Hays Travel has started a recruitment drive to take on seasonal foreign exchange consultants, to ensure all its 470 branches have a dedicated cashier over the peak summer period.
Applicants aged 17 and over are sought for the roles. No experience is required and successful applicants will complete a three-week training programme, with one week in the classroom and two weeks in branch.
After this, they can choose the hours and days they work, with the option to work part-time.
Beccy Rayner, head of foreign exchange field sales, said: “We have 134 seasonal vacancies and 39 permanent vacancies.”
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The chain currently has 255 foreign exchange consultants and the “vast majority” of branches have a dedicated currency bureau.
The initiative to take on seasonal staff follows a pilot scheme last year, which recruited 55 forex consultants.
Three have remained as permanent foreign exchange consultants while “some others” moved to travel roles, added Rayner.
Jonathon Woodall-Johnston, Hays Travel chief operating officer, said: “We’re looking for people with a customer service approach, who are trustworthy and work well in a team.
“The people we recruit into these seasonal roles can choose the days or hours they work and how long they stay with us – it doesn’t have to be full-time.”
Alex Burns, foreign exchange sales consultant at Hays Travel’s Birtley branch in Chester-le-Street, applied for the role in June 2023.
“My seasonal contract was due to end in September, but with hard work and the support of a fantastic team, I now have a permanent contract,” said Burns.
Hays Travel also plans to repeat a recruitment drive among cabin crew staff later this year, following the success of a scheme last year that saw 148 airline employees hired to help with the busy peaks period.
Jane Schumm, Hays Travel retail director, said: “Our cabin crew colleagues were a real asset to Hays Travel and recruiting them into our branches has been a huge success.
“We are very grateful for all their support and for everything they did to help our customers during the busy peaks period.”
Pictured from left at Hays Travel’s Broughton branch: Danielle Armstrong, FX sales development manager; Natalie Rowland, travel consultant; Emma Manley, branch manager; Kerry Perez, travel consultant; Lauren Chesters, travel consultant; and Charlotte Byrne, travel consultant.