NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW 4
Starkie leaves Althams abruptly after 61 years
Amie Keeley
amie.keeley@
travelweekly.co.uk
Details surrounding the sudden departure of long-standing Althams Travel managing director Eddie Starkie last week remained unclear as Travel Weekly went to press.
Starkie, who had worked at the company for 60 years, was not re-elected at the agency’s AGM last week. The company confirmed director Sandra McAllister was appointed managing director “with immediate effect”.
Staff and six suppliers were
informed of the changes in a letter, seen by Travel Weekly, circulated on January 25. Chairman John Cook said: “At
today’s annual general meeting of shareholders, Eddie Starkie has not been re-elected as a director. “Eddie has given many years of
valuable service to the company which is greatly appreciated by all. “At a later directors’ meeting
today, Sandra McAllister has been appointed managing director.” The letter went on to say:
“Althams is a strong company financially and is well run in both
its branch operations and head office. The main strength of the company is, however, in its branch managers and staff, and the purpose of this letter is to reassure you of that fact and of your value.” Starkie celebrated his 60-year
milestone in 2016, having joined Althams in 1956 as an office junior. He worked in various roles, including travel clerk and later tours manager and general
manager, before being promoted to managing director in 1983. In December 2016, Starkie
received a 60 years’ service award from the company. Althams operates more than 30
shops across Lancashire, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, and employs
about 200 staff. Travel Weekly approached Althams Travel several times but the company declined to comment.
Eddie Starkie celebrating 60 years with Althams Travel in 2016
5 STORIES HOT
‘Apprentice levy needs to bed in’ 5
Lee Hayhurst
lee.hayhurst@travelweekly.co.uk
Leading travel firms and Abta have called for an apprenticeship levy on businesses to be given more time to have an impact.
Last week the British Retail Consortium seized on a 27% year- on-year fall in the number of new apprentices in England to demand a review of the levy. Since last April, large firms have
had to contribute 0.5% of annual wage bills above £3 million to help
fund apprentice schemes. The government has targeted
creating an additional three million apprentices by 2020. The nationwide fall in numbers
was blamed on a lack of flexibility on what levy funds can be spent on. Figures are not available for apprentice numbers in travel. Andy Smyth, Tui early talent and apprenticeships manager, said: “The new apprenticeship standards will take time to embed into organisation and training provider practices. “We are moving in the right
6
travelweekly.co.uk 1 February 2018
direction and must allow the new system to settle.” Carole Hodgson, Hays Travel
apprentices delivery manager, was not surprised some firms are struggling, but added: “The levy needs time because it’s all about quality now. “At Hays we have the knowledge and confidence, but even for us it’s
been a challenge because we have had to rethink how we do things.” Vicki Wolfe, Abta education partnerships manager, said: “It’s unsurprising there has been a fall in apprentice numbers as industries and businesses adapt. “We expect [the levy] to take
some time to bed in before the success…can be fully measured.” Annette Allmark, director of
strategic policy at sector skills body People 1st, said apprentice numbers were always likely to fall
as businesses adapted. › Hays Travel apprentices, page 8
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