Former homeless agent hits £1m in annual sales

A homeworker has turned her life around to hit £1 million in annual sales just six years after being left homeless with only £40 to her name.

Claire Finn is now one of Inspire Europe’s top-selling travel agents despite working part-time.

The single mum, whose daughter Ava is now 13, found herself in a toxic relationship in 2020 after moving in with a partner in London following a long-distance relationship.

“He was asking me for money all the time; I quickly realised I was a cashpoint to him,” she recalled. “I was stuck in a toxic relationship, far from home, feeling completely alone.”

Six weeks later, Finn discovered there was no money left for rent and realised it was time to get out. She and her daughter, then seven, returned to Newcastle with £40 and nowhere to live.

She said: “Those early days were incredibly hard. I begged the local authorities for help but was told we’d have to be homeless for seven weeks before they could offer support. I was devastated, but I didn’t give up.”

Through family connections, alongside an initial stay with her daughter’s former childminder and family friends, Finn found a private rental. In 2021, after spotting a job advert, she started working for Inspire.

Finn initially worked as a call centre homeworker selling holidays to families who receive vouchers from Inspire’s partner charity Family Fund. In 2024, she switched to focus fully on her own Inspire homeworking business as an independent travel associate (ITA).

“I always wanted to get back into travel,” said Finn, who was previously an agent for Freedom Direct and Holiday Discount Centre. “But it took a long time to believe in myself.”

As an ITA, Finn’s sales rose from £466,000 in her first year to £1 million in her second year. She became a top-seller despite working just 12 to 15 hours a week. She attributes her success to head office support and a loyal customer base of repeat clients who book high-value trips.

“I’m living my best life. Two years ago I was a different person,” she said.

Inspire head of business development and training Sam Fisher said: “Claire’s sales have been nothing short of phenomenal. She has become someone others aspire to be [but] when she first joined us, she had very little belief in herself.”

Out this week: Travel Weekly Guide to Homeworking 2026