WVB CONNECT

WVB CONNECT is a boutique recruitment firm that finds private staff for ultra-high-net-worth households, which means families whose homes, estates and travel arrangements need a professional team. Its Malta office is in Gżira, the waterfront town next to Sliema, and its work extends across the Gulf and Europe. This is a specialist service rather than a general job agency, so it suits wealthy families, family offices and estate managers, and experienced hospitality professionals who want to move into private service.

The agency appears on VisitMalta.co.uk in our directory of recruitment agencies in Malta.

A boutique approach

The firm was founded in 2017 by William Van Buren, a qualified accountant with more than 25 years of experience as a chief executive and chief operating officer in Europe, southern Africa and the Middle East, mainly in investment banking and family offices. He has set up HR departments and placed candidates at every level, so the agency's thinking is shaped by the employer's side as well as the candidate's.

The team keeps its client list selective, working only with employers who are professional, have a strong work ethic and pay fairly. Each candidate is given attention from first contact until their first day, and the consultants support people through doubts and worries, especially when the role means relocating to another country. Time is also spent learning the culture of each household so that expectations on both sides are met.

Who the agency recruits for

The roles on offer cover personal assistants, executive chauffeurs, butlers, private chefs, housekeepers, estate managers and full household management teams, on a permanent or temporary basis. Vacancies are organised by sector: family office, private aviation, private estate and yachting, and by country. At the time of writing the vacancies were in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and France, with Monaco also listed as a destination.

Every candidate is vetted for integrity, professionalism and confidentiality, with background checks, skills assessments and personal interviews. Discretion matters throughout, and candidates are reminded of it at each stage. For families with interests in Malta's financial services sector, the island's family offices and wealth structures make this a natural place for such a firm to be based.

How the process works

Candidates are first contacted when their profile matches a brief, then interviewed against qualitative criteria, scored and asked for a self-assessment. If suitable they register on the agency's system and provide documents, which can include a full-length photograph and a short video introduction. The application goes to the client, who decides on a shortlist and arranges an interview. The agency advises on interview etiquette and what the client expects.

When an offer is made it is channelled through the agency. Onboarding covers background and medical screening, the visa where one is needed and travel arrangements. Candidates who are not shortlisted are told, and with their agreement their details are kept for future openings. Anyone considering a move abroad for work can read our relocation guide for Malta, and the Malta tax guide for UK nationals is useful for those weighing where to be based.

Office and getting in touch

The Malta office is at the Soho Office, Savoy Gardens, Rue D'Argens in Gżira. Visitors can stay nearby among the hotels in Sliema and Gżira and reach the area quickly after landing; see our page on flights from the UK to Malta. Valletta is a short drive away, and our Valletta guide covers what to see.

Companies setting up a family office or household structure in Malta can look at the Malta corporate tax structure and at CLA Malta, our featured partner for company, tax and relocation services. To contact WVB CONNECT, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to the agency.