'We don't want to be superheroes: we want to be mums and have a career'

The initial two-week training for those new-to-travel is thorough and detailed. The training team are incredibly supportive, and are there day in, day out to answer our (extensive) questions. There are regular catch-ups in the first six months, and ongoing supplier training. 

I’ve become close friends with my training cohort of five. Our Whatsapp group is always active, and the support has been invaluable, on a professional and personal level.

I also lucked out with my mentor, Paula. She’s been a Travel Counsellor for 23 years, her enthusiasm and positivity has never faltered, and I can ask her anything – no question is a silly question. When I’m second-guessing things, she’s a phone call away, even on a Friday night when she’s getting ready to go out!

Referrals and repeat bookings are the keys to building a successful business, and the first time a customer books again with you, is the best feeling. Knowing I got it right that first time, and they trusted me to book their next holiday made me so proud, as excellent customer service is at the heart of what we do.

I’ve just navigated my first ‘Peaks’. I was determined not to expect too much, as my business is so young, but I’m pleased to say January became my best month, and then soon after February did! This has boosted my confidence for the year ahead.

I’m able to take my daughters to school and pick them up, be at home when they are poorly and watch their sports days, and for that I feel very privileged, as I know this isn’t the case for lots of parents. I’m putting the hours in, but I’m able to do it around the family, at times that work for us.

Also, working in the travel industry (especially as a self-employed home worker) gives me more opportunity to do what I love most – travel. We have always taken every chance to travel as a family, and I love that my children are now getting even more opportunity to experience places and cultures that I certainly hadn’t at their age, and proud of the fact I am able to provide these to them.

The ability to take time off during the school holidays is priceless. Last summer we spent four weeks in Greece, I took my laptop, and worked when I needed to. I made my second biggest booking to date (biggest by some way at the time) when I was there. Add the content I got for my socials, and our extended summer break was a hit all round!

Mairead Devine, a mother of one, Tyrone, Northern Ireland

Before I had my daughter, I worked in the charity sector but when I started thinking about returning to work after maternity leave, I wanted to do something for me.

You can lose your identity a wee bit when you become a mum, and running my own business was something people would be able to talk to me about besides my daughter.

I heard about Travel Counsellors through a friend of a friend… I’m a firm believer in gut feelings and its values were the right fit for me. They were offering flexibility for me, but flexibility for clients is also a huge part of their model.

I was a bit sceptical about the sense of community and I definitely underestimated that. It’s been eye-opening but in a good way. I’ve made real friends, who I talk to every day. There are experts in every area and everyone is willing to help. I recently reached out to a colleague because I had an Australia enquiry and I wanted their expert knowledge.

I contacted Travel Counsellors in August 2022 and within a day we had an agreement. I started training in November so I had time to settle my daughter into a creche and my business went live in December. 

I was under no illusions that I had a lot to learn but the support has been phenomenal, and there’s so much training on offer. There are so many routes you can go with your business... working in teams, supporting other TCs, and taking on assistants.

Yes, the hours can be long, and they can be anti-social when I’m working in the evenings, but I have that flexibility, to take my daughter to appointments, I can prepare our dinner at lunchtime or put a wash on. I have a very equal relationship with my husband and we make it work. Our family time is before Caoimhe goes to bed, and at the weekends. If I was working at night for another business, I’d feel more resentful, but this is my business and I know I need to put the hard work in now, because it will lead to more for my family. It’s all for my daughter so she can look at me and be proud.

I achieved well over what I predicted in my first year, but I had nothing to compare to. Now in my second year, I have that benchmark and want to prove myself. It’s huge when you start from scratch but I’ve had repeat clients already. That’s a true test when you get a referral come through.

They warn you in training not to expect your friends and family to be your best customers – a lot of my customers I didn’t know at the start. But it shows the power of social media and word of mouth in particular. Customers who have booked have referred me, and I’m chuffed that I have built my customer base from nothing. 

I’ve been doing family holidays, European holidays, America has been really popular. I’ve done a few lovely honeymoons. It’s a real mix, every week is different.

I’ve been to head office regularly for training, which means a day or two away here and there. And those shorter absences were good practice for my first fam trip, a Disney cruise for a week to Bruges, Copenhagen, Oslo and Stavanger. It helps that I have a supportive family, I know my daughter is in safe hands while I’m away.  

Before I did this, I was so anxious at the thought of getting up early, not getting home until late, looking after a baby, running a home. I think people who do that every day are superheroes. My mum worked full-time and there were four of us. I took it for granted that was the way it was, but now I appreciate how lucky I am to have more flexibility.

What are your tips for managing the juggle? Any working mums in a high street agency with young children, how do you make it work? To share your stories, get in touch with TTG’s features editor Katherine Masters on kmasters@ttgmedia.com