Member Article

Sky’s the limit for Dawson & Sanderson apprentices

NORTH-EAST travel agency Dawson & Sanderson has demonstrated its commitment to young people by being named one of the region’s best apprenticeship providers.

The Newcastle-based agency won the Apprenticeship Award at the prestigious North East Business Awards held in the city earlier this month.

In the past four years, Dawson & Sanderson has developed 20 young people as apprentices, almost all of whom have secured full-time roles within the business.

A further six are due to complete their training this year while an additional eight recruits have joined this year’s apprenticeship programme.

Chris Harrison, Managing Director of Dawson & Sanderson, said: “We have always believed in helping young people secure opportunities in their chosen career path and apprenticeships are a great way to do that.

“We are a North East company and are committed to investing in young talent. Many of our staff started as apprentices and have progressed through the business often into senior positions.

“To be recognised as one of the region’s best apprenticeship providers is a fantastic endorsement of our programme. All our apprentices have given so much back in terms of their enthusiasm and add value to the branches on so many levels. The fact that we have increased turnover since we introduced our apprenticeship programme in 2011, bears that out.”

Dawson & Sanderson’s apprentices are based across the company’s 21 branches while completing a two-year programme, delivered by Key Training. They learn skills such as customer services, booking procedures and travel legislation while being mentored by previous apprentices who have now secured full-time positions with the firm.

On completion of the apprenticeship, the students graduate as full-time travel consultants with a Level Two Diploma in Travel and Tourism.

Former apprentice Elle Whalley is one of Dawson & Sanderson’s best sales agents for cruises and was runner up in the national Wave Awards for cruise specialists.

She said: “When I left school I wasn’t sure what to do, but then I saw the opportunity to do an apprenticeship with Dawson & Sanderson and I’ve never looked back. The apprenticeship really suited my personality, it was hands on and it involved working with people which is what I enjoy most.

“I enjoy being a travel consultant and I have progressed in all aspects of my job – that would not have been possible without the support and guidance of Dawson & Sanderson and its apprenticeship programme.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jonathan Ward .