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Few travel companies are investing in future industry leaders despite the difficulty in finding graduates of the right calibre, according to Jac Travel chief executive Terry Williamson.
Williamson, a former managing director of Cosmos and of Thomas Cook’s tour operations, made the comments at the launch of the wholesaler’s own graduate training scheme.
The scheme, which will train up two graduates a year over a two year period across its entire business, will cost around £150,000 a year once it has two students on the first year of its course and two in their second year.
Williamson said: “We get a lot of graduates applying but it’s not easy to find the right calibre. We felt it was the right time to for us to offer a structured scheme – the idea is to find some leaders for the future.
“In our sector of wholesalers we do not think anyone is doing this. Some large corporates are doing it but not the medium-sized companies. I don’t think are many travel businesses investing in travel [in this way].”
Jac Travel, which competes with companies such as Tui Travel’s Hotelbeds, GTA, and Travco, said the rapid expansion of its business made the training scheme possible. It starts in January and is currently inviting graduates to apply.
After two years of working in every sector of the business, from sales and marketing to negotiating and contracting hotels, and including overseas work, the graduates will be offered management roles in the business.
“The challenge is whether you can retain them after the training,” admitted Williamson.
The company, which began life as an inbound operator but has expanded into wholesaling rooms globally, now enjoys 80% of its distribution overseas.
Its business is growing at a rate of 25% a year in turnover terms, said Williamson. It has created 100 new roles in the last three years.
“We have more than doubled the business in the last three years and plan to double it again in the next three. There are still significant opportunities for us in foreign markets.”
Revenue has increased from its new markets in south America, Asia and the Middle East from 8% of total revenue to 38% in the last three years, and Australasia may be tapped for growth in the next few years.
Jac Travel currently contracts rooms in 10,000 hotels in 500 cities worldwide, which are then marketed to online travel agencies, tour operators, bed banks and travel agents.
Last week it was nominated for an award at the National Business Awards, which are government-backed and recognise companies from all industry sectors. Jac Travel made it to the shortlist of ten in the awards’ international growth sector.
The only other travel company recognised was Thomas Cook, with chief executive Harriet Green winning the leader of the year award.