Professional Dating Agencies

Many dating  agencies  cater for professional clients  and  are usually  expensive. This is due mainly to the high marketing costs to attract and screen The newer the agency the more fees they will have to charge as they will not have gained a reputation and will have only a few  ex members to recommend their service. Top established ( say 10years +) personal introduction agencies can usually rely on 30% to 60% of their new members being introduced  by previous members recommendations this keeps  membership fees   lower. So armed with this information you can see why the most expensive is not likely to provide a superior service. Professional dating agencies usually call themselves "Introduction agencies or "Headhunters" and advertise in the upmarket press to obtain clients. All quality introduction agencies will require you to attend an interview at their offices or in your home sometimes without charge and sometimes at a fee agreed in advance.

NEVER JOIN THE FIRST personal introduction agency you contact, always compare at least two or three professional dating agencies and make sure you read the contract. One agency charging £12K only guarantees to introduce you to ONE person within 6 months for them to have totally fulfilled their contract to you and another guarantees just two introductions throughout your membership  ( neither are ABIA approved - The trade association for reputable agencies) .  ALWAYS READ THE SMALL PRINT ON THE CONTRACT BEFORE JOINING and if rosy promises are made at your interview ask them to write  such promises on your contact.  (To compare an agency against the highest standards visit www.execclub2.co.uk and read the contract. See how close an agency can meet the guarantees). 

With a few exceptions most  introduction agencies for professionals are  based  around London as it is difficult to obtain sufficient clients of this calibre to sustain a local business. Generally if a school teacher could be the highest level of professional partner you would need, then a local introduction agency could well provide an adequate service. If however you require to meet professionals at the "top end" of the scale then you will have little alternative but to join a professional introduction agency in London even if you live in Leeds and be prepared to travel to meet people.

This information is provided by The Executive Club of St James's http://www.execclub.net/ to help the public choose the correct agency for their needs and avoid poor ones.

Specialist Professional Introduction Agencies you may consider joining are ( this is a list not an endorsement):

                                      Agency name / date estb. / typical cost of membership

ABIA PROTECTED AGENCIES

• The Executive Club of St. James's / 1985 / £365, £595, £950, £1275, £1450, £3250, £7500
• Drawing Down the Moon / 1984 / £250, £1000, £1650, £3500, £7000
• The County Register /  1994 /£1760, 3500, £7000
• Caroline Crowther / 1994 / £100, £350, £650, £850, £2500
• Sara Eden / 1988 / £950, £1295, £2995, £6995
• Seventy Thirty / 2005 / £10,000 to £60,000
• Berkeley International /  1998 / from £7000
• Gray & Farrar /  2005 / £8800
• Only Lunch /  1996 / £1195  (ceased trading Feb 2009)  ABIA GUARANTEED SERVICE APPLIED
• Fiona Smythe /  2003 / £117, £590, £1500 (ceased trading Jan 2009) ABIA GUARANTEED SERVICE APPLIED
• Attractive Partners / 2002 / £595, £695
• RSVP /1993 / £400, £900, £1600/ £2000

NON ABIA APPROVED AGENCIES YOU MAY CONSIDER

• Affinity /  £400, £790, £950
• Court & Social  ( telephone line unobtainable April 2009) NON ABIA PROTECTED
• Rhodes-Harvey /  2005 / £ ????????
• Seaforth Match /  £6990 (telephone line "unobtainable" Feb 2009) NON ABIA PROTECTED
• Grosvenor Associates /  2007 / ??????

** For more information about the trade organisation see http://www.professionaldatingagencies.co.uk/

E:mail us to have your Professional agency included or updated on this list of dating agencies for professionals links@bestdatingagencies.co.uk BEST DATING TIPS. ALWAYS contact at least two agencies before making a decision to join one. Ask for copy a of a contract BEFORE attending an interview and read it. Does it guarantee a minimum number of introductions and what happens if they fail, you could have just two introductions a year and your membership extended for ever! Some agencies will charge you over £1000 if you cancel the next day, and make all members sign a legal declaration forbidding them to make negative comments to anyone even to your sister! Read it well. There are good agencies and unfortunately some rather dubious agencies. A good professional introduction agency will greatly enhance your chances of finding a partner. This information is provided by The Executive Club of St James's ( http://www.execclub.net/) to assist the public to choose a suitable agency for themselves. Being included on the listing above is not an endorsement of any of the agencies indeed some we would never recommend. For details of social events held in London for Professionals, see http://www.executiveparties.co.uk/

Updated  6th  June 2009