SKILLS GAP ACTION PLAN FOR TRAVEL AND TOURISM

The ambitious new Travel Agency Development Programme offers would-be travel professionals an 8-week work placement, a weekly training allowance and a guaranteed job interview upon completion.

Announcing details of the course, Keith Graham, Managing Director of Selective Travel Management, says, “The skills shortage which has for so long been a concern within the travel sector has become even more serious post-pandemic, negatively impacting on the growth potential of local businesses and, more broadly, preventing Northern Ireland from benefitting fully from the long-term benefits generated by travel and tourism, still one of the world’s largest economic sectors.

“Business and leisure travel companies alike complain of a shortage of qualified candidates in the sector, but the time has come to stop complaining and get actively involved in forming a solution: hence this imaginative and important collaboration.

“As one of the UK’s fastest-growing travel management companies, we are confident that Northern Ireland has the capacity to field the sort of talented, committed individuals which the global industry demands, but first we must equip them with the necessary skills. This new course will do just that.”

The course embraces many of the key skills necessary for employment in Leisure and Business Travel Agencies, including:

• Sales and Marketing
• Customer Service
• Business Skills
• Presentation & Research Skills
• Management Skills
• Destination Planning
• Preparation for Employment/Interview Skills

Catherine Anderson, Deputy Head of School of Hospitality, Management, Tourism and Languages with South Eastern Regional College (SERC) says “I am delighted to invite applications for our new Travel Agency Development Programme, which has been developed to help bridge the gap between education and employment in this ever-growing sector.

“This 12-week training programme, including an 8-week work placement, is designed to embed essential skills and knowledge needed for a successful career in the travel agency sector, for both leisure and business travel.”

Peter McCabe Director of Oasis Travel adds, “We think this collaboration provides an exciting opportunity. At Oasis Travel we are looking for individuals who demonstrate the ability and passion to work in leisure travel. They may be seeking entry to the workplace for the first time, or they may have experience providing customer service and now wish to re-skill to take a new direction. We will be offering career opportunities at the end of the course, giving suitable candidates the chance to join our Oasis Team”.

Keith Graham concludes,  “Through the new Corporate Travel Academy and in partnership with SERC, DfE and Oasis Travel, we’re proud to share our commitment to continuous learning and development with the next generation of travel professionals, introducing them not just to jobs but to fulfilling and rewarding careers in our exciting industry.”

For more information, please contact SERC’s Flexible Skills Manager Deborah Scott

T: 07899958204

E: dscott@serc.ac.uk

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