THETRAVEL Training Company is giving its travel industry induction course an overhaul in an attempt to tailor-make it for trainee agents and their employers.
The Travel Training Programme, a two-year course leading to an NVQ Level three, currently attracts 1,500 agents a year.
TTP general manager Sharon White said that in future, trainees would be interviewed about their existing skills before starting the course, and employers would be asked to outline their expectations of new staff in greater detail.
Other changes include doubling the number of visits to trainees in their agencies to once every six weeks, setting up focus groups among school-leavers to discover what they want from training and creating four regional travel employer committees to improve feedback on the course.
During the course, more emphasis will be placed on literacy, numeracy, communication and Information Technology skills.
White claimed the changes were prompted by an annual review of the course by the TTC, which identifies trends in training and employer needs.
“Less young people are seeing travel as a viable career,” she said.
“This is leading to a shortage in some parts of the country. Last year, 50-100 companies had considerable trouble filling places.”