Advantage Business Travel announced that the first intake of apprentices have been enrolled into its apprenticeship solution, Pathway to Business Travel Professional following its launch at Conference in May 2019.
Apprentices from Meon Valley Travel will commence their selected training programme, conducted in partnership with Travilearn, this January 2020.
The Apprenticeships programme will provide the three recruits with top quality training through a mix of on-the-job training and innovative e-learning modules which offer 24/7 access to interactive training content. The Apprenticeship programme will provide recruits with structured and certified business travel training.
Neil Armorgie, Global Product Director at Advantage commented: “We are delighted to enrol our first apprentices into this initiative as it is a first of its kind in business travel. We are very much looking forward to seeing the trainees blossom as they progress through the training modules. Following the success of the scheme we are looking to introduce further apprenticeships in 2020, watch this space.”
The Apprenticeship programme has been completely customised for the business travel sector and focuses on job roles that are responsible for delivering high-quality travel products and services to business travel clients. Key job roles include operations, support services, sales and account management across a broad spectrum of travel suppliers, including Intermediaries, airlines, hotel groups and ancillary service providers. Learning will also be centred on the skills required to deliver exceptional service delivery and business travel expertise, covering topics that include: travel products, services, technology and best practices. Apprentices will also have the chance to develop their customer service skills and cover a range of work-style situations over the telephone, online, via text, email and face-to-face.
Completion of the apprenticeship programme will also see the apprentices receive the industry-recognised diploma.
Karen McKenna, Managing Director of Travilearn added: “Leaders across many UK business sectors have seen the long-term benefits apprenticeships bring – including increased productivity, improved attraction and retention of skilled staff and overall improvement in organisational performance.
“Business Travel providers can now access apprenticeships that focus exactly on the skills, knowledge and behaviours required for this sector through The Pathway to Business Travel programme, helping them to attract new skills and talent so badly needed in the industry.”
Advantage Travel Partnership is working in co-operation with TravilearnÒ to promote the Apprenticeship programme, which will include content tailored for the business travel sector aiming to give apprentices an in-depth knowledge of the TMC proposition.
Advantage Business Travel continues to welcome new members with an additional 11 TMCs joining the consortium since the start of 2019. The Travel Group and Belair Travel are latest members to join Advantage increasing the collective turnover of the business travel division by £220m.
