners, household staff are more than employees—they’re trusted insiders. A housekeeper might overhear a business deal in Belgravia; a chauffeur might drive a VIP through Knightsbridge. With such access, vetting isn’t just a step—it’s the foundation of trust. At Marshall Harber, we’ve spent decades perfecting our vetting process to protect private households across the UK and beyond. Here’s why it matters, what it involves, and how we ensure your peace of mind.

The Stakes: Privacy and Safety First
In a high-net-worth home, the risks are high. A single lapse—a nanny sharing gossip, a butler with an unverified background—can disrupt your life. Vetting mitigates this by ensuring staff are reliable, discreet, and safe. It’s not just about skills; it’s about character. Imagine a housekeeper who, without proper checks, shares details of your home on social media. For families who value privacy above all, that’s a risk you can’t afford.

What Thorough Vetting Looks Like
A robust vetting process covers multiple layers:
• DBS Checks: A Disclosure and Barring Service check flags any criminal history, ensuring staff are safe to work in your home—especially around children or valuables.
• Reference Calls: We don’t just read references; we call past employers to verify performance, reliability, and discretion. Did they handle sensitive situations well? Were they punctual?
• Identity and Right-to-Work: We confirm legal work status and identity, crucial in a city like London with strict regulations.
• Behavioural Interviews: We ask pointed questions—“How do you handle overhearing private conversations?”—to gauge instincts on privacy and professionalism.

The Difference It Makes
Thorough vetting ensures peace of mind. Consider a chauffeur role: without proper checks, you might hire someone with a history of reckless driving, putting your family at risk. Or picture a nanny who hasn’t been vetted for discretion—she might unintentionally share details about your children’s routines. Our process catches these red flags early, ensuring every candidate we place—whether a butler, housekeeper, or estate manager—is someone you can trust implicitly. We prioritise discretion at every step, so your household’s privacy remains sacred.

Why Choose an Agency?
DIY vetting can be daunting—time-consuming and risky if you miss a step. Agencies like Marshall Harber take the burden off your shoulders. We pre-screen every candidate, from housekeepers to estate managers, ensuring they meet our exacting standards before they reach your door. Our network spans London to international estates, giving us access to the best—vetted for your trust.

The Bottom Line
Vetting isn’t a formality; it’s a safeguard. It protects your privacy, your family, and your home’s harmony. For discerning London households, that’s non-negotiable.
Ready for staff you can trust? Marshall Harber delivers London’s finest, vetted with care. Contact us today.

The modern butler is a master of quiet precision, blending tradition with today’s demands in London’s discerning households. Far from the stiff stereotypes of yesteryear, today’s butlers are versatile professionals—part manager, part confidant. At Marshall Harber, we’ve placed butlers in residences from Mayfair to Monaco, each adapting to their household’s rhythm. Step into a busy event day for one such butler in a Kensington townhouse, to see why they’re indispensable.

6:30 AM: The Day Begins
The butler rises early, slipping into a crisp uniform—white shirt, black waistcoat, polished shoes. First task: a sweep of the home. He adjusts curtains to let in soft morning light, checks the dining room for breakfast prep, and syncs with the housekeeper via a shared app to confirm the day’s cleaning schedule. A quick glance at the weather app ensures he’s ready—rain means umbrellas at the door.

8:00 AM: Breakfast and Briefings
As the family gathers, the butler oversees breakfast—porridge with honey, fresh berries, and coffee, laid out with precision. He’s briefed the chef on preferences (no dairy for the eldest child) and ensures the table is flawless. While they eat, he reviews the day’s schedule: a school run, a client lunch for the parents, and an evening cocktail event. He texts the chauffeur to confirm timings, then arranges dry cleaning pickup for a suit needed tonight.

11:00 AM: Managing the Unexpected
A last-minute request arrives—the client lunch needs a venue change. The butler calls a trusted Mayfair restaurant, securing a private room, then updates the chauffeur. Meanwhile, he oversees a florist delivery for the evening event, arranging lilies in a crystal vase himself. Discretion is key: when a courier drops off a confidential package, he ensures it’s stored securely, no questions asked.

1:00 PM: A Brief Respite
With the family out, the butler takes a well-earned break—lunch in the staff quarters, perhaps a quick cup of tea while reviewing the evening plan. He meets with a contractor fixing a leak in the guest wing, ensuring work stays on schedule, then checks the wine cellar, ordering a case of the family’s favourite Chablis to replenish stock.

6:00 PM: Evening Elegance
The cocktail event looms. The butler transforms the drawing room—candles lit, playlist queued, glasses sparkling. He briefs the temporary staff on guest names and preferences, ensuring seamless service. As the family returns, he helps the host with a tie adjustment, then greets arrivals with a warm, understated smile. During the event, he’s a shadow—refilling drinks, clearing plates, all while laughter flows uninterrupted.

9:00 PM: Winding Down
Guests gone, the butler oversees cleanup, ensuring the home is pristine by 9:30 PM. He sets out the family’s evening tea—chamomile, as requested—then prepares for tomorrow: laying out school uniforms, confirming a car service for a 7:00 AM airport run. Before retiring, he sends a quick report to the family office, noting the evening’s success. On quieter days, he’d finish earlier, but events like tonight demand extra care.

Why It Matters
This butler doesn’t just serve—he orchestrates. His blend of tradition, tech-savvy, and discretion makes the household hum. For London’s discerning families, that’s the gold standard.
Need a butler to elevate your home? Marshall Harber connects you with London’s finest, vetted for excellence. Contact us today.

Employing household staff can be an incredibly rewarding experience for both the employer and employee. Not only does it provide much-needed support to busy households, but it also allows employers to build relationships with people who have diverse backgrounds and experiences. That said, there are many things that employers should consider before they bring new staff into their homes. Let’s take a look at five of them.

1. Understand Your Legal Requirements
It is important to understand the legal requirements that come with employing household staff, such as tax payments, minimum wage requirements, and other applicable labor laws. This will ensure that you are compliant with all regulations and avoid any potential legal issues in the future. It is important to remember that each country or state has different laws regarding employment—so be sure to research the specific regulations in your area before hiring anyone.
2. Develop Clear Job Descriptions
Having a clear job description for each role you need filled is essential for ensuring your expectations are properly communicated from the start. This will help ensure that your employees understand what is expected of them from day one and provide clarity when managing their performance throughout their employment.
3. Provide Adequate Training
Providing adequate training for your employees is critical for ensuring they know how to perform their job duties safely and efficiently—especially if they are working in a potentially hazardous environment like a kitchen or around any type of machinery or tools. Depending on the specific role, you may need to get additional certifications or licenses in order for your employee to legally work in certain roles like childcare or medical caretaking positions.
4. Establish Boundaries
Establishing boundaries between yourself and your employees will help maintain professional relationships while still allowing everyone involved to have a comfortable working environment. It’s important to make sure that everyone understands what is acceptable behaviour while they are on the job so that there are no misunderstandings down the line about what is expected from both sides of the relationship.
5 . Review Their Performance Regularly
Regularly reviewing an employee’s performance can help keep them motivated and open up opportunities for improvement when needed—plus it gives employers an opportunity to recognise good work! Performance reviews also give employers insight into how their staff feels about certain aspects of their job so they can better address any issues that may arise over time.

Taking on household staff can be incredibly rewarding when done responsibly. By understanding your legal requirements, developing clear job descriptions, providing adequate training, establishing boundaries, and reviewing performance regularly, employers can ensure that both themselves and their employees have an enjoyable experience all around! Doing this will ultimately create positive relationships between employers and employees while helping both sides reach success in their respective fields!

For high net worth families, having an experienced and reliable personal assistant can be invaluable. From managing their daily activities to providing support for family members, personal assistants play an important role in helping their employers live a comfortable lifestyle. Here’s a look at the responsibilities of private family personal assistants.

Organizational Responsibilities
One of the primary duties of a private family personal assistant is to organize their employer’s day-to-day life. This includes managing calendars, scheduling appointments, making travel arrangements, and coordinating with other staff members. Assistants may also be responsible for filing paperwork, taking notes during meetings, and performing administrative tasks like data entry or document preparation. Any tasks that need to be completed on a regular basis should fall under the scope of this position.

Family Support
In addition to administrative duties, private family personal assistants are often tasked with providing support directly to family members. They may help monitor children’s educational progress or coordinate extracurricular activities for them. They may also run errands or take care of any other needs that arise within the household. It is important for these assistants to have excellent organizational skills as well as strong interpersonal communication abilities in order to effectively handle these kinds of tasks.

Other Duties
The exact duties of a private family’s personal assistant will vary depending on the specific needs of their employer’s household. In some cases they may be asked to manage household finances or oversee repairs and maintenance jobs around the home. They may also be responsible for handling vendors or contractors who work with the family on special projects or repairs as needed. In short, no two days are ever quite the same when it comes to being a personal assistant in a high net worth household!

A private family's personal assistant plays an important role in helping their employers maintain an orderly lifestyle while providing direct support to each member of the family when necessary. Responsibilities range from organizing daily activities and making travel arrangements to monitoring children's educational progress and handling vendors and contractors for home repairs or special projects. No matter what type of task is required, it is essential for private family personal assistants to have excellent organizational skills as well as strong interpersonal communication abilities in order to successfully carry out their duties on behalf of their employer's household.