Private Training Programme:
Butler / Valet / Household Management / Hotel Butler
It should come as no surprise that we are immensely proud of Magnums Butlers. We are a high quality training provider offering a certain style, sophistication and success you just can't find elsewhere. Take our Butler training programme, for example, although seemingly short, it is 4 weeks of intensive grooming and schooling for a new career. Our world renowned programme offers an extensive and busy curriculum within an atmosphere of professionalism, practicality and integrity, with excellent results. Our graduates stand testimony to it!
We invite you to try it and see - it could make the world of difference to your life.
Being closely involved with the profession has enabled Josephine Ive, principal of Magnums Butlers' training school to keep abreast of the needs and requirements of the private household/estate and sectors of the hotel industry. As a result, butlers, valets and guest service staff trained by Magnums Butlers are able to offer the optimum level of personal service associated with professional butlers.
Summary of the butler position
 The butler is a key element usually heading up a team of professionals delivering a level of personalised service that exceeds the expectations of employers and guests. The butler often presents himself as a 'mini-manager' developing other staff members by skilful training rather badgering. That is, coaching not criticizing. Butlers are leaders and managers.
A professional butler is prompt, courteous, organised, well-groomed, honest, trusting and trustworthy, friendly but not familiar, reliable, low-key, unobtrusive professional. A butler is committed to the highest standards of service, anticipates as well as expedites, organises as well as implements, and delegates effectively. Butlers are very often the first and last point of contact for the employer and guest and this is seen as the best that can be offered, in fact, an ambassador of high standards!
The attention to detail and ability to anticipate the needs of the employers and guests, coupled with an appreciation of the finer things in life, demand that the butler is a consummate professional with impeccable personal standards. There is no denying the immense responsibility placed on a Butlers' shoulders, however, it is an exciting job with more than its fair share of job satisfaction.
Magnums Butlers, in turn, provides structured training towards achieving this level of service. The course is well linked to the Hospitality Industry Competency Standards. Our standards have existed for many years and are continually updated to remain relevant to the industry. The competency standards involved in this training programme are about the skills and knowledge that people need to perform their job as a butler/valet to recognised industry standards or beyond.
The curriculum includes:
- The Life and Role of the Butler/Valet: Creating the right image. The traditions and history behind the role. The modern day butler in the 21st century. How to keep up professional standards. Personal Presentation and Grooming.
- Etiquette and Protocol: Defining manners. Meeting and greeting guests, shaking hands, seating guests and addressing VIP and titled guests correctly. General etiquette relevant to the many situations in which the professional butler will be required to handle.
- Management of Household and Staff: Setting the standards, creating and maintaining routines and schedules, purchasing, caring for fine antiques, works of art and antique furniture. Time management, technology and computer systems, interview and hiring staff and staff inspections.
- Household Laundry Management: Clothes maintenance and laundering techniques. Sorting out washloads, stain removal techniques ironing and folding clothes, storage, organising linen cupboards.
- Chef's Night Off! A Butler / Valet may often be called upon to 'create' a meal, so some basic techniques and recipes are included, along with some practical application. Organising and running an efficient kitchen, menu planning and compilation. Balancing food and wine.
- Guest awareness: Establishing a rapport with employers and guests through more knowledge from a geographical and cultural point of view. This section includes some interesting field trips.
- Communication: Verbal and non-verbal communication. Understanding and interpreting body language. Interpersonal skills such as conversing with people explaining systems, understanding and carrying out guests requests. Dealing with guests’ complaints and coping with challenging situations.
- Personal Valet: Basic requirements and knowledge for the care and handling of clothes. Care of guest’s clothes prior to use. Packing and unpacking of guest’s luggage. Shoe care and cleaning. Minor repairs to guests clothes. Purchasing and appreciating fine quality clothes and handmade shoes. Keeping records and inventories.
- Table Management: Butler-style service for the private dining room, hosting parties and events. Elegant food and beverage service, setting up for functions, creating stunning table settings for formal and less formal events. Champagne, wine, cigars and so much more!
- Creating those extra special services: To make employers and guests feel even more special. This is a more creative element designed to develop butlers to consider other options in personalised service. Includes purchasing and wrapping gifts, buying and arranging and creating stunning flowers, and providing thoughtful amenities to employers and guests.
- Quality awareness: The 'attention to detail' section, points to check out, identifying employer and guest expectations. Ensuring total service satisfaction. Knowledge, not just about the local and international scene, but all those exclusive brand names and products, about which butlers need to know.
  
All study is supported with a Magnums Butlers Butler / Valet training manual, text books, video presentations, notes and field trips, Magnums Butlers students are encouraged to work diligently at their studies, it's an intensive, sometimes exhausting programme but challenging and satisfying, with proven results towards obtaining employment in a key new growth area of private household and estate management.
This is the standard private Butler / Valet training programme, however it can be adapted to suit individual hotel and hospitality industry clients, The Magnums Butlers training programme is well-regarded. It is the foremost training programme of its kind with standards that provide a flexible framework which can be used not just for butler/valet training but in other areas of hotel guest service, such as housekeeping, room service, front office and concierge departments. The standards within the programme recognise the need to be meaningful, valuable and relevant, and are tailored to meet the specific needs of hospitality industry clients, individuals and different cultural groups.
In accordance with hospitality industry standards, this training programme is designed to offer individual modules which combine to create a package of skills which suit the needs of individual work situations. The full Magnums Butlers training programme can span up to four weeks or more, however, in recognising that for many hospitality industry clients, with budget constraints, that maybe seem too long. If this is the case, the client can provide a list of modules required, which can then be formatted into a time frame most suited to the client’s needs. Ask Magnums Butlers to provide a quotation. It may not be as expensive as you think.
We receive many requests for an abridged 1 week Magnums Butlers Hotel Butler Training programme for those with some butler and hospitality experience. We can tailor the programme to suit your needs, so
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and we will advise you of costs and when we can run a course for you.
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