Hays to recruit 1,500 extra staff

The roles include 200 new posts at the company’s head office in Sunderland and 500 handling foreign currency in each of the new Hays stores around the UK.

There will also be an apprentice taken on at each of the agency’s 737 branches over the coming months.

Joint owners John and Irene Hays have so far employed and offered permanent contracts to 2,330 former Thomas Cook employees after Hays Travel acquired Cook’s 555-store retail estate in October.

Around 450 ex-Cook branches have opened in six weeks.

Hays Travel said it was in negotiations with landlords “across the UK” and where it was necessary would “extend and enhance” building leases beyond their existing terms.

If filled, the additional posts will give Hays Travel a national workforce of 5,700.