FORMER employees of American Express Travel who lost their jobs when the company closed its Sheffield branch have set up a new business travel agency in the city.
Sheffield Express Business Travel was officially launched on October 7 and has already signed up 21 corporate clients, many of them former customers of Amex, which closed in May.
Amex had wanted to continue serving these clients from other offices, such as Newcastle, following the closure of its Sheffield branch, but customers were unhappy they were no longer receiving a local service.
Sheffield Express director Paul Dodworth said:”Some corporate clients asked us if we would consider setting up our own company. They said they did not want to be served from an office based in Newcastle. They wanted the expertise of a local service. We immediately realised there was a need in this area.”
Before the Amex closure, there was already a gap in the local market left by the collapse of Sheffield-based Woodcock Travel November 1998 with debts of nearly £6m.
The Sheffield Express team is headed by managing director David Mann, former manager of the Amex Sheffield branch. Other key staff are Sara Jackson, Audra McGowan and Colin Smith. Co-owner of Sheffield City Airport Mike Shield, is a non-executive director. Dodworth was previously a partner at Macclesfield-based Tasman Travel and has also worked at Gulf Air.
Dodworth added:”There is definitely still a market for independents, although Iwould hesitate to open one in London or Manchester as Ithink there is far too much competition.”
The new company is based in Premier House, Cross Burgess St, in Sheffield city centre. Dodworth said there are plans to open a second location at Sheffield City Airport. The company is using Galileo UK’s global distribution system.