The Ayrshire-based agency, which has three high street shops, has unveiled its Lifestyle Travel Expert programme and initially hopes to attract agents with at least two years’ travel experience who want flexible working hours and the “freedom to work remotely”.
Agency founder Shona Thorne exclusively told TTG her and her staff were trying to avoid using the word homeworking when talking about the new programme.
“Homeworking always sounds like you’re loading the dishwasher and booking a holiday at the same time – fitting it around your household chores,” she said. “We want our programme to reflect that it’s professional and a lifestyle choice. You can even go to Thailand and work from there if you wanted.”
Agents joining Thorne Travel’s new programme will be self-employed, benefit from full training, have access to more than 600 suppliers, marketing support and “industry-leading” commission structures.
Thorne said the idea for the new division came after she discovered that many candidates applying for jobs in Thorne Travel’s high street shops were wanting increased flexibility around their working hours.
“We talked to a lot of people who only wanted to work certain days and times – but that’s not going to be a model that we can support in the business,” she added.
“We’re looking for people with a minimum of two years’ experience who are currently in travel or maybe want to return after having children. They will build up their own client base and we’re here to give them all the support they need.”
’There will be a lot of flexibility’
Agents joining the programme will have the option of using the Thorne Travel name or trading under their own brand.
“There will be a lot of flexibility – it’s your life and you choose what you want to do,” added Thorne. “We can offer support in lots of different areas, such as talking them through social media if they feel they need that.”
Thorne Travel’s Lifestyle Travel Expert programme will operate on a commission-split basis with agents also paying a monthly fee of £65.
“We’re not setting any targets on the number of agents we’re looking for – it’s about quality over quantity,” explained Thorne. “We will still be doing interviews so we get the right people for our brand. I have no issues whether it’s one person or 10.”
The new programme will be primarily managed by Amanda McKinlay, who is branch manager at Thorne Travel’s Largs branch and handles training for the company. It will be open to agents from across the UK.
“We’re known for our customer service and looking after people,” added Thorne. “You will not just be a number to us. We’re here to look after you – we want them to thrive so they have something that makes them feel empowered and can make their own.
"We have really good commission rates and access to a lot of suppliers to build packages.”
Thorne Travel has the distinction of being one of the most decorated agencies in the history of Top 50 Travel Agencies by TTG after being named Scotland’s top agency six times and the UK and Ireland’s top agency in 2018.
