Butler Schools
By BB on Aug 09, 2009 with Comments 0
Our general credo has always been that: if you are a catering, service professional with common-sense, a good work ethic and the ability to research stuff for yourself then you will know much of what you need to know to be a successful butler already but would be nicely ‘fine-tuned’ in various techniques and styles of service and management via a 2/4/6/8 week residential course.
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 – employer or potential trainee.
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.
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 nor promoting, no matter how well known they are. The schools we feature here are those that we have heard only good things about. If you own or know of a reputable Butler School that deserves a place here please contact us.
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The Australian Butler Training School
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.
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.
Thomas School of British Butlers
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.
Training location: Courses take place within a household environment, in order to have access to suitable facilities:
- Certificate Course: Woodchurch, Kent, United Kingdom
- 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 lasts for three and a half days and is held at a private household in the country. The Diploma 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.
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.
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.
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 $100. Four books and two DVDs are purchased similarly for about $200 plus shipping.
The International Butler Academy
Training location: Huis’t Veldt, Zutphen, The Netherlands.
Each course includes a number of field trips.
Instructors: Six 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.
The Charles MacPherson Academy
Training location: 50 Carroll Street, Toronto, Canada
Instructors: A roster of experts with a minimum of 10 years experience in their respective fields – see brochure for details here
Syllabus: Promoted as being the the most complete syllabus of any Butler and Household Manager Academy
Length of Academy: 8 weeks (for certification)
Number of Academy programs per year: 2-3
Number of courses to complete certificater: 23
Cost per course: $750 each. All 23 courses consecutively: $10,000 USD
Fees include textbook, uniform and lunch each day. Accommodations, airfare to and from Toronto, dinners and all food on days off are the responsibility of the students.
Professional Domestics Institute
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.
The Bradley House Butler School
Training location: Bradley House, Wiltshire, United Kingdom ( The house is owned by the Duke of Somerset).
Instructors: Mr A. Haynes
Length of Course: 12 days over 2 weeks stay
Number of courses per year: 2 at present. Check web site for course availability
Cost: £2400 including accommodation in the house, and all meals
10 Questions to ask any Butler School before signing up:
1) What are the entry criteria?
2) Is there any practical work experience and if so, where, what, and when?
3) What are the qualifications of the trainers?
4) How many trainers are working/have worked as butlers?
5) How many graduates are currently working as butlers?
6) What employment agencies recognize the graduate certificate?
7) To what extent does the school assist in placing graduates?
8) Is there a student handbook setting out rights and expectations?
9) Does the school have a complaints forum or refund policy?
10) Do all graduates receive a diploma, is it graded?
Filed Under: Butler Schools • Training Issues
