We caught up with Martyn, our Head of Recruitment and Development on his new position and how his working experience benefits private household recruitment within Shire & Wold Staffing.
Martyn didn’t begin his career in recruitment – he began on the front line.
For over a decade, Martyn worked inside private households, collaborating closely with Housekeepers, House Managers, Butlers, Private Chefs, Nannies, PAs, Gardeners, and Estate Managers, progressing from operational roles through to Chief of Staff within distinguished country estates and international residences. He has lived the pace, the pressure, and the responsibility that comes with running a private home at the highest level. That experience fundamentally shapes how he recruits today.
Inviting someone new into a private household is not like hiring for a corporate office.
It is personal. It is vulnerable. It affects not just operations, but family life, privacy, rhythm, and trust. The wrong hire doesn’t just disrupt workflow, it unsettles a home. Martyn knows how it feels when a new face walks through the doors and has experienced the quiet questions that follow:
Will they understand discretion?
Will they anticipate without overstepping?
Will they respect the culture of the household?
Will they stay?
When speaking with principals and family offices, he is not speaking theoretically. He understands what’s at stake because he’s been the one responsible for protecting it.
That same understanding of private household service now extends beyond people, into his partnerships within private household recruitment.
Martyn’s work sits within a carefully curated ecosystem of trusted specialists, from private aviation and security installation teams to private members’ clubs and tailors. Different industries, different disciplines, but the same priorities.
Stepping into the role of Head of Recruitment & Development at Shire & Wold Staffing was not a departure from service, it was an extension of it.
At its core, Martyn’s role is stewardship.
He bridges two worlds:
Shire& Wold Staffing’s approach is deliberate, discreet, and relationship led. We are not interested in volume placements. We are interested in right-fit placements, the kind that last years, not months.
The most successful households operate quietly. So do we.
Many of our clients value continuity above all else. They do not want disruption. They want reassurance. They want to know that whoever enters their home has been properly vetted, properly understood, and properly aligned.
Because, at Shire & Wold Staffing, we have stood in their shoes, we take that responsibility personally.
We understand how difficult it can be to delegate trust. We understand the hesitation. We understand the standards.
And we also understand the relief when the right person walks through the door, calm, capable, and exactly as promised.
That is the standard we hold at Shire & Wold Staffing.
Private service is not transactional. It is relational.
And when done properly, it should feel effortless.
Looking to hire exceptional private household staff, or looking for your next role?
If you want recruitment grounded in lived experience and long‑term fit, we’d love to support you.
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