INDEPENDENT examining body Business and Technical
Education Council is in talks with the Civil Aviation Authority to create a
national qualification on ATOL bonding for the trade.
The news follows the CAA’s decision to help train
agents to explain bonding to customers, as revealed by Travel Weekly (May 26).
BTEC is proposing it puts together the content for a
training module, possibly on-line, and a follow-up test.
Senior manager Paul Layzell, who heads up BTEC’s
Career Path project, is keen to provide travel agents with a certificate
equivalent to a GCSE. He said: “ATOLS are such a grey area, and training is
tackled by each operator in its own way. It is very hit and miss. We could
provide the content for an ATOL module within four months.”