Almost 2,000 applicants so far this year for Hays Travel apprenticeships

Almost 2,000 people have applied so far for 268 places on Hays Travel’s apprenticeship 2026 programme.

The UK’s largest independent travel agency is recruiting for apprentices across its retail network and head office to start in England in September and in Scotland at the end of June.

Applications opened in January and the deadline is March 13. Last year, the company estimated it had around 6,000 applications while 91% of last year’s Level 2 customer service practitioner apprentices, who work in head office, achieved a distinction pass rate.

The company’s inhouse training scheme also runs a Level 3 travel consultant apprenticeship in its branches.

Hays announced the high volume of interest in its apprenticeship programme during this week’s National Apprenticeship Week.

Irene Hays, owner and chair of Hays Travel, said: “Throughout our 46-year history we have always been committed to supporting young people and helping them to reach their potential.

“It’s amazing that 91% of our latest Level 2 apprentices graduated with a distinction, including those with barriers to learning. Their success is thanks to our brilliant apprenticeship team and all our people involved in their development.

“I am immensely proud we have been able to support 60,000 youngsters through our apprenticeships, our graduate scheme, our Local Community Partnerships and the Hays Travel Charitable Foundation.”

The minimum entry requirements for its apprenticeships programme are maths and English at GCSE grad 4 or above, or Scottish NAT4 or above.

Many of the companies senior executives began their careers as apprentices at Hays, including chief operating officer Jonathon Woodall-Johnston, head of retail Paula Barrett, and head of the Hays Travel Independence Group Harriet Thompson.

Hays Travel’s apprenticeship programme has an overall ‘good’ rating from Ofsted inspectors and is ‘outstanding’ for ‘behaviour and attitudes’ and ‘personal development’.