Experience It Now Travel, which has been operating since 2017 and has three branches in Sussex, had just two homeworkers on its books in November 2023; it now has 105.
Director Richard Light told TTG he and his team had received hundreds of enquiries from potential homeworkers since the agency took the decision to diversify.
Outlining the agency’s ambitious growth plans, Light said: “We’ve had just over 1,400 enquiries about becoming a homeworker, but only 7% or 8% get through.
“Everybody gets an interview. This is when we try to identify those who have transferable skills.
"We’ve got police officers, bank managers, nurses – a structural engineer joined last week – plus housewives and househusbands.
"I want to get to 180-200 homeworkers by the end of the year. I like to call us a hybrid agency.”
Light said all-too-often, applicants believe they can be successful homeworkers just by posting offers on social media.
“Unfortunately, there are many people who believe if they put offers on Facebook they will get bookings,” Light explained. “We try to encourage people to have a particular group to sell into – not just friends and family.”
Light believes successful homeworkers need to have “niches” or specialise in particular holiday types; he highlights InteleTravel agent Lucille Furlong, who TTG recently featured after she landed some huge group bookings for local dance schools.
Asked why Experience It Now Travel had so much success finding homeworkers in 2024, Light said: “Everyone else seems to be charging large joining fees. We felt we could offer homeworkers a better support package than others in the market.
“I like to use our branch staff as support staff. They will work until 10pm supporting our homeworkers – they want the extra cash.”
Homeworkers can contact one of the 14 retail staff for support across Experience It Now Travel’s shops in Peacehaven, Seaford and Eastbourne, some of whom have more than 20 years’ travel industry experience.
In addition to the support available from shop staff, Experience It Now also has two dedicated trainers, with Light considering employing more this year. When Light spoke to TTG, the agency was preparing to train another 14 new homeworkers.
’We won’t make them the complete agent’
Light estimates less 10% of his homeworking agents want to combine their new occupation with a full-time job outside travel. “Most of them have the ambition of leaving their other job and becoming a full-time homeworker,” he stressed.
According to Light, around a quarter of the homeworkers who joined in 2024 came from another agency, which he declined to name.
“Most applicants will say that they have looked around the market and will ask why we offer a lower price,” he added. “We charge a £295 joining fee that covers training. Importantly, it’s live training – it’s not on-demand.
“Then there’s £49 a month to cover the licence fee. Going forward, we might put VAT in there.”
Light openly stresses the training his homeworkers receive will “not make them a complete travel agent”.
He also plans to open a fourth shop “somewhere in east Sussex” this year.
