A Butler must be able to do the following:
- How to run the Butler’s office
- How to keep household accounts
- Answering the door to visitors
- How to acquire the perfect telephone manner
- The butler book
- How to use the pantry book (Some Butlers are now using computers)
- The guest & menu book (visitors book)
- How to be discreet, loyal and dedicated
- How to behave with your employers
- How to keep up your professional standards and the importance of your appearance
- The importance of your own behaviour off duty
- Housekeeping
- The housekeeper’s role
- The care of clothes and preparing clothes daily
- Household cleaning techniques and the type of materials to be used
- Understanding the care and cleaning of antiques and other valuable items
- Discussing cleaning silver
- Laying a table for luncheon
- Laying a table for dinner
- How to serve a luncheon and a dinner
- How to give silver service
- How to prepare a meal in twenty minutes
- Serving cheese
- Serving fresh fruit
- How to deal with special diets
- How to prepare English afternoon tea and how to serve it
- Passing the Port and British tradition
- The correct time to serve liqueurs and cognac
- The understanding and care of cigars
- How to deal with a drunk guest at the dinner table and in the house
- The type of store and shop you should use
- How to get the best possible value when purchasing items for the house
- Purchasing all types of food and wine
- Purchasing clothes for your employer
- How to purchase handmade shoes and other footwear for your employer
- How to purchase hand-made shirts for your employer
- Inspecting your staff
- The art of getting on with everyone, from the youngest member of staff to the most important guest of honour
- How to treat staff
- How to hire staff
- The interview procedure for positions
- How to dismiss staff
- Work closely with the chef or cook-housekeeper
- Working with the Concierge of a first-class hotel
- Run an efficient kitchen
- How to serve breakfast
- How to serve an early morning drink
- The importance of matching up food and wine
- The importance of hygiene and the causes of food poisoning
- Balancing of menus
- Champagne and the food that goes with it
- How to address people with or without titles
- Serving visitors with light refreshments
- Making guests feel welcome / How to deal with important guests
- How to deal with greedy guests
- How to deal with prying guests
- How to deal with unwanted unexpected guests
- Your duties when travelling with your employers
- Flexibility regarding to your working hours
- Packing suitcases
- Booking air fares
- Booking hotels
- Booking restaurants
- Check-lists for all occasions
- How to organise a dinner
- Table plans
- Table index
- Place cards
- Setting up bars for parties
- How to organise a picnic and shoot
- How to organise parties and have no waste whatsoever
- How to organise parties using outdoor caterers
- How to organise a barbecue and a champagne party plus a cocktail party
- How to organise a party using your own and agency staff
- How to arrange a band and cabaret
- Hiring agency staff
- Preparing a theatre supper party
- Understanding the type of restaurant your employer wishes to dine in
- Preparing for Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day
- How to organise Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day
- The security of the house, fire and accident safety precautions
- How to be the perfect chauffeur
- How to make an inventory for insurance purposes
- How to check contractors’ work
- Organising a move to a new house
