Career progression, unrivalled benefits and international opportunities among selling points for over 120 positions
Leyland-based dnata Travel Group (UK), owner of Travel Republic, Travelbag, Netflights, Sunmaster and the UK’s largest trade-only tour operator Gold Medal, has announced a major recruitment drive as it seeks to fill more than 120 positions currently available across its UK business.
The company is seeking to attract new talent across its UK business and particularly around its key employment centres of Leyland in Lancashire, and Kingston-upon-Thames in Surrey. Opportunities are also available at its other hubs located at Chester and across its network of Travelbag high street travel store, as well as hybrid and home working positions. Roles are being promoted through local radio advertising campaigns and through dnata Travel Group’s, and its brands’, own social media channels.
The vacancies are for a wide variety of roles that support many of the company’s core brands, and cover positions in all the Group’s major shared services functions from marketing, finance and IT, through to customer service and contact centre roles. They will supplement nearly 160 roles already filled since the start of the year as the company responds to increasing demand for its range of travel products and services.
Ailsa Pollard, Chief Executive Officer – UK & Europe, dnata Travel Group (UK), said: “Like many travel companies, we’re seeing demand for our holidays pick up. This means we need to increase the size of our team – especially in the critical customer service and sales areas – to ensure we’re able to maximise that interest. This is our biggest single recruitment push ever, and we want to fill as many of the available roles as quickly as we can with energetic people who share our own passion for travel, and our vision to reconnect a better world.
“The pandemic was a tough time for the travel industry, and like many other businesses we had to make difficult decisions. But for us now, it’s all about building for the future. With travel experiencing a strong period of recovery, we are keen to attract new talent to join our team of over 800 people to help us drive forward our ambitious growth plans. As part of a global business we can offer anyone who joins our team unique career pathways that span multiple locations around the world, plenty of opportunities for professional progression, and learning and development programmes to enhance their skills.”
Pollard added that as part of its recruitment efforts, the company has bolstered its already comprehensive package of employee benefits. These include discounted holidays from a vast range of options and a number of salary sacrifice schemes including ‘cycle to work’ and ‘give as you earn’ initiatives, and, as travel reopens, opportunities for educational trips overseas.
The company is also developing enhanced Graduate and Apprenticeship schemes, offering candidates the opportunity to enjoy successful and structured career development progression within dnata Travel Group (UK).
She continued: “We have a strong history and heritage in the UK travel industry and an excellent reputation of being an employee-centric business. Nearly half of our existing employees have been with us for more than five years. We can offer those that join us great career personal development, and the opportunity to work in a fast-paced, exciting and thriving culture.”
Mary Wilson, dnata Travel Group (UK) Chief People Officer, added: “We’re offering job seekers an opportunity to embark on an exciting career path in a diverse organisation that is a leader in what is a fast-changing and exciting industry. There are so many opportunities for growth and development within our business, and because we operate as part of a large international organisation, there are also career opportunities to work in other territories.
“We believe the benefits and opportunities we offer to be unrivalled in the travel industry, and any talented, enthusiastic and passionate individuals considering a career in a sector that’s as fun and fulfilling as travel should think of dnata Travel Group first. We look forward to helping them realise their potential as they help us achieve our ambitions.”
The company is actively advertising the available roles and open days at their key employment centres are due to take place over the coming weeks to showcase its business to potential candidates.
Hybrid working is also actively promoted throughout the business allowing employees the opportunity to benefit from of a blended mix of home and office-based working.
