The first fam trip exclusively for travel agency apprentices has been announced by Jet2holidays in collaboration with training provider AS Training.
The three-night ‘Destination Discovery’ trip to The Algarve in Portugal was officially revealed by Jet2holidays’ general manager of travel agent sales Lloyd Cross on the tour operator’s Partners2Success: The Podcast, which went live on February 6 ahead of next week’s National Apprenticeship Week.
Ten ‘bright and motivated’ apprentices will be invited to join the trip to Faro from April 1 to April 4, 2025.
Cross said: “Our Appoint an Apprentice scheme, which saw us commit to spending to a levy spend of more than £1.2 million with agency partners in 2024-2025, has been a fantastic success and we are building on that by helping our agents develop their workforce even further thanks to this Destination Discovery.
“This dedicated trip is a great way for agency partners to upskill their workforce even further, and we are very excited about spending time with the apprentices and helping them develop their careers even further in the travel industry.”
Cross was joined on the podcast by Michelle Van Sprang, managing director of AS Training, which provides training for apprentices in travel agencies nationwide.
Last year just over 40 travel apprentices under AS Training went on fam trips with different operators but the Destination Discovery trip will be the first educational purely for a group of apprentices from the sector.
Van Sprang said: “You cannot put a price on first-hand knowledge of product and services from experiencing a destination and culture, being away with like-minded people and bringing our apprentices together. They will meet hotel representatives and go on excursions, and it will benefit their understanding of Jet2holidays.”
AS Training is tasked with sourcing interested candidates from its current apprentices in the sector via their employers. The list will then be whittled down by Jet2holidays to the final 10 agents who will win a place on the trip.
Van Sprang added: “We are looking for stand out apprentices in the workplace.”
Specific details of the trip have yet to be announced but apprentices will go on hotel visits and activities and excursions to experience ‘the best of The Algarve’ and improve their knowledge in order to sell more Jet2holidays to the destination.
They will be accompanied on the trip by Van Sprang and Jet2holidays travel agent sales executive Gareth Leckey. Departures will be offered from a range of airports.
Jet2.com and Jet2holidays will be marking National Apprenticeship Week with a series of activities from February 10-16, which will include a visit to NSPCC’s Leeds hub, followed by a Bright Sparks ideas club in which Jet2 apprentices will explore potential ways for the charity’s Childline service to attract new volunteers.
The companies will also attend the Leeds Apprenticeship Recruitment Fair on Wednesday, February 12 to promote their apprenticeship opportunities, as well as encourage apprentices to return to their schools and colleges to deliver career talks.
To raise awareness around the benefits of apprenticeships, they will be also hosting webinars providing information, advice and guidance.