Cook expects hundreds to apply for apprenticeships
Amie Keeley
Tomas Cook expects to receive hundreds of applications for its apprenticeship programme this week – despite its well-publicised financial woes – as school pupils await their GCSE results. Cook has 100 places on offer,
down from 125 in previous years, which HR director Julie Armstrong said reflected the retail climate. Of those, 84 are in store and the
rest in the business’s customer centre. Cook has closed more than 200 shops in the past three years and made 320 shop roles redundant earlier this year. Te business is in takeover talks with Chinese group Fosun following a series of financial losses. “We never have any problems
atracting applications,” Armstrong said. “[Young] people are still interested in working in travel. Tey view it as an exciting industry and it still has a certain panache. Cook has a good brand in that regard so young people still see it as an option.” She said Cook usually receives
between 10 and 15 applications for each apprenticeship place available. Apprentices go straight to work on the shop floor and are continually assessed by an in-house team for
P&O redeploys Oceana to Spain and the Caribbean
P&O Cruises has revealed 14 new sailings for Oceana aſter cancelling Arabian Gulf sailings amid an international maritime security scare.
6 22 AUGUST 2019
Artwork sent by Thomas Cook to stores and colleges to promote its apprenticeship programme
Homeworking firm Inspire eyes three recruits per month
Travel reward card specialist Inspire aims to raise its profile in the homeworking sector as it broadens its remit beyond the luxury market. Te travel agency, best known
as a reward card specialist and for working with corporates, set up homeworking division Inspire, the same name as the parent company, at the start of this year. It already runs Hidden Retreats,
set up as a luxury homeworking brand in 2017. In total it has 70 homeworkers across its rewards business and Hidden Retreats. Under new homeworking arm
We still see the
programme as a core part of our ability to build capability within the organisation
the two-year programme, which includes an online knowledge exam and a professional discussion with an independent assessor. Armstrong said shop apprentices had a good record of staying with the
business and developing their career. Asked if Cook’s financial troubles
could impact applications this year, she said: “We will have to wait and see. Te airline didn’t have any problems when it advertised earlier this year, so it doesn’t feel like [a problem] at this point in time because people still see Cook has the ability to offer access to the travel industry. “Clearly talks are ongoing, and as
it stands there are no plans to change anything. We still see the programme as a core part of our ability to build capability within the organisation.”
Inspire, homeworkers can sell all types of holidays, from UK short breaks to five-star cruises. Tere are currently 25 dedicated Inspire homeworkers, but the company hopes to reach 40 by the year’s end. Business development manager
Ivrie Cohen said the company aimed to recruit at least three homeworkers each month.
Ivrie Cohen
Rather than sail out of Dubai this
winter, the British-flagged vessel will now sail ex-Southampton itineraries in five regions including Spain, Portugal, the Canary Islands and the Caribbean. British-flagged ships have been
targeted in the Arabian Gulf by Iran following escalating tensions between the West and Tehran. Oceana was pulled from the
Oceana
region aſter P&O sought advice from “external authorities” over safety concerns for passengers and crew. Oceana’s new programme will
run from October 14 to April 9. Itineraries went on sale on Tuesday. Two northern European
city-break cruises, a 35-night round-trip Caribbean no-fly sailing and 14-night Canary Islands cruise feature in the ex-UK programme.
travelweekly.co.uk
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