Adecco, the world’s largest temp agency, is struggling to deal with the demand for the next generation of Paul Burrells.

The recruitment company is finding that demand for top quality butlers is outstripping supply for corporate and private dining rooms at City firms.

Despite their traditional image of servicing private households, butlers are still being hired for members clubs, luxury yachts, hotels or city offices, with salaries ranging from £35,000 to £50,000 per annum.

Currently, Adecco considers candidates who have experience of working and serving in five-star establishments or those who have trained professionally as a butler.

However, quality Jeeves and Wooster types are increasingly hard to come by. Heidi Bryant, head of catering and hospitality for Adecco, said: “Potentially we could place 10 butlers a day, because there is the need out there. But we’re just not having the quality of candidates coming through.”

Bryant thinks catering courses are phasing out specialised butler training. “With any industry, we can train up candidates, but with butler training, it’s so specialist. Butlers out there in the market can almost name their price.”

According to Sarah Dawkins, company secretary at the Guild of Professional English Butlers, many people don’t realise that a butler’s job has adapted to meet the needs of the 21st century. “The image now is of a ‘lifestyle manager’ and not a man standing at the door with white gloves,” she said.