Travel Counsellors is hoping to attract about 150 new homeworkers in 2023 through an “ambitious” recruitment strategy as it targets further expansion.
The agency currently has 1,350 homeworkers based in the UK and a total of 1,800 globally, and chief executive Steve Byrne believes there is scope to bring more on board after a strong bounce-back year.
“We expect to recruit about 150 travel counsellors over the next 12 months,” he said.
More: Travel Counsellors to unveil brand refresh early next year
“We’re looking to attract the very best travel entrepreneurs who have the required commitment and people skills to build relationships with customers. Once they’ve joined we do the rest by investing in our platforms to support them.”
Byrne hopes the brand refresh, set to be unveiled in full early next year, will play a role in attracting new talent.
Customer director Dave Callan said the revamp forms part of the firm’s “ambitious” hiring drive.
“We know there’s opportunity for us and we want to be taking market share,” he said. “A big part of that is bringing new travel counsellors – the right travel counsellors – into the business .
“We want to present a brand which is inviting and welcoming to those who want to come on the journey with us, and the refresh will play a part in that.”
Callan added he thinks there is scope to develop the firm’s ‘Travel Academy’, which is aimed at attracting people with no previous industry experience to the company.
“We think there’s an opportunity to be more creative in that space, looking at more niche audiences who are aligned to our values and who understand what makes a successful travel counsellor,” he said.
“We’re going through a process of reviewing our recruitment plan to develop an ambitious strategy for next year and beyond.
“The projection of an exciting brand which is more authentic to our core will be a really good enabler to make sure we’re attracting the right people.”
The theme of the conference was ‘all in’ which, Travel Counsellors said, reflects the “power and commitment of the community to one another and their customers”.