The Butler's Brief
In October 2002, Rick Fink, an English Butler, opened his prestigious Butler-valet school. With 52 years experience gained in some of England's finest Stately Homes, Mr Fink is now passing his knowledge on to those who wish to learn that unique profession. The true English Butler. The English Butler training course is for the highest private service that would be required by top society of today, managing and running their private residences. This is private service taught at the highest standards by one who has only been employed in this work all his working life and knows the requirements of the employers and all the type of work that can be expected and involved.
"This is private service taught at the highest standards"
The Butler-Valet School has been very busy training student butlers during 2008 and has taken on additional high calibre quality trainers to assist Mr. Rick Fink.
We are very pleased to welcome Mr Colin Gaunt, a Butler with over twenty years experience to the team. Colin has worked in the most prestigious houses in England, including Buckingham Palace, Blenheim Palace, Woburn Abbey and the U.S. Embassy in London. With his wide ranging background, Colin brings even more quality expertise to our “hands on” training skills.
We have also retained three other well experienced and specialised trainers to assist us as required, which enables the Butler-Valet School to offer and provide hotel and cruise liner butling skills when necessary.
The Butler-Valet School is well known for its very high standard of practical training. Rick Fink is determined that this quality will always be maintained and strictly followed by all trainers assisting at the School, at Ditchley Park or wherever required. We can now offer butler training in both the UK or overseas but the quality and level of our training will always be to the highest and consistent standards.
Next 10 Day Course: Monday 8th March to Friday 20th March 2010.
Next 4 week Course: Tuesday 6th April to Friday 1st May 2010.
Previous successful students of the Butler-Valet School are working in Palaces and large residences in the UK and throughout the world which reflects the best quality of our teaching and training. We retain a great interest in all our past and present students and encourage them to keep in touch and tell us about their career progress, and of course we always help and advise them when we can.
The school is situated in a beautiful Georgian Mansion set in the English countryside eight miles north from the centre of Oxford, and is the perfect background in which to learn everything necessary to become a First Class Butler-Valet.
The full course is over a period of four weeks, The practical approach is vital on this course and is followed throughout. Classes are presided over by Rick Fink , Mr Colin Gaunt and other staff members including Mr Cedrique de Poot. Students will learn all the necessary skills required to run a large household, the selection of fine wine and food, the organisation of large Dinner parties and Banquets and the serving of them. The care of the finest silver and glassware. Valeting of fine clothes, etc.
"I want to give my students every possible opportunity to develop the Butler-Valet skills I have learnt and there is no better way of learning how to be a Butler than to be taught by someone who is a Butler-Valet with so many years experience. I look forward to welcoming the next group of students to my school”.
No guarantee of employment can be given at the end of the course, but each student will be assessed on merit and awarded a Diploma, which can be a good recommendation and hopefully assist them in finding the position of their choice.
Fees 
will include all tuition costs and materials, including talks on Health and Safety, Food Hygiene, and visits to Stately Homes and other places of interest. Accommodation is provided (click Information page for more, also the other pages to find out about the course) Luncheon, tea and coffee are provided on course days only, this is included in the fees.
An expertly trained Butler can expect to earn upwards of £26000 and to be able to obtain positions of employment in Stately Homes, Palaces, Embassies, Prestigious Corporations and Private Service.