First agent beneficiaries of Jet2's £650,000 apprentice levy revealed
Ilaria Grasso MacolaJet2holidays has pledged £650,000 in apprenticeship funding to help foster the next generation of independent travel agents, with several agencies – including Cumbria Travel, Now Lets Travel and Sunlounger Travel – already using the cash to find new young sales stars.
The operator will share out around £500,000 in apprenticeship levy funds across 50 companies, sponsoring almost 100 new apprentices. The remaining £150,000 will fund the salaries of new apprentices for one year across 30 companies around the country.
It comes as part of Jet2holidays’ Appoint an Apprentice scheme, which was launched in October last year to help partners develop their workforce by attracting highly skilled and motivated staff.
In November, the operator announced it was pledging up to £5,000 in cash to help fund the salary of one apprentice per agency branch. The total number of apprentice roles eligible for the contribution was subject to demand, the company added.
“This is a fantastic way to start the new year, investing directly into our independent travel agency partners to help them grow their businesses and support our fantastic industry,” said Jet2.com and Jet2holidays chief executive Steve Heapy.
“As a business, we are totally committed to apprenticeships and today we are taking action to support small businesses to grow through apprenticeships, as well as increase the number of employers who are offering apprenticeships.”
Cumbria Travel, Now Lets Travel and Sunlounger Travel are among the agencies that have already started recruiting apprentices with the funding allocated by Jet2holidays.
Now Lets Travel managing director Paul Johnstone said the funding will help the agency “grow our sales and our workforce” while Cumbria Travel director Leanne Miller hailed it “a great initiative".
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