Jonathan Bourne, managing director and co-owner of Damar Training, explores how alternative training methods such as apprenticeships can help to meet the current and future skills needs of the travel industry
The Department for Education’s employer skills survey identified that the travel and tourism industry has one of the highest skills gaps in the UK with 18% of businesses identifying at least one skills gap compared to an average of 15% across all sectors. Whether it’s supporting current colleagues to build new skills or recruiting the next generation, keeping up with the pace of change in this industry is a challenge.
During the pandemic, the travel industry was generally seen as a volatile sector by potential and existing employees. Many travel businesses were forced to make redundancies or saw skilled employees leave for what they considered to be more stable sectors. As the sector bounces back, it has increasingly faced a deficit of the skills needed to deliver the increased demand.
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We’ve worked with many travel businesses to support them to recruit as well as develop the skills of existing teams though apprenticeship training. Clarity Business Travel has used apprenticeships to increase productivity and efficiency and at Good Travel Management, travel consultant apprentices have developed into team leaders, adding huge value to their businesses. Numerous reports have shown the impressive impact of apprenticeships on staff retention rates – 80% of employers report a higher staff retention rate as a result of offering apprenticeships.
Apprenticeship training can form a key pillar of inclusion and diversity strategies. Learning while earning helps a more diverse pool of talent access careers which may have previously been difficult to access. Apprenticeship training takes place alongside work, which means students can build their skills and gain qualifications without taking a career break and with no drop in earnings or cost to them. Training takes place flexibly during the working day, which enables access for those with family or other caring responsibilities.
The different backgrounds and mindsets that can be brought into a business via apprenticeships provide fresh perspectives. Travel management company, Blue Cube Travel, use apprenticeships to create a more accessible pathway into the company and have seen real benefits in creating a more inclusive and dynamic workplace culture. Apprenticeships can also support skills and careers within the support functions of travel businesses: administrative and customer service functions for example, as well as accounts, management and legal.
Meeting the skills needs of this rapidly evolving sector is much bigger than just the delivery of technical knowledge. Now more than ever, we need people with ‘softer’ skills such as problem-solving, resilience and communication to meet the current and future needs of the travel industry. It’s a period of intense change as the sector navigates new technologies and AI, the continued cost-of-living crisis and the need to manage environmental impact.
The success of the industry relies on having the right people, with the right skills, knowledge and values. Apprentices beginning their careers now are our sector leaders in the 2040s and beyond… by which time business and leisure travel are likely to have transformed!