Life in Private Staffing

Today Philippa speaks with a highly experienced private butler who is proving how taking that decision to relocate for a role in Saudi Arabia was one of the best things he has done. He secured his first role 3 years ago via Silver Swan in a VIP property in Riyadh and he has never left the beautiful country since! He is now part of the team to open a brand-new boutique luxury resort in the highly talked about and stunning Al Ula.

We discuss his journey into the sector and how he managed to get to such a senior service role along with what it takes to succeed in Saudi and how to manage the climate!

In this episode we are focusing on all things great about Saudi Arabia. A country still feared by many is actually fast becoming one of the most exciting places to be. With the country’s leader driving the country forward in regards to equality and women’s rights, along with the huge plans surround the 2030 vision it will soon not only be a great place to live and work but a holiday destination for the Western world.

Today we invite a couple of guests onto the show. Sally, a renowned DJ has been play in Saudi Arabia and was truly blown away by the people, the culture and the architecture. Corina, a returning guests to the podcast, has been working closely with Middle Eastern clients her entire career - there isn’t much that Corina doesn’t know about life in the Kingdom.

Tune in to learn all about this fabulous place!

To celebrate reaching the middle of season 3 we wanted to take the opportunity to look back at all of the best bits so far! 

Listen to Philippa chat to our guests about all things private staffing, from a celebrity chef to an interior designer and from the ski industry to superyachts. 

Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review. See you on our next episode!

Today, Philippa speaks with Halima who has spent the last 20 years travelling the world cooking for some of the wealthiest families in the world. She, like many of us, were affected by the pandemic but has now found herself as a Chief Ambassador for The Burnt Chef, a mental health support project that she is incredibly passionate about. Within the hospitality industry, 4 out of 5 professionals report having experienced at least one mental health issue during their career. They are fully committed to making the hospitality professional healthier and more sustainable by focussing on people’s wellbeing first. Halima discussed what is available to anyone suffering – from a 24/7 support service to wellbeing apps, to training to HR support….all of this is accessible for FREE.

Employers need to treat their staff well, they need to ensure they are not overworked, that they are fed well, they have enough work/life balance, that they are supported and nurtured within the roles and that they have a healthy and happy work environment. The Burnt Chef team are here to spread this message and ultimately protect the hospitality industry and all that those working in it.

Today, Philippa talks to Andy who is one of the founders and MD of Kaluma Travel, a luxury ski tour operator and long-time friend of Silver Swan. We go right back to how Andy first started working in the mountains and where his career has taken him over the decades. The ski industry has certainly had its highs and lows – living in St. Anton all year round is certainly a lot of fun and being able to raise a family whilst skiing as often as you want is amazing. However, navigating a large ski company through a pandemic and Brexit simultaneously has been incredibly challenging to say the least.

But both Andy and the highly reputable Kaluma Travel are still here though, going strong once again and able to share their stories….of which there are many!

Today, Philippa speaks to Samantha, an estate manager for an UHNW based in London responsible for managing a number of homes worldwide. Her story is an inspiring one for all yachties looking to move from yachting into a land-based position as this is exactly what she has managed to do very successfully. We discussed the struggle yachties experience when domestic staffing agencies don’t recognise their experience or deem it suitable for the private sector….all agencies except Silver Swan that is! Perseverance paid off for Samantha though as she has secured a challenging but rewarding role and she explains how she managed this.

Tune in for insights into both the yachting and private household industry.

Today, Philippa speaks to Shawn, a highly experienced celebrity chef. Having worked for some of the biggest actors in Hollywood he spent a chunk of his career working for numerous royals in the middle east - which we always love to talk about as encouraging people to explore a career in the middle east is something Silver Swan truly believes in. The experiences to be gained are incredible for those brave enough to take that plunge!

Shawn’s stories are amazing but it’s his passion and love for the industry which is just infectious.

Today Philippa is speaking with Natalie to delve into her experience working in the private sector. Her journey started by working as a nanny before she decided to gain professional training at The Butler Academy in the Netherlands. She explains how this highly intensive course shaped her entire career since, especially when she furthered her training by studying Luxury Lifestyle Management at degree level. Her career progressed through to Estate Management level, giving her all the knowledge and contacts required for her to set up Private Service Alliance 2 years ago.

Private Service Alliance offers membership to individuals and organisations related to the private sector. Designed to support the industry to develop professional relationships, establish industry standards, grow industry knowledge and promote best practices.

It’s free for all private service professionals to join during 2022 so sign up now!

Our conversation with English was a fascinating insight into the world of interior design. From her gruelling journey of study required to gain the necessary qualifications to work as a designer in America to how she transitioned from corporate offices into private residences. We discuss some of her favourite projects, some of the major challenges working with UHNW clients and what a process looks like from client enquiry to delivery.

As Philippa admits she knows nothing about interior design, this was a really interesting chat… 1 episode didn’t feel enough!

Today we had the pleasure of talking to Emma, who after a long and successful career in real estate, moved into the private sector. She is the estate manager looking after 2 luxury holiday lets in Dorset and alongside this, she runs a luxury lifestyle management service though her agency called Whisper Us where she offers PA support, house management and concierge to a handful of clients across London, Dorset and Southbanks.

With a solid reputation among UHNW clients, she has also won awards for her services within the sector and so her story is definitely an inspiring one!