In this episode we welcome Dame Irene Hays, a significant businesswoman in the region, former civil servant, and now Chair and owner of Hays Travel, the UK’s largest independent travel agency.
Dame Irene built a major career in public service, becoming Chief Executive of both South Tyneside Council and Sunderland City Council, before moving into senior Whitehall roles.
She has chaired Hays Travel since 2009 and, after leaving central government in 2012, joined John (husband and founder of Hays) more directly in running and growing the North East business into an international operation.
During this episode we discuss entrepreneurship, public service, resilience and loyalty. It asks why Hays Travel kept faith with face-to-face advice when the internet was supposed to kill the high street travel agent; how the company copes with constant shocks in global travel; and why nurturing talent and embracing technology is vital to innovation and success.
We also ask Dame Irene about her plans and hopes for the next chapter of the family-rooted North East business.
