Registration for our Academy Scholarship programme is now open!

Here at Travel Counsellors, we’re committed to bringing the best and brightest young talent into the travel industry. That’s why we’re delighted to announce the launch of our latest Academy scholarship programme, which will give up to 20 young aspiring entrepreneurs the opportunity to join our Travel Academy – worth a total investment of £100,000!

Through the programme, which is now in its third successful year, we’ll be providing a pathway into the sector and equipping young talent with the skills, insights, and support needed to kickstart their own travel business.

To be in for a chance of winning a place, applicants will need to submit a business plan to our recruitment team. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to our Support Hub in Manchester for the chance to pitch their business ideas in front of a panel of industry experts, where they can showcase the vision for their travel business.

Scholarship winners will win a place on our industry-leading Travel Academy, featuring a six-month ITT-accredited training and onboarding programme, 10 days of virtual classroom learning plus ongoing training, a personal mentor (of which there are over 175), memberships with both the ITT (Institute of Travel & Tourism) and CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association), and access to Travel Counsellors’ digital platform, Phenix, along with support from a global community of over 2,100 travel professionals.

Penny Cartledge launched her business through our most recent Academy scholarship programme, so we caught up with her to learn more about her experience:

“The programme allowed me to dive into the travel industry with confidence, backed by incredible training, mentorship, and the support of a global community. I went from having little industry experience to launching my own travel business with sales already coming through after just three months. The Academy not only gave me the skills I needed, but also a community that champions my success every step of the way."

Matt Harding, our Director of Franchise Sales, shared his passion for the scheme: “It’s exciting to launch our Travel Counsellors Academy Scholarship programme this year, aimed at empowering the right young, ambitious entrepreneurs who want to establish their own travel businesses. We’re dedicated to encouraging the next generation of business owners who have a real passion, providing strong career guidance, and helping them realise their potential - we know the impact this can have, having already witnessed the positive impact of this support through the successes of previous winners. We look forward to reviewing applicants’ business ideas and welcoming new emerging talent to our community."

An incredible 300 Travel Counsellors have launched their business with no prior travel background or experience – including 10% of our top-performing ‘Gold’ business owners. So, if you’re a young entrepreneur with the passion and ambition to build a successful business that you’re passionate about, we’d love to hear from you – no matter what your background is.

Applications are now open – click here to find out more.