Thomson and First Choice Holidays overseas reps are to gain workplace qualifications. Parent company Tui UK & Ireland is introducing NVQ Level 2 Diploma in Tour Operations to its 800 holiday advisors.
The training programme has been tailored to the needs of the operator and has been certificated by City & Guilds. This enables managers and reps to gain professional qualifications while improving holiday standards.
Based on UK National Occupational Standards, the work-based qualification aims to differentiate the company’s staff and service from its competitors.
Resort team managers are being trained to become professional assessors and will be awarded the Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement.
Reps will be assessed on customer service and presentation, effectiveness at work, health & safety, planning and delivering welcome events, sales and transfers.
The initiative will enable Tui to introduce further additional qualifications tailored to meet the personal development needs of overseas teams.
Holiday experience director Ian Chapman said: “This pioneering NVQ scheme demonstrates our commitment to offering the highest standards of customer service.
“It’s an exciting way for our team members to gain a credible qualification in the workplace, and not only ensures that they are trained to the highest level, but also means that we can continue to attract, develop and retain the highest calibre of overseas holiday advisors in the industry.”
Tui will continue to offer its childcare team the “Certificate for the Children & Young People’s Workforce” apprenticeship, introduced last year.