30 Under 30: Meet Luke Harris

HELPING HAND

A passion project is mentoring, which he took up virtually during the pandemic, helping students studying Travel and Tourism at Manchester Metropolitan University. “They had great insights. I’d like to keep working with students, including those studying subjects like IT, marketing and business, and inspire them to work in travel.”

His motivations come from his own personal experience, having landed a travel role after his rep work. “I studied Psychology and Criminology at Nottingham Trent University and took a rep job to have one final fun summer after uni. I had no idea travel had so much to offer. It was never an option in my mind until I became a rep and realised I was good at it and could learn?a lot.

“Many students aren’t aware of the job roles available and the amount the industry has to offer, and I think it’s important to open up people’s eyes to? travel.”

STAYING POSITIVE

Harris, who has also appeared as a guest speaker at ITT Future You events at Liverpool University, says it’s travel’s learning potential that inspires him, and he’s keen to pass that passion on to ?others.

“My role is new, and I’m constantly learning. With the new staff members and students I’ve looked after, they’re eager to learn and dive right in, and I’m diving in with them. I’m responsible for them growing and learning and I hope they take what they learn here and use it in their career, like I have.”

Making it into the 30 Under 30 is an achievement Harris is proud of. “It means a lot to me to be recognised in a group of people that are all outstanding in their field,” he says.

To other young people in travel who have worked through the pandemic, he offers words of encouragement. “The best piece of advice I’ve been given is to always stay positive; think how you can turn a situation around and grow from it,” he says.

“The people getting into travel now are shaping the future – if they can deal with this [pandemic], they can deal with anything.”