‘Families are desperate’: an au pair agent on life without EU workers

Jamie Shackell used to place 500 young people with British families every year. She hasn't matched any since December - and some working parents are being forced to cut their hours

Before Brexit, Jamie Shackell placed about 500 au pairs from mainland Europe with British host families every year. She hasn't placed a single one since December. She says her agency, Busy Bee Au Pairs , is now essentially nonexistent". Shackell - who is also the chair of the British Au Pair Agencies Association (Bapaa ) - says it is the same for other similar agencies. At one point, there were about 30 members . Now, there's only a handful of us left," she says. A lot have shut up shop."

Occasionally, someone from the EU with pre-settled status, will look for a placement. Then we've got the agencies that are left scrabbling after her or him, as well as families that are looking independently," says Shackell.