James Taylor, motorcycle messenger, Ayscough Travel
Education: six O’ levels, BTEC national diploma in building and mechanical services.
First travel job:: worked at AT Mays as a motorcycle messenger.
Career path: James left school at 16 and worked as an apprentice surveyor incorporating quantity surveying and draughtmanship during which time he completed a three-year day release course at Wandsworth college, gaining a BTEC qualification in building and mechanical services. He then spent six months overseeing the development of Eastbourne Shopping Centre. After this James decided to go travelling and on his return became a motorcycle courier. After 10 years working for various courier companies he made the decision to set up his own company. Initially specialising in the newspaper industry James began working in the travel market in 1990, his first client being AT Mays. James has worked for various business travel companies including Carlson Wagonlit, Phoenix Travel and Rosenbluth International. Ayscough Travel now retains his company of four motorcyclists as its in-house courier.
Advice for people wishing to develop a career in travel: “However trivial or mundane a job may seem, always give it 100% because you never know where it may lead. You never know who will give you a good opportunity to expand your business or take your career in a different direction. Take opportunities when they arrive and don’t stay on the wrong train for too long.”