The Future You Foundation crowdfunding campaign has received £35,000 in pledges of funding and sponsorship from industry since launching in June.
News of the milestone came during the ITT Future You Awards presentation in London earlier this week (pictured).
Furthermore, Northern Training Academy has committed to sponsoring one full-time employee over the next 12 months, enabling the initiative to make progress with its aim of raising the profile of careers in the travel sector.
Its next phase will focus on developing social media campaigns and planning events for the next academic year, through engagement with the Future You Student Ambassador network and industry sponsors.
The Foundation is continuing to call on the industry for further support, with sponsorship opportunities designed to help brands engage the next generation of travel professionals.
Jo Roche, managing director of Northern Training Academy, said: “It makes complete sense for us to sponsor ITT Future You’s very first apprentice to help out with social media and other related initiatives to help to promote our fabulous industry.”
Lindsay Garvey-Jones, chair of the Association of Women Travel Executives, said the foundation is creating an “essential vocal point for the industry as we tackle the ongoing challenges around recruitment and retention of talent within travel”.
Barbara Kolosinska, managing director at C&M Recruitment, commented: “Encouraging future talent to pursue careers in our vibrant sector creates a strong pipeline of professionals to help grow and develop our industry.”
Miles Morgan, managing director at Miles Morgan Travel, said: “Coming out of Covid, employers in every sector are chasing a small pool of talent and we, as an industry, have to fight with every other sector to recruit.”
Gail Kenny, founder of Best Workplaces in Travel, added: “We have been crying out for a movement such as this to combat the talent shortage in our industry.”
Anne Lotter, executive director at the Global Travel & Tourism Partnership, commented: “GTTP is delighted to support the new Future You Foundation – its partner in the UK. This is a truly collaborative initiative – one designed to showcase all the different areas and careers available and signposting to existing initiatives and opportunities designed to attract and employ the next generation of industry professional.”
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