Oasis Travel, Lisburn

Lisburn operates as the head office, and a fair few of its 25 staff have roles that oversee the entire portfolio, from client events to human resources. The agency is part of the community fabric, sponsoring local hockey and cricket teams, and providing a drop-off point for a local radio Christmas charity drive.

The office space includes a staff kitchen, an outdoor terrace, used for both team barbecues and client events, and an immaculate stock room. Oasis Travel has Investors in People accreditation, and everyone is given a voice through focus groups and employee surveys. All staff can take an annual fam trip if they wish, and the Oasis Academy ensures training is thorough and ongoing.

Customer service here goes more than a few extra miles, with the team out and about hand delivering tickets and picking up elderly clients from the airport.

Client events for all five Oasis branches are managed out of this office, ranging from afternoon tea to sharing the Captain’s table at the Oasis Cruise Fair in National Cruise Week. Clients are hand-picked to attend, providing them with exclusive privileges, which generate word-of-mouth recommendations.

Three Oasis Travel branches have Portfolio Suites, which operate on an appointments system. Julie-Anne Vaughan, with 29 years’ of service, pioneered the Portfolio in Lisburn 12 years ago. She offers appointments to suit her clients, and puts together a glossy magazine full of inspiration for Portfolio customers.

There’s a place for everyone in Corkin’s business, which feels like a family. If you want a challenge, she’ll give you one, if you simply love to sell holidays, you can do that every day, and if you just don’t want to retire yet, like 76-year-old Bertie, you can still be the king of the cruise window offers.

• oasis-travel.co.uk