As living costs soar across the UK, cash-strapped London students are ditching bar work and turning to childcare instead.
A rising number of students in the capital are choosing to supplement their student loans by side-hustling as nannies, according to childcare provider Koru Kids, which matches parents with nannies in their local area.
Founder Rachel Carrell said the firm has around 10,000 university students on its books, with an increasing number of new applicants saying they no longer want to enter traditional part-time jobs.
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‘ I have never felt that dread when I think about going to work’
Timisha Martin, 25, has turned down better-paid work because she loves being a nanny so much
(Image: Johnny Greaney/marco richards PR)
Timisha Martin, 25, lends a helping hand to a family near her home in Islington and says she has turned down more lucrative gigs because she loves childcare and “the chance to make such a difference to other people’s lives”.
The final-year University of West London student said: “I’ve been with my current family for two years and I’ve built such a bond with them, I couldn’t imagine doing any other part-time job than nannying.
When she’s not studying for her Human Resources Management course, Timisha looks after two girls, aged six and nine, and said the trio have “become really close”.
“I love being a part of their life at a really important stage of their development,” she explained. “I love it so much that it doesn’t really feel like a job, I have never felt that dread some people get when they think about going to work.”
Timisha said her nanny role is much more flexible than services industry jobs, and although her studies still take up a lot of time, she said she is “able to combine that with the time I spend nannying without any problems.”
Students like Timisha earn around £500 a month with Koru Kids, a UK childcare service provider that specialises in recruiting, training and matching nannies to families, according to the company.
They are expected to be available a minimum of three hours a week, but many find it easy to work longer hours due to the flexibility the job offers.
Bella Abrey, 21, ditched her pub job to work as a nanny when lockdown hit
(Image: Johnny Greaney/marco richards PR)
Bella Abrey, 21, fits in childminding around her History of Art studies at the Courtauld Institute of Art, and described the role as a “good fit” because she has four little siblings herself.
Bella, who lives in Earls Court and hopes to train as a teacher in future, signed up with Koru Kids in August 2019 and has been paired with a family who needed wraparound childcare three afternoons a week.
“If it was a special occasion we would get an ice cream, otherwise we would go to the park,” said the student.
She added: “At home the girls would have piano practice and lessons. I used to play piano so I helped out where I could.
“Homework would have to be done and then it was free time.
“We would play board games or make up our own games.”
‘I love having my weekends free’
Jenny McKimm, 21, said she loves the flexibility of nanny work
(Image: Johnny Greaney/marco richards PR)
Describing the appeal of the flexible working, Bella said she loves only working during term-time because it means she can go home in the uni holidays, as well as the family-friendly weekday working hours, which on average begin at 3pm and finish around 6pm.
She said: “I love having my evenings free which I wouldn’t have from working in a pub and I have most of my day free which I wouldn’t get in retail.
“And I love having my weekends free.”
Jenny McKimm, 21, a 2020 graduate from Wimbledon College of Arts, has been within Koru Kids since 2018 and is currently working in Sutton with her fourth family, with two children aged eight and 11.
Jenny said she wants to pursue a career in the arts long term, but has found nannying a great way to make decent money while maintaining a “flexible” schedule around her full-time studies, and loves connecting with the kids.
‘It’s nice to become part of the family dynamic’
“I really enjoy it,” she said. “It’s nice to become part of the family dynamic and share experiences with both the parents and the children.
“Everyone who comes into contact with a child has the ability to shape them as people and it’s great to see them grow.”
The art-lover says she does the school pick-up and helps out with homework, but likes it when she gets to do “creative things” with the children, “such as painting and crafts”.
She said: “Many students do bar jobs to supplement their income, but in hospitality they normally either don’t give you enough shifts or want you all of the time.
“Nannying is much better suited to students and recent graduates.”
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Koru Kids has gained more than 16,000 certified nannies on its database since it was launched by London-based mum Rachel Carrell in 2016, and hopes to attract 2,500 new prospective nannies each month.
Ms Carrell said: “The feedback we are receiving is that our student applicants are turning to nannying because job satisfaction and flexibility are key factors.
“We have found university students make amazing nannies as they have the skills to face the challenges young children can throw at you, from communication and analytical skills to the ability to think on their feet.”
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