Becky Walker on a ship visit to Azamara Quest
A I’m part-time because my full-time job is with the ambulance service. I’m also a professional photographer. Being a shift worker has its pros and cons but, as I tell my clients, I literally am contactable 24/7.
Q What are your long-term plans? A My aim is to reduce my hours within the
ambulance service at some point to focus on building my business to a level where I can solely work in travel. Now I’ve had a taste of travel over the past two years, I want more.
Q Pros and cons of part-time
homeworking? A It allows you to work around family life and hobbies and ease into a new role. But you can easily lose hours sitting in front of the computer, searching for holidays long into the night.
Q How do you manage your time? A Planning is crucial. It’s easy to think, ‘I’ll have a lie-in’ or ‘I’ll pop to the shops’, but
18 JULY 2026
PART-TIME AGENT Lee Collier, personal travel consultant, Not Just Travel Q What are your working hours like?
before you know it, half the day has gone. The admin and enquiries can feel overwhelming, so a schedule keeps you productive while allowing you to go to the gym or the shops.
Q What advice would you give
people considering homeworking? A Working part-time can give you the security of a second income while you find your feet. It takes time to learn the systems and suppliers, to build up a client base and receive a regular income.
RECENTLY SWITCHED FROM PART-TIME TO FULL-TIME Becky Walker, travel consultant, Club Voyages
Q What are your working hours like? A I’m full-time but have no schedule, by
design. I’m single with no children so this works for me. As long as I have my laptop and Wi-Fi I can work, whether that’s at home in Sheffield, in London or in the Bahamas. Every few weeks I meet Jake Cullum-Hollins, chief executive of The Good Travel Franchise, in Birmingham to record our podcast, Tales of a Travel Agent.
Q Why did you switch from part-time
to homeworking full-time this year? A I started my business two-and-a-half years ago. I was a full-time nanny working two weeks on, two weeks off. This allowed me to build my business without needing a high income immediately. I stopped nannying in January; I couldn’t grow my business further without giving it my all. I was trying to do both full-time and was burning out.
Q Pros and cons to homeworking
full-time? A Homeworking full-time gives you flexibility to work around other commitments – and you don’t have to turn down as many invites from suppliers. But generating leads can be difficult.
Q How do you manage your time? A I’m not sure I’ll ever master this. I tell clients,
‘I’ll get back to you within 48 hours’, so I have to! I write lists so I don’t forget things, although every time I check one thing off, 10 get added.
Q What advice would you give
people considering homeworking? A Start part-time – this gives you time to work out systems, suppliers, niches and client acquisition methods. Have a plan and when ready, go full-time, all guns blazing. O
travelweekly.co.uk
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