Comment: Keep pushing while the door is open

I am writing this week’s column during a break from chairing judging sessions for this year’s Agent Achievement Awards, and once again I have been blown away by our shortlisted candidates’ professionalism, knowledge and positivity.

That positivity is certainly reflected in this week’s edition, with agents continuing to report strong sales heading into the lates period.

And after some concern that fantastic peak sales would be offset by a tail-off later in the year, it is a huge relief to hear trade feedback and Barclays spending data both suggesting momentum is being maintained.

Of course, there is no room for complacency, with living costs still high and the threat of summer disruption ever-present. But it remains crucial to push hard while the door remains open.

In addition to the positivity in our lead story, there is also a welcome upbeat tone to this week’s coverage of proposed changes to travel and tourism qualifications, with hopes that alternatives to current vocational standards could be created over the coming years.

While not every business is invested in the existing education system as a source of staff, the response to our stories in recent months has demonstrated how many in the industry took their first steps with a Level 3 qualification.

And with awarding bodies now looking to engage with the trade to shape their courses, there is a great opportunity to turn a negative into a positive and help create a framework that delivers an even stronger pipeline of talent for the industry of the future.