The Belfast ‘Thomas Cook Care Events’ will take place on Friday 11 October in response to the failure of what Travel Counsellors has called a travel ‘industry icon’, and the loss of thousands of jobs.
With many jobs affected by the closure in Northern Ireland alone, Travel Counsellors support team is aiming to assist and advise as many people as possible with their next career move and will feature practical steps to job hunting, including impartial advice and support for those seeking new job opportunities, CV workshops and interview skills, with a key focus on boosting mental wellbeing following the shockwaves felt by many across the travel industry.
The independent travel company, which has seen a 33% growth in numbers of Travel Counsellor business owners over the last five years, has confirmed that 20% of the company’s new joiners in the same period had previously worked for Thomas Cook.
Travel Counsellors CEO Steve Byrne said: “It is extremely sad news for Thomas Cook customers, and of course the thousands of staff that have been made redundant.
“Our priority has been to ensure customers, both in resort and due to travel, have been kept fully informed as the situation develops. We’re now also turning our attention to supporting former Thomas Cook employees whose livelihoods have been significantly impacted by the group’s collapse.
“We have a genuine passion and care for the industry and its’ people, and we want to ensure dedicated, knowledgeable professionals, who have been fantastic assets to Thomas Cook in the past, can remain in an industry they love.
“We’re keen to highlight the opportunity of taking control of your own career, even in adverse circumstances, either by building a business as a Travel Counsellor, or sourcing another opportunity that works for them. Our leisure Travel Counsellors come from a variety of backgrounds, but all have the passion to provide a highly personal service, placing customer care at the heart of everything they do.”
The company is also looking at ways it can support ex-Thomas Cook employees in launching and growing their own leisure travel businesses.
Byrne adds, “This is a very difficult, emotional time for many people, made worse by the financial uncertainty caused by losing their income. Travel Counsellors is looking into waiving the joining and management fees for new Travel Counsellors with leisure travel experience joining from Thomas Cook’s retail division. In such trying times for so many people, it’s simply the right thing to do.”
Travel Counsellors series of Thomas Cook Care Events is being staged at a number of key locations across the UK, including Peterborough, Nottingham, Glasgow, Liverpool and Belfast.
The group’s ex-employees interested in registering for Travel Counsellors Care Events can find out more information here: https://people.travelcounsellors.com/gb/events/thomas-cook-and-freedom-recruitment-event-belfast/
