And the award of Heavenly Au Pair of the Year 2019 goes to…. Martina with her host family’s children in London Martina, our Heavenly Au Pair, joined us in October 2017 to help us look after H (now aged six) and C (now four). We first met Martina via a skype interview and we were immediately struck by her big smile, warmth and enthusiasm. Martina was the only au pair we didn’t interview in person during our search, but she shone through even over the screen and both Sarah and I decided we should take a chance on her – and just hoped she’d get on the plane from Barcelona and join the famil ..read more

Painting colorful Easter eggs at home with Au Pair Emilie The Easter holidays are upon us! You might be taking the opportunity to return home for the Easter break to spend some time with your families at home. But if you are staying here in the UK then read on! Easter is fabulous for all ages. For children, there are so many activities they can do to prepare for Easter; and who doesn’t look forward to the big day itself – Easter Sunday – with its chocolate eggs!! For families it is a time when parents benefit from 4 days off work; as Good Friday and Easter Monday are both official bank h ..read more

Au Pair en Londres, una experiencia increíble Como mucha gente, salí del colegio sin tener muy buen nivel de inglés. Estuve barajando varias opciones para irme al extranjero a mejorar mi inglés y al final me decanté por el programa de Au Pair, ya que me gusta cuidar niños, quería vivir con una familia en Inglaterra para experimentar la cultura y así mejorar mi nivel de inglés. Me inscribí con Heavenly Au Pairs & Nannies porque me lo recomendó una amiga que había conseguido su familia con ellos. Desde el principio fueron muy atentos y me enseñaron varias familias. Después de hablar ..read more

Our resident Kiwi has compiled a list of frequently asked questions as well as helpful advice for Australians and New Zealanders moving to London during their gap year or OE. Not from Australia or New Zealand? Read on any way for advice about moving to London. What is the first step in planning a gap year? Look at what you want from your OE and use this to help you find a base. If you only speak English, the UK is a great base for your European travels and it will make finding work easier. The Netherlands or Norway are also good second options, as most people speak a high level of ..read more

Looking to move to the UK or work during your OE or Gap year? If you come from outside the EU, chances are that you will need a visa. Take a look at our comprehensive visa guide below to get an idea of your visa options for the UK. Apply for a UK working holiday visa A working holiday visa, or a Tier 5 Youth mobility visa, is a short-term residency and work permit. It is a reciprocal agreement between the UK and certain other countries to allow young people to live and work globally. Check the list here to see if your country is eligible. If successful, you will be granted a resi ..read more

10 Top Tips for Keeping Safe, particularly after a night out. Au Pairs are here to have a good time. Yes, you will look after the host family’s children. Yes, you will help around the home. And yes, you will attend English classes to achieve total fluency in English. But we know that your primary reason for taking an Au Pair Gap Year in London or the UK is to have a really good time! But having the time of your life does not mean throwing sense and caution to the wind. In order to have the best experience possible, you also need to follow some basic safety guidelines. Knowing that you ar ..read more

Mein Au Pair Jahr in London Als ich beschlossen habe, nach der Schule nach England als Au Pair zu gehen waren meine Erwartungen sehr hoch. Ich habe von endlosen Nachmittagen geträumt, die ich mit den Kindern verbringe, backe, koche, spiele, Hausaufgaben machen. Ich wollte eine der Deutschen etwas abweichende Kultur kennenlernen und England entdecken. Und natürlich mein Englisch endlich einmal, nicht nur Schulbezogen, anwenden und verbessern. Als Au Pair in England Going to England for a year! Nachdem eine Deutsche Agentur gefunden wurde und diese mich an eine Englische weitervermit ..read more

Au Pairing, then and now Happy au pair match As you probably know, au pairing, or the ‘au pair programme’ has been around for ages! It actually started way back in the 1960’s and was one of the first forms of cultural exchange and gap year. The programme was ground-breaking, and offered au pairs the possibility to live abroad, safely within a family environment, become fluent in the local language, by being surrounded all day every day with native speakers (how could you not!) and attending a language course. It was – and still is – the best way to really learn the culture of a country ..read more

Review from a happy Elderly Carer Companion about Heavenly’s service for jobseekers. By Ana V. from Spain. January 2019. “I have been working for a few years as an elderly companion in United Kingdom with two families. The agency Heavenly Au Pairs and Nannies found me both positions to work. I think it is the best way to find a job in another country because the agency has given me all the support and advice every time I needed.  So that is really important when you living abroad, far away from your family and friends.  Everything is new and sometimes you do not feel enough confident. I feel ..read more

Tips for a great CV when applying for Nanny Jobs What is a CV and why is it important? Your CV (Curriculum Vitae), or ‘résumé’, is a short synopsis of what you have done in your life in terms of work, skills and relevant experiences. It is a snapshot of and where this has put you in this stage of your ‘chosen’ career. I say ‘chosen’, as you may be considering a change of career into a new direction. It gives your future employer a quick overview of your experience, skills and achievements. From your CV, they can begin to evaluate you as a possible candidate for the role they are ..read more