The Fred Olsen Travel Academy will offer either a one-year Level 3 travel consultant apprenticeship, or a three-month intensive training course tailored to agents’ needs.
Classroom-based learning will be available at the agency’s Ipswich headquarters, along with online modules, fam trips, conferences and ship visits.
The academy, which will be managed by newly-promoted Sharne Algar, will take on applicants with no travel or retail experience, as well as those with some pre-existing skills that need to learn specifically about travel product.
The first intake of seven agents will join later this month.
Fred Olsen Travel retail director Paul Hardwick said: “In order for us to continue to grow and increase our high street presence from 18 to 25 branches by 2025, we need to recruit more talent and implement a more joined-up approach to training.
“The Fred Olsen Training Academy will help us attract new staff while ensuring shops’ profits are not hit by staff having to divide their time between training and selling.”
The agency earlier this month revealed it had acquired a second agency in Ipswich, just down the road from its existing Ipswich branch. The deal will see Idelo Travel’s owners retire and Fred Olsen take on the shop’s two members of staff.
“For me, it was about getting their staff,” Hardwick told TTG. “It’s so hard to find experienced staff right now.
