From tutoring to travel – Alex changes the focus of his business venture to unlock his true passion

Say hello to Alex, who recently traded in running a tutoring business to become a travel entrepreneur. We spoke to him to find out why he decided to make the switch and what impressed him about our franchise model.

Hi Alex! Tell us a little bit about what were you doing prior to becoming a Travel Counsellor?

Prior to becoming a Travel Counsellor, I was working in online tuition creating maths lessons for children in secondary school. I set up my own business doing this with my father-in-law and enjoyed it so much.

Why did you decide to switch careers?

I wanted to make a switch to get a better work-life balance. As much as I enjoyed the tuition, I think it’s important to have a career that you’re truly passionate about. I still wanted to operate my own business as I love the flexibility that working for yourself offers, so I had a hard think about how I could make a change and do something that I really loved.

What key skills will you be able to transfer from tutoring to running your travel franchise?

As a tutor, you need to have great attention to detail. I can’t create lessons for students that are not 100% accurate, and the same goes for putting together an itinerary for someone’s holiday. Also, with tutoring, I had to keep the content engaging so that the viewers would stay interested. This will help me with marketing my franchise. Potential customers need to be amazed by the sorts of holidays I can offer.

Why did you want to set up your own travel business?

I love having my own business - I think it’s exciting and pushes you to try new things and connect with people. I also like working for myself and having the flexibility to work at my own pace. Some days I have the option to work more, some days less (depending on the needs of my customers). But as I’m the only one setting targets, it means I can spend the time making sure things are up to the standard I want rather than having to rush anything.

What do you think sets Travel Counsellors apart from other franchises on the market?

I think Travel Counsellors is different to the other franchises on the market because of their personal approach. They really care about relationships, whether that’s with customers or between the support hub colleagues and the franchisees. Travel Counsellors has such a good reputation, and because of this, suppliers want to work with us.

How did you find the recruitment and induction process?

The training provided in the first two weeks was really informative and very enjoyable. I also became friends with my induction cohort. This really helps as it’s unfamiliar to all of us, but now we have a network to help each other and share our experiences.

What are you looking forward to most about being a Travel Counsellor?

I’m most looking forward to getting stuck in and being a part of the community. I really like going out and meeting new people. I’m excited to attend supplier events and meet-ups with other Travel Counsellors. These opportunities will allow me to learn from others to help my own business. I also can’t wait to push myself to go to new destinations around the world and call it research!

Why do you think teachers make great Travel Counsellors?

Teachers can make great Travel Counsellors because they have excellent organisational skills and attention to detail. Teachers have experience in research and planning, and they have an understanding of diverse needs – those are crucial skills needed when creating a personalised getaway.

Why would you recommend Travel Counsellors as a business opportunity for people who want to get out of teaching?

I recommend Travel Counsellors to teachers because it’s really refreshing to be in a completely new environment. The ability to work at your own pace is great, and you have the freedom to promote the sort of holidays that you want, unlike teaching where you’re restricted by having to adhere to a curriculum.

Whether you’ve recently left teaching or are planning on leaving the education sector soon, we can offer you a fantastic opportunity to own a business and change your way of life. All we ask is that you’re willing and able to run your franchise full-time, have a passion for travel, and are committed to providing exceptional customer service. Enquire today and a member of our New Franchise team will be in touch to get to know you better.