One year on: how life has changed for Academy Travel Counsellor, Jamie Evans

After more than 20 years in financial services, Jamie Evans had reached a crossroads. “It was a lot more boring, if I’m honest,” he laughs now. But at the time, he felt something deeper: a craving for more purpose, more freedom, and more joy in his work.

In 2025, Jamie made the leap - leaving behind investment banking to become a Travel Counsellor. And it turns out to have been one of the best decisions he’s ever made.

A new career - a new sense of purpose

For Jamie, no two days look the same. And that’s exactly what he loves. “Every day is exciting. There are ups and downs, but the downs only happen because you care so much. And the ups? They’re your wins. They feel amazing.”

One of those wins came from an unexpected place. An ex-colleague reached out after seeing one of Jamie’s social posts. What started as a catch-up quickly turned into the opportunity to create something unforgettable.

Jamie arranged a four-month, round-the-world itinerary for him and his wife, taking in Australia, New Zealand, French Polynesia, Hawaii, Fiji, and more.

“I just think I made them so happy,” Jamie says. “Because he was an old friend, it meant the world. I was beaming with pride, particularly as he’d had to put off his plans to travel when he retired, firstly due to the pandemic and then due to a bout of ill health for his wife.”

Moments like these remind him why he switched careers in the first place: to make a real difference in people’s lives.

From fear to confidence – building a business from scratch

Coming from a completely different industry, Jamie admits that finding clients was his biggest fear.

“People knew me as ‘the guy who’s always on holiday’, but trusting me with their holiday was a different story. I worried about that.”

But those fears didn’t last long. His track record of being trusted in the corporate world carried over. People took a chance on him, and it paid off.

One year in, Jamie has a steady stream of clients, solid repeat business, and regular referrals.

“I’d set myself a 2–3 year timeline to make it a success. Now, a year in, I’m well on track.”

His top advice for new starters? Relax.

“Everyone in my Academy group was the same: expecting everything to happen quickly. But once you accept that it takes time to learn and settle in, everything changes.”

Becoming a dad and enjoying a completely new way of living

Just as Jamie was building his new business, life handed him another big moment: becoming a dad for the first time.

In his old corporate world, days stretched from 7am to 7pm, leaving little room to be present. But as a Travel Counsellor, things look different.

“I’ve been able to be so much more involved in his early weeks and months. If I want to finish early one day, that’s OK. If I want to take a holiday, I can. It’s empowered me to live the life I want so long as my customers are looked after.”

A support system that makes all the difference

Starting a business can be daunting, but Jamie never felt alone. From his Academy training team who still check in regularly, to webinars, national training events and on-demand support, there’s always been someone to offer a helping hand.

“Everything about the support has been fantastic. I’m delighted I chose Travel Counsellors over other franchise companies.”

As someone who transitioned from banking to travel, that reassurance mattered. “Just knowing someone’s there at the end of the phone or live chat, gives you the confidence to go for it.”

Jamie’s advice to anyone who wants to follow in his footsteps

Jamie encourages prospective Travel Counsellors to prepare themselves realistically and honestly.

“You’re not going to win every booking and you will have slow days (or even weeks). You need to think it all through. But it is absolutely worth doing.”

So, one year in, how would Jamie sum up his Travel Counsellors journey? “It’s been a rollercoaster ride, but I’ve loved every minute of it.”

Could 2026 be the year that changes everything for you?

Jamie’s story is proof that whatever your background, a new direction is possible. If you’re yearning for more purpose, more freedom, more joy, and a life you can truly shape on your own terms, Travel Counsellors could make 2026 your year. Take the first step by booking onto one of our relaxed Discovery events.