Premier Travel expands 2017 Apprenticeship Scheme

Posted: Wed, March 1st, 2017

Travel firm celebrates the success of its apprentices for National Apprenticeship Week

Premier Travel is looking to expand its apprenticeship scheme after attracting much interest following its launch last year.

The independent travel firm is also keen to showcase the achievements of its three apprentice travel consultants – based at its branches in St Ives, Huntingdon and Swaffham – and the positive impact they’ve had on the company, during National Apprenticeship Week (March 6th to 10th).

Premier’s apprenticeship scheme, which launched in conjunction with Cambridge Regional College last summer, has been extremely popular with travel lovers across the region. Due to the success of the programme, the Cambridgeshire-based firm will be searching for at least two new apprentices this year within the Premier Travel Group.

This year is the 10th anniversary of the annual National Apprenticeships Week, which is designed to celebrate trainees and the benefits they have in the workplace, on the individual and the wider economy.

Niki Waters, HR and Projects manager at Premier Travel, said: “We were overwhelmed by the success of our new apprenticeship scheme following its unveiling and as a result, we’ve decided to recruit several more trainee travel consultants and will be expanding it to other departments in the company.

“Our current apprentices are all in different stages of their training and have been a real asset to Premier; the scheme has enabled us to grow our own talented employees and develop them into knowledgeable and experienced travel consultants who have helped to improve our products and services.

“National Apprenticeship Week is the ideal occasion to celebrate their success. Upon completion of the programme, our trainees will gain a qualification from Cambridge Regional College which will improve their future career prospects.”

Ian Pritt, training manager at Premier Travel, added: “Our apprenticeship scheme shows our staff that we’re committed and focused on their development and that we see them as a long-term prospect. It can be really daunting starting a new job when you’re young and this is yet another way we can support them.”

Samantha Cox, manager of Premier Travel’s St Ives branch, said: “We’ve thoroughly enjoyed guiding Beth, our apprentice, through the scheme and watch as her confidence and knowledge has developed. It’s also beneficial having a fresh pair of eyes in the team to come up with new ideas and ways of working that older staff members haven’t thought of.”

Anyone interested in Premier’s upcoming apprenticeship roles should keep an eye out on its website: www.premier-travel.co.uk/careers for details on when they will be open to register again later in the year.

Case study
Beth Collins began her apprenticeship with Premier Travel in July, based at its St Ives branch.

“Prior to the apprenticeship I studied Travel and Tourism at Long Road Sixth Form in Cambridge, where I was lucky to get the chance to go to New York,” she explained., “This is where my passion for travel really evolved; after college and until my employment with Premier, I worked full time at a supermarket but after six months I decided it was time for a career change, preferably staying in retail as I enjoyed the industry.

“I signed up for the apprenticeship scheme to gain an understanding of sales and pursue my passion for travel; my mum has always worked in sales and has been quite successful in the industry, so I liked the idea of working in that kind of role too. I’m definitely finding it motivating and interesting – every day is different.

“I have learned so much in the time I’ve been doing my apprenticeship such as how to speak to clients on the phone and on email, customer service, the legal, regulatory and ethical requirements in the industry and about various destinations; it has really set me up for a career in travel and sales.

“My main achievement is seeing my sales figures increase. I feel very confident doing the booking process and sale cycle. Once I have put together an itinerary for somewhere new it is a tick off of my list and I then feel confident in selling that destination.

“Apprenticeships are so beneficial; I love learning while I am earning and it’s incredibly rewarding – they’re a good way to get your foot in the door of a career you’re interested in. I hope to achieve confidence in using sales techniques I’ve learnt on the job, as well as improve my knowledge destination to give the best service and expertise to my customers.”

Premier Travel (www.premier-travel.co.uk) is a privately owned, independent travel agency who has been in travel since 1936.  They have 21 branches in the South East of England. Their long serving staff have excellent destination knowledge and their own client base who book with them each year