The many benefits of becoming an apprentice in travel were highlighted this week by the National Union of Students (NUS).
The students’ group estimated travel apprentices who access NUS discounts save a combined £2.2 million a year on their own leisure activities, including travel.
This means young people who are learning while being paid to forge a career can enjoy a lifestyle as fulfilling as any of their peers in full-time employment. And they won’t have racked up the eyewatering debts that many of their friends who went to university will have.
Unfortunately, it comes amid further criticism of the way they are being funded since the introduction of the apprenticeship levy on large companies a year ago.
Described as a “lose-lose” by the head of an influential engineering skills body after a fall in the number of new apprentice starters, there have been calls for a rethink.
Clearly there are teething problems with the levy. But, as we’ve previously reported, our sector wants to see it given more time to bed in rather than see more change.
Travel Weekly’s Apprenticeships in Focus and Apprentice Rising Stars series, in addition to our annual Take Off in Travel publication, all underline our support for apprentices in travel.
And we agree wholeheartedly with the NUS, they are a wonderful opportunity. No wonder Hays Travel’s six apprentice open days this week (page 10) were due to see thousands of wouldbe trainees check out the amazing opportunities offered by the UK’s biggest indie agent.
Comment from Travel Weekly, February 8 issue