Fred Olsen Travel hosts MP to mark National Apprenticeship Week

Fred Olsen Travel is hosting a visit by Jack Abbott MP at its head office as part of its promotion and celebration of National Apprenticeship Week this week.

Abbott, Labour MP for Ipswich, will be at the company’s offices to learn more about its apprenticeship scheme, which currently has 23 staff enrolled across the business.

The company is celebrating the role apprenticeships play in attracting new talent and supporting existing staff by sharing real life career examples on its website and social media channels and promoting apprenticeships as a flexible and accessible route for employees at different stages of their working careers.

Geminesse Curtis, junior people and early careers business partner, who will meet the MP with some apprentices during his visit on February 13, said: “This week is about recognising the positive impact our apprentices make and reaffirming our commitment to investing in future talent. Apprentices truly make a difference – for our people, our business, and for the future of Fred Olsen.”

Since 2017, a total of 34 Fred Olsen Travel staff have completed an apprenticeship at the business.

The current cohort of 23 apprentices includes staff across its 11 travel agency branches in East Anglia and at its Ipswich head office. In addition, the company has just recruited an apprentice for its shop in Eastbourne in East Sussex and is actively looking for apprentices for two of its stores in Hampshire and Suffolk.

The company said it had a “long-term commitment to structured development and accessible career pathways” in the business, with apprenticeships a core part of its approach to attracting and retaining talent.

It offers opportunities in a range of roles, from administration, marketing, HR and accounting to sales, customer service and management. Apprenticeships are not limited to new starters, with existing employees completing apprenticeships alongside their current roles to support progression and professional development.

Curtis added: “Apprenticeships are incredibly valuable. They help individuals build confidence, develop practical skills, and gain meaningful real-world experience, while bringing fresh ideas, energy and ambition into our teams. They create genuine opportunities to learn, grow and progress – not only at the start of someone’s career, but throughout it.

“Importantly, apprenticeships aren’t just for new starters. They’re a powerful tool for upskilling existing colleagues, allowing them to gain new knowledge, master advanced techniques and stay ahead in an ever-changing workplace. This strengthens our teams and our organisation as a whole, creating a culture of continuous learning and innovation.”