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About Us

Staff of Distinction is the UK’s leading specialist Household Staffing agency placing Staff in London, the UK Countryside and Overseas. Established in 1996 by Sarajane Ambrose, whether you need a Housekeeper to ensure the smooth running of your home or an Estate Manager to streamline your property portfolio and oversee staff, our team of dedicated experts can facilitate all of your staffing needs.

A History of Distinction

Recognising a gap in the market for an exemplary recruitment agency where both clients and candidates received an unparalleled service to secure the highest-calibre of staff for clients and the most exclusive jobs for candidates, Sarajane founded Staff of Distinction. To this day, the agency works hard to fulfil the needs of both clients and candidates by ensuring that ethical practices remain consistently at the heart of what they do. To discuss your requirements, call and speak to one of Sarajane’s dedicated consultants now on 0207 795 6255.

Our Founder, Sarajane Ambrose

At Staff of Distinction, I work closely with my team to find the right solution for the client. While my consultants focus on their specific division and clients, if at the point of registering a client’s position, or even during the selection and interview process the consultant feels the client’s requirements are better served by one of her colleagues’ division, by working closely together, we will always find a solution. As a team, we will always recognise that our client’s and candidates needs come first.

Since founding my companies in 1996, and having become a mother, I understand too well how difficult it can be to fit everything in. That is why my strategy has always been to delegate to the professionals! Whether it is to hire that housekeeper extraordinaire or the detail-orientated personal assistant to help with the smooth running of my family life. Throughout the years, it has often been these members of staff that have provided the backbone to a successfully run home and an efficient working life.

SJ’s Team

There are three of us holding the reigns at Staff of Distinction alongside SJ, working closely together to ensure we have only the creme de la creme of candidates retained on our Register. With more than 50+ years’ combined knowledge and experience in placing Household Staff in private households, we are specialists in our field.
From the outset, we work hard to hand-select the right candidate for our clients in order to achieve a satisfying long-term placement for both parties.

Alice

Alice began her recruitment career in 2016 before joining the Team in 2018. Now taking the reins of the Staff division placing both daily and live-in Housekeepers, single domestic Staff and and also placing our Couple Teams throughout London, the UK countryside and indeed overseas. Alice enjoys building strong relationships with her candidates by getting to know what they can offer and their wishes to then find them that fulfilling role where they can feel settled and committed. Alice has a keen interest in Home Interiors and has recently renovated her first property!

Stories of Service

Did you know that larger houses would employ a Hall Boy who would at night sleep in a fold down bed in the hallway. He would immediately alert senior members of staff if he heard any disturbances outside.

After years of dedicated service, the Butler would usually marry the household Housekeeper or Cook. With their experience and skills, they would usually go into ‘trade’ and run a genteel shop or open a boarding house or both.

The Head Steward, who was dressed as a gentleman in Morning Dress, bridged the gap between the indoor and estate staff.

Beyond the Stewards’ Room was the Deeds Room where important legal documents comprising maps, papers and Accounts Books were kept, often in a fireproof safe.

A Stewards’ Room Lad was usually employed to wait at table on the senior staff which gave an early training for a future career as a footman.

In the 1840’s some houses invested in speaking tubes, an idea that originated from steamboats. Alas, others could overhear if the tube didn’t have a stopper at the end!

On the Serviceboard each bell was labelled and varied in size so that, with practice, the member of staff could tell by the tone which room was ringing. The larger the house, the more complex and elaborate the bell board.

Installation of servants bells were usually undertaken by plumbers or chimney sweeps who ran the wires and/or ropes along tubes or pipes.

Did you know that manservants doubled as bodyguards or soldiers to protect the household and its wealth from raiding parties.

Did you know that bedrooms for female staff were located either in the basement or in the eaves while the bedrooms for male staff were located over the stables.