Sunderland firm Hays Travel offering 700 apprenticeships for those looking to get into the industry

Hays Travel are looking for new apprentices to join their team.

The Sunderland-based firm, which took over Thomas Cook when it went bust in 2019, is offering the opportunities across the UK.

National Apprenticeship Week takes place between February 3-7, during which time Hays will open the doors of 89 branches to people aiming to get into the travel business.

The company is now recruiting new trainee travel consultants, as well as other roles at its head office in Keel Square. Since 2015, over 860 apprentices have been employed in shops and head office roles.

Hays Travel owner John Hays. Picture by Stu Norton.

There are 669 new travel consulting apprenticeships across the country, with 30 other apprenticeships at Hays’ head office, with the opportunity of starting a career in one of the 34 head office departments. It is the company’s largest ever apprentice recruitment.

There is a two-year retail apprenticeship programme, rated “good” by Ofsted. Potential applicants can call into their local Hays branch to discuss apprenticeships, as well as chat to current apprentices about their experiences.

Head office apprentices will complete a one-year programme, working towards a City & Guilds level 2 customer service apprenticeship.

Successful applicants will join an apprenticeship scheme “with a guaranteed job offered on successful completion”, gaining recognised qualifications while earning a wage.

The company is looking for people who are “passionate about travel”. Almost half of Hays’ current managers started as apprentices.

Managing director John Hays said: “Apprentices are at the heart of our business and are the future of the travel industry.

“We have always placed huge value on bringing young people into the business, not least because they bring innovative ideas and in-depth knowledge in technology and online, helping us drive Hays Travel forward.

“We are looking forward to expanding our apprenticeship programme across the whole of the UK and ensuring we have apprentices in each branch.”

Victoria Hill, Hays’ head of recruitment, said: "We are looking for individuals who have passion, drive, and enthusiasm. We aim to develop our apprentices to their full potential, both during the apprenticeship and afterwards. Many of our current management team started as apprentices."