A leisure giant which operates out of East Midlands and Birmingham Airport is getting ready to help the workforce of the future. TUI UK, one of the UK’s leading leisure travel firms, has announced that it is looking to take on 2,000 new apprentices by 2020.
The firm, in a bid to try to nurture new talent and offer quality qualifications, will be offering apprenticeships in a wide variety of roles, including new schemes to become an aircraft engineer, a digital expert and IT specialist.In an industry-defining move, the firm will also be offering a new apprenticeship scheme leading to becoming a pilot.
Planning ahead of the new Apprenticeship Levy, due to come into effect in April 2017, the Luton-based business is rolling out opportunities across its head office as well as its 600-strong retail estate across the UK.
Since 2000, more than 5,500 apprenticeships have been offered by Thomson and First Choice. Both brands will add to this strong heritage in the coming years, with candidates able to apply for industry-leading schemes in areas such as IT and engineering, with a strong emphasis placed on offering new apprentices the opportunity to rise through the ranks.
The company is also committing to develop a new kind of apprenticeship scheme for pilots, which will represent an industry first. Working with the Industry Skills Board, the new scheme will see changes to the funding system. As a result, becoming a pilot will be a more accessible career option for many.
Caroline Kitcher, HR director at TUI UK and Ireland, said: “Offering 2,000 more apprenticeships – adding to the 5,500 we have trained in the past 15 years – is testament to our commitment to providing fantastic careers in our growing business. Working for TUI can open up a world of opportunities and we pride ourselves on providing our people with quality training and development, and exciting career prospects both nationally and internationally.
“We’re a trailblazer for the industry. We’re proud to make an industry-first pledge to develop a pilot apprenticeship standard, using the new apprentice levy to change the training framework. This is in addition to an exciting scheme to train engineers and IT professionals in our new dedicated IT Academy. To work for TUI you need to have a passion for holidays, to want to work hard to deliver our customer promise – Discover Your Smile – and have a focus on providing unrivalled professionalism and service to our many customers. TUI can offer you an extraordinary career, one that will really take you places – quite literally!”
The move has been backed by those already benefiting from TUI’s apprenticeships programmes, and subsequent training and development. Kirstie Donnelly, managing director of City and Guilds, said: “TUI UK and Ireland demonstrates just how engaged an employer can be in apprenticeships and skills development.
“It recognises them as a natural mechanism to develop the talent it needs to remain as an industry leader, as well as investing for the future. In a period of uncertainty, before Government provides more clarity around apprenticeship policy reforms and the levy, it shows real commitment that TUI is pressing ahead with its apprenticeship plans because it’s the right thing to do.
“The company is maintaining momentum but, importantly, maintaining it with a total focus on quality first. Whether it is a career to train as a pilot, or as a customer adviser to provide the excellent service on booking the right holiday, TUI recognises that good quality entry training programmes, through to apprenticeships and higher-level technical careers training, are essential for it to compete.”
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