Holiday Fixer boss plans to double homeworkers


Juliet Dennis


A travel agent who developed a new division of her business while battling breast cancer is hoping to double the number of homeworkers in the next year. Britt-Marie Monks set up The


Holiday Fixer, a luxury travel division of her agency The Honeymoon Fixer, in 2018 after joining Midcounties’ Co-operative Travel Consortium. The new homeworking division


allowed Monks to expand the business beyond her own specialism in honeymoons to sell luxury family and ski holidays. The expansion went ahead


despite Monks being diagnosed with hereditary breast cancer in 2019 and undergoing nine months’ intensive treatment, including chemotherapy, hysterectomy and mastectomy. “I was growing the business and


taking on homeworkers while going through all this,” said Monks, who was 17 when her own mum died of breast cancer. The Holiday Fixer currently has


10 self-employed homeworkers nationwide, including Monks, with another joining next month. They are mostly mums who previously worked outside the sector. Now Monks has set her sights


on growing the business further, potentially recruiting another 10 homeworkers in the next year, either from inside or outside the industry. There is no joining fee but


homeworkers pay a monthly administration cost. They receive a split of commission earnings, marketing materials, access to commercial deals and training from Monks and suppliers. Monks, who has a seven-year-old


daughter, joined travel from a sales background in 2016 after being made redundant. She said homeworking gave mums in particular the chance to have a flexible career. She said: “My homeworkers


are predominantly mums who are from a corporate rather than a travel


Virgin Atlantic starts recruitment drive to hire 350 cabin crew


Virgin Atlantic has begun a recruitment drive to take on 350 cabin crew. Staff will initially be appointed on a six-month contract with a view to extend. Applicants from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Recent policy changes removed the need to wear make-up, allowed visible tattoos and permitted employees to choose uniforms that best represent their gender identity.


8 25 MAY 2023


Britt-Marie Monks


background. When I speak to women about how life-changing this career has been, I really mean it. I set up my business to work around my daughter and I’m proof it is possible to have a career around your life commitments.” She also hopes to attract more


full-time homeworkers. She added: “Some of our


homeworkers are more active than others, but it would be nice to have more who want to work full-time. Overall, they have to be the right fit for the business. “We are a small company but have


worked really hard to get the brand reputation and credibility in the industry. Some of our homeworkers have niches, like safari holidays, and are experts in their field.”


Barrhead Travel to hold its first overseas conference in October


Barrhead Travel will hold its annual conference outside Scotland for the first time this year. About 250 delegates – from Barrhead Travel, its Brilliant Travel division and industry partners – are expected attend the October 3-5 event, which will be held at the GPRO Valparaiso Palace & Spa in Palma, Majorca.


EasyJet invites agents to ‘Toot’ roadshows in Cardiff and Bristol


Agents are being invited to attend easyJet holidays’ roadshows next month. The ‘Team Orange On Tour’ (Toot) events will be held in Cardiff (June 14) and Bristol (June 15). Recent roadshows in Manchester and Leeds were attended by 120 agents, who met hotel suppliers and the operator’s trade team. Agents were also served food and drink and offered the chance to win holiday prizes.


travelweekly.co.uk


Abta defends 8.5% subscription hike as below inflation


Abta’s annual subscription rates will rise by 8.5% for the 2023-24 membership year – and must be paid in one payment in July. An Abta spokesperson pointed


out the increase is below the rate of inflation, adding: “We are not immune from inflationary pressures ourselves, meaning that a smaller increase in subscription rates is not possible if we are to continue providing the services that members tell us they want. “As Abta enters the second


year of a three-year business plan, Abta’s board has confirmed that it is prepared to continue to access Abta’s reserves, on a reducing scale over that three-year period, to minimise subscription increases. “With the worst impacts of


the pandemic over and member cashflow typically recovering, Abta will revert to its usual process of one annual payment, due on July 3, 2023.” The increase was criticised by


some agent members, who pointed out that many agencies are still repaying Covid bounce-back loans. “Expecting them to pay all of


the fees in one go is really difficult for them,” said one agent.


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