In the first of a new weekly section on women in business, CATHERINE BRUCE speaks to the woman at the heart of York's first au pair agency.
AU PAIRS are still the butt of many jokes in Britain, as men imagine a legion of buxom blondes from Sweden flocking to England to find a husband.
But Karin von Bismarck is determined to change this outdated attitude with her business, Family Au Pair.
Karin, 36, started supplying York families with au pairs over a year ago, after her husband's job at Nestl brought her to the city. And now that the venture is going from strength to strength, demand for au pairs is growing as word gets out about her many success stories in the city.
As Karin prepares for a summer rush of customers, she has started sending British au pairs out to other countries. Her business is also branching out into matching workers from Eastern Europe with jobs in York's booming hospitality industry.
Before starting the York agency, she notched up eight years' experience running an agency in Germany.
She also knows what its like on the other side of the fence as she worked as an au pair in New York before she married, and she has had several au pairs herself to help look after her four children.
The business has proved a hit with families in York.
"It took much better than I thought. Whenever I place one girl, about five families call, asking for one as well," she said.
She said there is also an increasing trend for families to take in couples so they have two pairs of helping hands instead of one.
Karin was also involved in bringing the Phenomenal Women Network to York after attending sessions of the women's networking event in Leeds.
She said one of the main reasons she started her own business was so she could fit her work in with her family life.
"With your own business, you are able to organise things the way you want to. You are responsible for your own fortune," she said.
For more information about Family Au pair, phone Karin on 01904 620758 or log on to www.familyaupair.com
Updated: 11:35 Wednesday, June 02, 2004
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