Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Today, Jet2holidays announced a commitment of nearly £650,000 in apprenticeship funding aimed at nurturing the next generation of talent within independent travel agent partners and the broader travel industry.
This funding encompasses the transfer of nearly £500,000 in apprenticeship levy funds to independent travel agents, a move prompted by the overwhelming response to Jet2holidays’ Appoint an Apprentice scheme. In October 2023, the leading UK tour operator had initially made approximately £500,000 in apprenticeship funds available through a levy transfer to assist independent travel agent partners in enhancing their workforce.
The allocated levy funds are designated to facilitate partner companies in recruiting dedicated apprentices, allowing them to bring in fresh talent while retaining and cultivating a highly skilled workforce. Responding to a substantial number of applications, Jet2holidays has approved the transfer of apprenticeship levy funds, amounting to nearly £500,000, to around 50 different companies. This will fund the apprenticeships of nearly 100 individuals, a significant portion of whom will be the first apprentices hired by many small business partners.
As part of the Appoint an Apprentice scheme, Jet2holidays is also contributing £150,000 to support the salaries of new apprentices for a year in independent travel agency partners spread across more than 30 companies in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This initiative is in direct response to the high demand from independent travel agents seeking assistance in recruitment and talent development. In addition to funding apprentices’ salaries for a year, the £150,000 funding announced today will also offer specialized training and support to aid in the apprentices’ development.
Independent travel agencies such as Cumbria Travel, Now Let’s Travel, and Sunlounger Travel have already initiated the process of bringing apprentices into their businesses. Jet2holidays plans to organize an event at its commercial offices in Leeds to support these apprentices, with further details to be disclosed in the near future.
Iain Kirkbright from Sunlounger Travel said: “We fully understand the benefits that an apprentice can bring to our business having invested in the scheme in other stores. Jet2holidays offering this fantastic initiative will allow us to further invest in the scheme and help bring on the next generation of travel talent.”
Paul Johnstone from Now Lets Travel said: “We are delighted to have been selected as one of the agents to benefit from this fantastic Jet2holidays scheme giving a young person an opportunity to shine in this exciting industry. This will ultimately help us to grow our sales and our workforce.”
Leanne Miller from Cumbria Travel said: “We are so delighted to have been given this fantastic opportunity to appoint an apprentice into our store. It is such a great initiative from Jet2holidays and will ensure the ongoing growth of our business, as well as bringing a new generation of talent into our amazing industry.”
Today’s announcement is the latest demonstration of Jet2holidays’ continued commitment to investing in independent travel agents through its Partners to Success strategy.
With over 150 apprentices already in employment, Jet2.com and Jet2holidays have a constantly expanding nationwide apprenticeship programme. In a demonstration of their commitment to apprenticeships, they have also been named as one of the supporters of National Apprenticeship Week 2024.
Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays said: “We have been truly amazed by the response from independent travel agents to our Appoint an Apprentice scheme. The volume of applications shows how just much our partners want to grow and develop their workforces, and Jet2holidays is proud to be supporting them by investing in their growth to help them bring through the next generation of talent. This is a fantastic way to start the new year, investing directly into our independent travel agency partners to help them grow their businesses and support our fantastic industry. As a business, we are totally committed to apprenticeships and today we are taking action to support small businesses to grow through apprenticeships, as well as increase the number of employers who are offering apprenticeships.”
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
