European Culture in Charing

Smartaupairs is a small agency specialising in Cultural Exchange in a family environment. When asking them what they do they will say that the message ‘Enjoy Cultural Childcare’ really sums up what they do for host families, not only in Kent but all over the UK; helping them to realise the full benefits of embracing a young European into their family life to helps with childcare in exchange for an opportunity to develop their language skills further.

The team started with the MD who is Dutch and speaks four languages. The office started from the family home, a converted barn on the outskirts of Charing and then moved to a small office across the road from the school when we needed more people in the office. In the Charing office they have had help from interns (young people on a work experience program) from the Netherlands, France, Germany, Estonia and Finland. One of these talented interns is on full time employment as the agency’s UK  Program Manager.   

And now there are even more exciting changes on the horizon, as Smartaupairs is setting up a second branch in Adelaide, Australia. The Charing Office will be exchanged for a home office in Maidstone as the team will be split over these two locations.

‘We will really miss our lovely office in Charing’, says Nicole Kofkin, the MD, ‘we were so comfortable in our bright and modern office with easy access to the High Street for lunch at the coffee shop from the corner-shop. Everybody is so friendly and it is so nice and quiet here. When the weather was nice we would even have picnics at the park!’

To find out about hosting an au pair in your family, why not visit
www.smartaupairs.com today

To find out about the office space, which is now available to rent
www.taylorriley.co.uk