Editor's view

A common query in calls and letters to this office is 'How do Istart a nanny agency?' To nannies who have sat on the job seeker's side of the desk, it must look relatively easy matching up candidates to families who are looking for them. And indeed, that may be one of the easier aspects of the business. But first there's the business itself. In this issue a nanny agency proprietor takes you through the basics that have to be established before your first client or candidate walks through the door. These nuts and bolts may appear boring - but they may also appear easy, looking back later after you have tackled the great challenge of matching up real people! Next month we will hear from some nanny agency founders about their own experiences and advice. Being a nanny is not easy either, not least because personal life and work life tend to overlap in ways you never expected. In this issue a nanny tells the alarming story of the impact that an episode in her social life has had on her career. As she says, she did nothing wrong - yet her experience shows that in this job, you never stop learning.