The Midcounties Co-operative’s new homeworking division officially launches today (Monday) as it looks to recruit a 75-strong network of personal travel agents.
Its website goes live today at joinpersonaltravelagents.co.uk. The group already has 10 homeworkers and hopes to have 75 by the end of the year.
The homeworking division is Abta-bonded and Atol-protected. According to Personal Travel Agents head Sheena Darby, its selling points will be its independence, Co-op brand backing, and the fact its PTAs will not have to pay to be part of its popular membership scheme that offers consumers the ability to buy holidays using points earned. “Putting the Co-op name behind it makes it a powerful combination,” said Darby.
The majority of PTAs are expected to be self-employed, earning 60% of the commission on holidays they sell. They will generate their own sales leads and pay for their own marketing, while the group will provide the administrative back-up, including taking calls while agents are away, and access to its commercial deals.
There will also be the opportunity to work on leads generated by the group’s website, at cooptravel.co.uk. A campaign will run this summer offering homeworkers the chance to take leads from the website for free – normally agents would pay for these calls.