Trade tipped to buck retail trend


Ian Taylor and Juliet Dennis


Strong demand for travel and for in-person advice should shield agencies from a downturn in employment across UK retail, say senior industry figures. More than half of UK retailers


expect to cut working hours and recruitment in the wake of the Employment Rights Act becoming law in January, according to a survey by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) last week. The survey of finance officers at


retailers with a combined turnover of £60 billion found sentiment had “deteriorated markedly”. More than two-thirds (69%) were ‘pessimistic’


about the next 12 months, up from 56% last July, and 84% ranked labour costs “a major concern” – four times the rate (21%) last July. Three out of five finance officers (61%) said they plan to reduce the hours of staff and 45% to freeze recruitment. The BRC reported the cost of


employing a full-time entry-level retail worker rose 10% last year due to increases in employers’ National Insurance Contributions and the National Living Wage. It warned measures in the


Employment Rights Act could reduce the number of entry-level and part-time jobs, with chief executive Helen Dickinson warning: “How the Act is delivered will make or break job opportunities.”


Fred Olsen takeover of Ponders Travel is ‘better for staff’


Juliet Dennis


Ponders Travel founder Clare Dudley says selling her agency has provided a “comfort blanket” for staff while giving her “headspace” after 16 years at the helm. The agency this month became


Fred Olsen Travel’s 24th retail shop. The acquisition comes as the group reveals it plans to continue to expand after just missing its target of growing to 25 shops by the end of last year. Ponders Travel, based in Over,


Cambridgeshire, joins 10 other shops in East Anglia and a further 13 across the south coast. It was previously a Fred Olsen


6 26 FEBRUARY 2026


Travel licensee, with access to the group’s financial protection and commercial agreements, but operated independently. Its fascia is to be updated to include the strapline ‘part of Fred Olsen Travel’. All staff, including Dudley, are now salaried employees. Dudley, now business


development manager, said: “It feels like we’ve put a big blanket around us. It’s noticeable how much better this is for staff; I didn’t realise how much more support they would get. They all get a bit more holiday, work fewer hours and private health care. “For me, I don’t have the burden of running my own business. I am 60


this year and I’m finding multitasking harder. This gives me more headspace.” There was no question of selling


to any other agency, she said, adding: “Fred Olsen Travel’s support during Covid was unwavering; that’s what grounded me.” Dudley set up the business from


her kitchen table in 2010. “I was a single mum and £30k in debt. I thought I’d get by, selling holidays to support me and the kids, but very quickly it started going in a different direction, turning into a £4 millon turnover business with six staff.” Joint managers Victoria Songhurst – Dudley’s daughter – and Millie


Claire Steiner


it’s becoming more expensive to employ people signals confidence in demand for in-person advice.” Hays Travel chief operating


Claire Steiner, UK director of


the Global Travel and Tourism Partnership, which promotes talent and skills in the sector, forecast “more-cautious recruitment” but said: “I don’t expect huge job cuts despite the cost pressures. We still face a skills shortage as a sector and cutting too many entry-level roles would risk damaging the future talent pipeline.” She added: “The continued


growth of high street agencies when


officer Jonathon Woodall-Johnston insisted: “We’re prepared for the rise in employment and other costs. We’ll continue to recruit in step with the needs of our business.” He said Hays saw “lower employee


turnover and vacancy numbers” and added: “We expect to have close to 700 apprentices in the business when the new intake joins in the summer.” Advantage Travel Partnership


chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said acknowledged “it’s much more expensive to employ young people now” but said: “We’re fighting for talent against every other industry.”


Clare Dudley,


Ponders Travel founder


Windeler continue to run the shop. Ponders added: “It’s good news;


nothing changes and it gives us more stability and structure.” Fred Olsen Travel retail director


Paul Hardwick said the group aimed to make agency takeovers “as smooth as possible” and hoped to expand further in the “near future”. He said: “We’re constantly looking


at expansion opportunities for our retail portfolio and are always open to discussions with owners within our licensee model or the wider industry. I was just short of the 25 shops by 2025 target. Sometimes you have to wait for the right option to come along.”


travelweekly.co.uk


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