WHY AN AU-PAIR?
Being an Au-pair is a great chance to extend your English language skills as well as to learn true English traditions within a family home. A few months or year (2 years max at any one time) as an Au-pair is better than any language school. The knowledge of the English language opens many doors for your future professional career. Whether it be in or out of the Au-pair profession.
Every year thousands of young people aged between 17 and 27 come to Britain to work as an Au-pair. As well as being paid a minimum of 50 GBP per week all your meals are provided within a welcoming home. Your bedroom is usually well furnished with TV and phone which the family may allow you to make at least one call a week back home.Generally speaking,Au-pairs are treated as one of the family and soon adjust to there new position within the home.
Your basic duties are to be carried out within a 25 hour week (approx. 5 hours per day) with occasional one day of the weekend, this includes helping with children, basic cleaning, washing, ironing, hoovering, light shopping, walking the dog, helping prepare meals. This also includes babysitting 2-3 nights a week. The rest of your time is your own to do with as you please. Many Au-pair use this time to study at nearby colleges which the family may help you to arrange. Au-pairs are also entitled to 1 week paid holiday for every 6 month placement.
We as an agency can also put you in touch with other Au-pairs in your area.

MALE AU-PAIRS
Male Au-pairs are not as unusual as they may sound, but to be one it needs a more vigerous background check. Aswell as the minimum age being 18 you will also need to prove you have a clean criminal record. You will only be able to work with children over the age of 2.5 years.

AU PAIR PLUS (only applies for people from EU countries)
An Au-pair plus has the same duties as an Au-pair, but works 7 hours per day plus 2 nights babysitting a week. An Au-pair plus receives a min of 60 - 90 GBP pocket money per week. If there is additional work during school holidays, this should be made clear at the time of making the offer and reasonable additional pocket money can be expected in return for this. Alternatively, additional benefits such as help with language tuition, use of the car or a travel pass should be provided. DEMI-PAIR - is someone who works only 2-3 hours a day with no babysitting duties and receives min of 30 GBP a week.

DRIVING IN THE UK
As you may be aware, the UK drive on the left hand side of the road. If you have a driving licence it will also be valid in the UK. We recommend you to have some lessons to get used to the different driving conditions and rules. Your host family will usually help with any of these arrangements.

SETTLING IN
Settling in to a position with in a new family in a new country can be a difficult and frightening prospect for many au-pairs, all our families are given a guide-line form to help this time pass quickly and smoothly. but ultimately it takes help and understanding from both au-pair and host family.
Moving to live with a new family for up to 2 years is a big commitment and can be a huge shock to someone who has never left their country before. The UK though a beautiful country is extremely populated with London alone inhabiting 6 million people. The vast cultural difference makes this a wonderful country to experience but please be aware every image you have of England is only an image, living there is a completely different experience.