Hays Travel takes on more than 90 former Thomas Cook workers following the company's collapse

A major North East travel firm has confirmed it has now taken on more than 90 staff who lost their jobs in the Thomas Cook collapse.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Hays Travel, the UK's largest independent travel agent, has been working hard to take on former Thomas Cook staff who found themselves suddenly unemployed after the business folded.

The news broke on Monday, September 23, after efforts to put together a bail-out package failed.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Since then the Civil Aviation Authority has been co-ordinating efforts to fly more than 150,000 tourists home.

Hays Travel owner John Hays.Hays Travel owner John Hays.
Hays Travel owner John Hays.

The business started as a small shop in Seaham and is now the UK’s largest independent travel agency with a £1 billion turnover and more than 500 head office staff - now all under one roof.

It has branches across the region including Sunderland, South Shields, Hartlepool and Northumberland.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
New Hays Travel staff with Head of Recruitment, Victoria Hill.New Hays Travel staff with Head of Recruitment, Victoria Hill.
New Hays Travel staff with Head of Recruitment, Victoria Hill.

It has held training and recruitment days at its head office at Gilbridge House, Sunderland, in an effort to employ workers in roles such as retail, homeworking and head office.

And now it has confirmed that it has taken on more than 90 Thomas Cook staff across the country, with more offers pending.

New staff have been mainly placed in retail branches across the country, with a number also taking up positions in head office.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Hays Travel has praised the ‘quality of applicants’ and also held an event at its new head office at Gilbridge House in Sunderland to celebrate the new building and to thank staff for their efforts.

Hays Travel head of recruitment, Victoria Hill, said: “We appreciate the circumstances that applicants are going through, so it is really nice for Hays Travel to be able to offer opportunities and training for these candidates.”