Hospitality Gap Year Experience in England

In 2020-2022 I spent two years abroad in the United States as an Au Pair with Au Pair in America. Scotia Personnel helped me set up my profile, get my visa, and encouraged me the whole way through the application. This took off so much stress because they were so proffesional and organized. Shoutout to Marilyn and Richelle for their constant support, I couldn’t have done it without them.

Being an Au Pair taught me how to be confident in myself, as well as helped me find friends all over the world!

If you’re looking to take an abroad experience, I highly recommend going through Scotia Personnel. You won’t regret it!

Scotia Personnel helped me travel to England in 2018, where I stayed for 2 years. They made the process so easy, from helping with the visa, paperwork and finding a job, to moral support through the process. All the staff I worked with were so friendly kind and helpful. It really made the process so much easier and took the fear out of it. They also set me up with a life changing experience. I was 19 when I went, and taking a job abroad, learning about other cultures and traveling the world has forever changed my life. It was an enlightening experience and gave me a level of independence like no other. Not to mention memories that will last me a lifetime. If you are debating on taking on this process, I strongly encourage you to do so, it will change your life forever, in a way no one can take from you. This is your time, and Scotia Personnel is a great first step towards it.

I went through Scotia Personnel to au pair with Au Pair in America. Richelle and Marilyn were unbelievably supportive and helpful throughout the entire application process and continued to check in with me while I was in my au pair year in New York City, making sure that everything was going well and that I had everything I needed. Scotia Personnel made sure to provide me with all the information and resources I needed to make sure that my time as an au pair was seamless and enjoyable.

Since returning home from au pairing, Scotia Personnel has continued to reach out to me with new and exciting opportunities and has now facilitated my getting a nanny job in a new city. I am so thankful for the opportunities that they have provided me with and for all the love and support I have received from Richelle and Marilyn along the way. Without a shadow of a doubt, I would recommend anyone interested in work and travel opportunities to go through Scotia Personnel.

I used this agency 2 times so far. Once for USA, and once for England. And right now I am in the process for the next opportunity! Richelle and Marilyn are the two that really helped me with the 2 different programs. From the day one until the end of the journey, they were helping me with everything. They are both very professional, communicate with me very well, they are funny, human and lovely to speak with. They are very motivated by their work, so its an honour to work with them. I recommend them, they got lovely programs all over the world! Thank you, look forward for my next adventure !!

Amilie

Marilyn, Richelle and the whole team at Scotia Personnel are absolutely amazing; I am forever grateful. Moving to the UK was a huge decision for me back in 2017, and they held my hand throughout the whole process. They found me a place to work and live, set up my interview with the hotel, helped me with my Youth Mobility visa application, and answered my hundreds of questions quickly and professionally. Very soon after my application was submitted, they presented me with two hotel options, and even sooner I find myself working at a beautiful historic hotel just outside Oxford!

Even after the initial move, the team stayed in touch ensuring I was comfortable and happy. I even met my European partner!! We have been together over 3 years and now live in central London. I have travelled to AMAZING places in Europe, Africa and the Middle East since moving here- London is a great base to travel from. When my youth mobility visa expired, I was not ready to move back to Canada permanently and leave the European lifestyle and was fortunate enough to obtain the Ancestry Visa (thanks Nana!) I am forever grateful for Scotia Personnel, giving me guidance and support during the whole process, which can be exciting but a little scary. Remember- life begins on the other side of your comfort zone! THANK YOU!

I worked at a summer camp for kids as a camp coach, with the help from Scotia personal. It was an amazing summer!! The camp had international and local kids, some learnt English and did activities and some did activities all day. There was zip lining, rock climbing, raft building and more! We also had excursions every Wednesday and some Saturdays where I was paid to go look at castles and tour London with the kids; I even got paid to go to a theme park! I made a ton of friends - both Canadian and English- and experienced cultures from around the world through the kids I took care of. On my days off I travelled the uk with newly made friends, exploring places like the white cliffs of Dover, London, Canterbury, and beaches where I swam in the sea. I definitely plan on going back next summer!

I went to London, England as an Au Pair only planning on staying 6 months. I loved it so much that I ended up staying the duration of my visa which was two years. I stayed with two wonderful families who I still keep in contact with today. I worked in the week and would travel on the weekends! I made lifelong friends along the way that made my experience all that much more exciting. Scotia Personnel was absolutely amazing from beginning to end. They coached me through the process of getting to the UK which was what I needed to take the leap. When my first host family had to move 9 months after my arrival, Scotia Personnel was there to help set me up with another equally amazing family. They are extremely pleasant to work with and you can tell that they really care about you. I highly recommend!

I was first introduced to Scotia Personnel in October 2011 when they did a presentation in my college program at Algonquin College in Ottawa, Ontario. I signed up for the Hospitality Exchange program in England for after I graduated in June 2012.
With Marilyn and Richelle's help, I was able to get a work position in a hotel in England right after I graduated. They made the application process indredibly easy for me, and were very supportive during my time in England as well.
I worked as a Food and Beverage Server in a hotel with several other people from different European countries, and people from South Africa and Australia too! The people I worked with and met at the hotel were amazing, and were people that were just as interested in travelling and sight seeing in England and Europe as I was.
After returning to Canada, I went back to school for University. I graduated last summer (May 2017) and Scotia Personnel helped arrange another exchange program for me as a tutor in China. Even though I was doing completely different work, I had just as much fun, met just as many amazing people, and enjoyed it just as much as I enjoyed England. I am incredibly thankful for the team at Scotia Personnel for providing me with amazing work, travel and cultural experiences!