St Andrews Travel Group founder Andrew Dickson has been appointed a Member of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen’s 2019 New Year’s Honours list.
Dickson started his travel agency business in 1983 and ran it for 25 years. He became a prominent figure in the travel industry, serving on Abta’s council for ten years to represent the independent agency sector.
He received the MBE for his outstanding contribution to business in Bolton and services to the wider Bolton community and quality of public life. Dickson was one of the founders of the 96.5 Bolton FM community radio station and has helped run the station with more than 100 volunteers.
He said: “I am absolutely thrilled to receive this award and I will never forget that I’ve only achieved what I’ve achieved in life due to the fantastic team of people who I have had the pleasure of partnering.”
When he sold his travel agency business it employed 75 staff and enjoyed a turnover of more than £25 million. It was the largest independent travel agency in the northwest of England.
Dickson, who sold the business due to ill health but has since fully recovered, has continued to work in the travel industry. His company
The WOW Factor offers training on sales, particularly helping call centre staff to close a sale. His clients have included Travelbag, Blue Bay Travel and more recently Scenic and Emerald Waterways and Sandals Resorts.