10 QUESTIONS WITH ALISON & AMANDA, FOUNDERS OF SILKS LUXURY LIFESTYLE
1.) Good morning Alison and Amanda, welcome to The Mayfair Musings! How did SILKS Luxury Lifestyle begin?
Amanda: We started the business 10 years ago providing our clients with private staff including housekeepers, butlers, chefs and PAs to name a few. More recently we re-branded to Silks Luxury Lifestyle, which organically grew as a result of our clients and the direction they were taking. We offer a bespoke service that is tailor made to suit each individual whether that be staff placements, holiday and travel support to event arrangement and planning.
Alison: Our aim is simple, to provide experience staff to fit the clients precise specification. We only register candidates with the necessary skillset and the correct documentation.
2.) What did you both do before SILKS Luxury Lifestyle?
Amanda: I worked for many years as a TV director / producer in broadcast promotions, including the BBC and ITV.
Alison: I worked in the world of corporate travel, responsible for securing global accounts with airlines and hotels.
3.) What can you do for those seeking private household staff?
Alison and Amanda: Our aim is simple, to provide experienced staff who fit the requirements of the clients. We only register candidates with the necessary experience and with the required documentation. We interview the very best candidates available and we source from all over the country to ensure the exceptionally high demands of our clients are met.
4.) How do you ensure that household staff are perfectly matched to the needs of your clients?
Amanda and Alison: We try to meet our clients or their representative in the home whenever possible. We realise this isn’t always an option so we try to gather as much information as is possible (without prying too much) via a telephone conversation to gauge personality type and home life. It’s so important that when clients do invite a domestic staff into their home, there is an etiquette that must be observed and understood. Some clients require staff with a larger than life personalities and others enjoy calm and serenity in the home.
4.) What services do SILKS Luxury Lifestyle provide to those who are relocating to the UK?
Amanda: Clients come to us for all manner of support. First of all we can absolutely provide the right member of staff who is experienced and knowledgeable about the area the family are moving to. Additionally we have excellent knowledge of independent and state schools therefore we can make our recommendations based on the ages and academic requirements. We have partnered up with leading estate agents and letting companies to assist with home searches and can also offer support registering with local GPs and dentists as well as providing full local information on recreation activities, local groups and societies if requested.
5.) What has been a highlight within your business so far?
Amanda: We looked after a very high profile actor who based himself in Surrey for a period of 6 month whilst filming. His team rented a vast property and we were tasked with providing a dedicated team of staff to ensure the property was managed like a 5-star hotel. We needed to provide all items required for the home to include all linen, cleaning and household items. We handled all payroll and rosters whilst working very closely with his creative director and the financial team in LA to ensure the clients stay was seamless and memorable.
6.) Can you give us an example how you have helped a family with young children?
Alison: We had a wonderful family of 6 relocate from the States, for visa reasons they were unable to bring their existing staff to the UK. Both parents were professionals, with very demanding jobs. We secured them with a team of nannies that were able to offer full support. The clients later referred to them as the perfect addition to their family.
7.) What special measures / guidelines do you have in place to ensure the wellbeing of your clients and staff amidst the Covid-19 pandemic?
Amanda: Covid-19 has presented a number of challenges over the past few months and we have worked very closely with our families to ensure that their safety is our number one priority. Families have changed their way of working which has impacted on their staffing needs. More and more families now wish to employ staff on a live in basis to ensure that minimal movement and interaction outside of the home takes place.
One particular family of ours engaged a live-in member of the team and ensured they self-isolated for the first 2 weeks of employment (at the home of the employer) to eliminate any risks to the older members of the family. With regards to registering new candidates we are slowly inviting individuals into our offices and clients are again slowly but surely inviting candidates into their homes for interview. But as always, we work towards the advice given which we know can change at any given time.
8.) Where is SILKS Luxury Lifestyle based and how can people get in touch with you?
Alison: Our main office is in Esher, Surrey but we do work from a London base when we need to meet clients or interview staff. However, we do travel all over the country when we are invited to.
9.) What do you love most about your business?
Alison: It sounds corny but I personally get the most satisfaction from matching the client with the perfect candidate, ensuring the required skills set are met. This not only provides job satisfaction, but a long term engagement. We become very invested with our clients and candidates and always look to deliver a first class service.
Amanda: I love meeting and connecting people from all walks of life and partnering them up in the workplace.
10.) When you are not busy working, where can you be found and what will you be doing?
Alison: Travel with my family when we can. Eating out and walking with my dog.
Amanda: You can always find me walking my cockapoo Jessie in the woods near my home or in my kitchen cooking for my family of 5.
To find out more about SILKS Luxury Lifestyle, please click here.
To get in touch, please email info@silksluxurylifestyle.co.uk or call +44 (0) 1372 469378
