Meet our September 2024 Travel Academy cohort

One of the great things about Travel Counsellors is that you don’t need any previous experience in the travel industry to succeed. That’s because our ITT-accredited Travel Academy programme will give you all the tools and knowledge you need to get your business off to a flying start.

In September, we welcomed 11 new Academy joiners into our community, so we’re shining the spotlight on them to showcase the diverse range of career backgrounds that they come from – showing that with the right drive and entrepreneurial vision, Travel Counsellors can be for anyone.

Say hello to our September 2024 Travel Academy cohort.

Charlotte Lock – previously a strategy coordinator for a marketing agency

“I come from a sales and marketing background, where I acquired a really good skill set that revolved around putting the customer first. While I enjoyed my previous roles, they weren't aligned with my life goals and they never really offered the flexibility I craved. I wanted to become a travel business owner because I’ve always loved discovering new places and love the research element of any holiday. It seemed a natural progression to utilise my skills in an area I will never tire of!

“There were several things that attracted me to Travel Counsellors. Firstly, they invest heavily in ensuring customers have a really seamless travel experience, while making life easier for franchisees. Their strong customer values really align with my ethos of serving clients in a human and personal way, and always going the extra mile. The warmth from every colleague is unbelievable. Even before I started, I felt really supported and encouraged.”

Laura Bramfitt – previously worked for the NHS

“I’ve worked for the NHS for 20 years since leaving university. I had a special birthday earlier this year and decided I needed a completely new career to give me some fire again. I also wanted something that would give me a better work-life balance as I have a five-year-old son and couldn’t commit to regular school runs. I absolutely love travelling and explored different options. I was struggling to find a company that I could ‘warm to’, and after months of researching, a friend recommended Travel Counsellors. It was like a breath of fresh air!

Alayna Carter – previously worked within higher education

“The latter years of my career have been spent working in higher education. I started off recruiting international students to come and study at universities in the UK. More recently, I was working as an operations manager at the University of Leicester. Travel has always been my passion. I have fond childhood memories of holidays in the Canary Islands and fly drives across the US. I also had a stint working on a cruise ship as sports staff, and later lived and work in New Zealand. I love talking about travel and researching and building itineraries – so being able to be my own boss whilst having the support of a multi-award-winning company like Travel Counsellors was a real no-brainer for me.

“It was the people who really sealed the deal and cemented my decision to launch my travel business under the Travel Counsellors brand. I loved the family feel and the genuineness of everyone. Having recently completed my induction, the technology and the information available has been mind-blowing. I feel fully supported by the Franchise Sales team (who aren’t pushy in the slightest), the Training team, the Relationship Management team, and my mentor. Everyone is really championing my success.”

Gemma Parker – previously worked in employment law and DE&I

“I spent the bulk of my career as an employment lawyer in the City, before working as a diversity and inclusion specialist for British Airways and then Pets at Home. I've always been interested in travel and spend hours planning holidays and trips - even ones that we never go on! When I was training to be a coach in my previous role, I spent time reflecting on how I like to spend my time, and what would be most fulfilling to me in the long-term. I have a busy home life and had become used to the flexibility that working from home offers. I’ve also benefitted from a lot of autonomy in my professional roles. This made running my own business very attractive – and my husband also reminded me that having my own business was my dream when I was at university many years ago!

“It was absolutely the sense of community and support that attracted me to Travel Counsellors. From the moment I picked up the phone and spoke to Cathy in the Franchise Sales team, I was excited about the opportunity and felt like I’d feel welcome at Travel Counsellors. The fact that people who aren’t from a travel background are actively welcomed to join was also a big attraction. It’s been a fantastic two weeks on induction and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in!”

Clare Charles – previously worked in corporate law

“I was a corporate lawyer in London and then a partner for many years. I headed up the company commercial team, and my area of expertise was mergers and acquisitions. I left the partnership when my youngest daughter was in pre-school and set up my own consultancy in the hope that I’d get a better work-life balance. However, the nature of corporate transactions mean that the hours are very long. You have to work while on holiday and you must work towards very tight deadlines. I missed more of my older children’s sports days than I ever attended. It was a difficult decision to step away from my legal career but it was the right choice for my family.

“I knew of Travel Counsellors because I’d used a Travel Counsellor myself, both personally and for business trips with clients. I did look at other options, but I was very clear that I didn’t want a side hustle - I wanted a full-time job. As I don’t have a travel background, I also needed to be confident that the training and support would be excellent.”

Jane Parsons – previously worked in retail

“It’s been a retail life for me up to this point, starting with an amazing foundation at John Lewis, before an exhilarating time at Tate Modern, and finishing with Amnesty UK where I managed their brilliant bookshops. It’s fair to say that great customer service is at my heart! Although I loved it, a wistful look at travel roles was a regular occurrence - especially after a mid-career year spent backpacking. Could I combine my passion for travel with work? Finally, I found Travel Counsellors at a time that felt right to start on my own, and my dream journey has begun!

“Travel Counsellors offered me a route into travel that felt full of possibilities, where I would be able to bring all my experience and put it to good use. It’s a chance to flex my entrepreneurial muscles, while still being connected to others and being part of something bigger. It felt like a perfect fit.

"What cemented my decision was the reputation and culture. I researched a lot, but it was the personal interactions with other Travel Counsellors and the recruiters that sealed the deal – all totally supportive, generous, and warm. I simply wanted to join them.”

Sonia Dhillon – previously worked for a mortgage firm

“Before joining Travel Counsellors, I worked for a mortgage firm. Prior to that I worked as a probation officer - both very different roles! I decided to become a travel business owner because travel is my passion. I love researching holidays for myself and other people. Despite researching a number of travel firms, it was Travel Counsellors that caught my eye. I was attracted to Travel Counsellors because the business model is strong and there is a lot of support for new starters. I knew I would be supported throughout my journey - I could feel the support before I even started). Also, the training is comprehensive and I loved the ethos of the Travel Counsellors community.”

Is a career change on the cards for you? Whether you’re feeling undervalued in your current role, or simply want to turn your passion for travel into a career, our Travel Academy can help you to unleash your potential as a self-employed business owner. Sound exciting? We’ve got Discovery events happening over the next few months, so you can get a better understanding of our award-winning business model in a relaxed setting – including a very special event at our Annual Conference! Book your place over on our events page.