Swindon Travel Hub eyes more branches while celebrating shop’s first anniversary

Swindon Travel Hub has recruited its first homeworker and plans to open a second branch in the near future in the wake of its store’s first anniversary celebrations.

Company directors Shaun Jones and Ashley Hunt hosted more than 60 guests on Thursday, August 7, including transport secretary Heidi Alexander, who is MP for Swindon South, and Swindon mayor Fay Howard, as they toasted a year on the high street.

“It’s exciting, and it’s just a start – we’ll have more stores,” said Jones, who originally launched the business as a remote operation.

He has chosen a preferred area for a second store, but he is working to identify the best possible site.

“I want the right place. When we go there, it has to be the right one,” he said.

The business recently took on its first homeworker, Toni Hill, as it sets out to provide a chance for former agents to return to the industry.

“There are people who left the industry during Covid who belong back in travel,” Jones said.

Cruise specialist Hill has joined on a part-time basis, enabling her to continue working in her non-travel job.

“We’ve given her the opportunity to come back and do whatever [hours] she wants,” said Jones, adding: “We’re also talking to quite a few others who left the industry.”

Leading up to the first anniversary celebration, the agency hosted a total of nine suppliers over three days.

The day of the party proved to be the shop’s busiest to date, with customers continuing to make bookings until 7pm.

“We still had customers in the shop until 1.30am,” said Jones, who hailed a “very, very good day”.

The agency received 200 pints of its specially produced beer in time for the event, and the “tequila-infused IPA” ended up being well received.

“My partner hates the taste of beer and even she loves it,” said Jones.

Swindon Travel Hub operates via Barrhead Travel’s Brilliant Travel brand.