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COMMENT: “Plastic is spilling into our seas and the food chain itself. Is our national dish now fish, chips and plastic?” Kane Pirie, page 38
Althams agent Green wins national apprentice award
Ben Ireland
ben.ireland@
travelweekly.co.uk
A young travel agent has beaten hundreds of other entrants to win a national apprenticeship award.
Shannon Green, 20, who has
worked her way up to assistant manager at Althams Travel’s Bolton branch, was named intermediate apprentice of the year at the National Apprenticeship Awards. Since joining the agency as a
16-year-old, she has achieved NVQ Diplomas in Travel Service Level 2 and 3 and an Apprenticeship Diploma in Team Leading. She is now the mentor for the
shop’s new apprentice and has set her sights on becoming a store manager for the agency. Green told Travel Weekly: “To win the award is seriously unreal. “I never thought I would get this
far. To come out on top ahead of all the other candidates is incredible; they were phenomenal.” After receiving the award at
London’s Grosvenor House hotel last week, Green said she believed starting her career as an apprentice
Former Thomas Cook currency clerk is jailed for 18 months
A former Thomas Cook employee has been jailed for 18 months by a Scottish court for embezzling £140,000 from the company. Alicia Moran, 34, was a foreign
exchange sales consultant at the Braehead Shopping Centre branch of Cook in Glasgow in 2015. Paisley Sheriff Court convicted
Moran of embezzlement after she exploited a loophole to process 140 currency transactions fraudulenty.
“I’m just so eager to learn and develop – I want to be a store manager now”
had helped her gain experience at the same time as working. “From a young age, I always
wanted to be in travel,” she said. “I’m just so eager to learn and
develop – I want to be a store manager now.” Green saw the advert for the
apprenticeship in the window of Althams, and has balanced her
WINNER: Shannon Green shows off her intermediate apprentice of the year award
work alongside exams and courses, which she has been given time to complete by the agency. Sue Husband, director of the National Apprenticeship Service, said: “This year’s winners are all shining examples of how apprenticeships develop outstanding talent while enhancing the incredible work of employers. “I am certain all of our winners
have a bright future.” The awards recognise excellence in businesses that develop their own talent with apprentices, and apprentices who have made a significant contribution to their workplaces.
Hays Travel ranked as a top employer of apprentices
Hays Travel has been named as one of the top-100 apprenticeship employers in the country. The annual list,
compiled by the National Apprenticeship Service, recognises excellence in businesses that employ apprentices. Beverley Little, Hays
Travel’s assistant head of training, said: “Apprentices play a key role in the success of our organisation and we are delighted that Hays Travel has been recognised for the passion and promotion we put into the National Apprentice programme.” Sue Husband, director of
the National Apprenticeship Service, added: “These top-100 Apprenticeship Employers are making a difference to the lives of their apprentices by investing in their future. In return, apprentices are helping employers to develop a skilled, qualified workforce to build a stronger economy.”
NCL hails its all-inclusive fare for boosting sales by smaller agencies
Norwegian Cruise Line has reported a surge in the number of smaller agencies selling its cruises since the introduction of its Premium All Inclusive fare. Speaking to the trade
at an event for new ship Norwegian Bliss in London
last week, Nick Wilkinson, the line’s vice-president and managing director for the UK, Ireland, the Middle East and Africa, said: “Premium All Inclusive has
10
travelweekly.co.uk 25 January 2018
been an incredible success. It has opened doors to more agents feeling confident knowing what they’re selling with Norwegian. “The [number of smaller agents
working with Norwegian] is in double-digit growth. To me that is driving the success that we see in the marketplace.” The new fare category was launched in April last year and includes premium alcoholic and
NickWilkinson
non-alcoholic drinks,
unlimited juices, water and soft drinks for children, service charges and gratuities. In December, NCL added a
low-cost Just Cruise fare to run alongside Premium All Inclusive to help its sailings rank higher on online travel agencies’ searches. “[Travel agents] are our ambassadors,” Wilkinson added. “They make the difference. They have a really difficult job. We will never undercut our travel agents.
They are our lifeline.” › News You Can Use, page 29
PICTURE: MICHAEL CRABTREE
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