Triangle Travel to take on apprentices to tackle recruitment crisis

Triangle Travel bosses have developed an apprenticeship scheme to help the six-branch agency with the recruitment crisis.

 

Rob Kenton, managing director of the Worldchoice agency based in Berkshire and Oxfordshire, said the first apprentice will start at the Pangbourne branch next month.

 

Erin (21) will study for a Level 3 Travel Consultant qualification and remain at Pangbourne for the duration of her course.

 

The agency is working with Basingstoke College of Technology and apprenticeship specialist Rochdale Training on the scheme.

 

“Like many in our industry, Triangle has struggled significantly with recruitment since the pandemic ended,” he told Travel Weekly.

 

“Our usual recruitment channels, once reliable, yielded no success. We even turned to a recruitment agency, which did lead to one excellent appointment.

 

“However, we soon felt we’d lost control over our own destiny.

 

“The final straw came when another travel agency opened in a town we had earmarked for expansion. It was then we realised we had to change our approach.”

He noted how most Triangle staff, including himself, started through apprenticeships, when they were known as the Youth Training Scheme [YTS].

 

“Yet, ironically, in our 25 years of trading, we’ve only had one apprentice,” he added.

 

“The travel industry as a whole faces a real recruitment crisis, and frankly, Triangle has played its part in creating this problem by not actively helping to bring through the next generation.

 

“We’re now changing that narrative with our new apprenticeship scheme.

 

“We’re collaborating with our local college to help their students fulfil their work placement requirements, offering them a direct opportunity to apply for our apprenticeship programme.

 

“Our first apprentice will enrol next month, with the cycle beginning again at the start of next year.

 

“Companies like Hays and Tui play a major role in nurturing the next generation of talent, and it’s time for Triangle to contribute, even if in a small way, to this vital effort.”

 

He talked about his plans during a panel discussion at The Travel Network Group conference in Bucharest on June 15.

 

“It is a fundamental change to get some youth into the industry. We need youth, and young blood, coming through,” he told delegates.

 

He also highlighted the importance of retaining staff, so invites partners of his employees to Christmas and summer parties and gives time off over Christmas and Easter.

 

Gary Lewis, the consortium’s chief executive, said Triangle Travel’s apprenticeship scheme is a “great ambition”.

 

He told delegates at the conference how the consortium has been working with agencies over the past 18 months to support them with recruitment and retention. The issues remain a focus through the “person behind the professional” drive to help members retain their current employees and find new recruits.

 

Triangle Travel was also recognised at the conference awards evening on June 16, with general manager Sarah Kenton winning the Leadership Award for her work with local colleges and apprentices, and the agency scooping the Worldchoice Agency honour in the Member of the Year category.