- Thomas Cook achieves an outstanding grade in every area assessed by Ofsted
- Travel company recognised as leading the way in Apprenticeship Programmes
- The Apprenticeship Programme has an incredible 94% pass rate*
Thomas Cook has achieved an outstanding grade in all areas, in a recent Ofsted inspection of its UK Retail Apprenticeship Programme. This unprecedented result in travel puts the company at the forefront of UK businesses who have been recognised for exceptionally successful Apprenticeship Programmes.
Ofsted awarded Thomas Cook outstanding grades in all areas of assessment, including outcomes for learners, quality of teaching, learning and assessment and effectiveness of leadership and management. The results will now be featured by Ofsted on their website as an example of best practice in managing and delivering an Apprenticeship Programme.
The Retail Apprenticeship Programme was brought in-house by the Learning and Development team in 2011. It’s now firmly embedded in the Thomas Cook retail network and is seen as a key talent initiative. Each year, more than 300 Apprentices are introduced into the business. They complete a two-year programme, which includes an NVQ Diploma in Travel Services, a Technical Certificate in Travel Geography and Functional Skills in Maths and English.
Apprentices work alongside their colleagues in store, learning about all aspects of a Sales Consultant role in a retail environment. Their work is assessed by an internal team of Assessors, many of whom have completed an Apprenticeship themselves or have previously worked for the business.
In 2014, Thomas Cook‘s Apprentices achieved an unprecedented 94% pass rate, exceeding external standards by 24%. On completion of their programme, Apprentices become fully qualified Sales Consultants and many of them progress their career within the company.
Pat du Pille, Learning & Development Manager, Funded Programmes at Thomas Cook said, “We are over the moon about achieving an outstanding Ofsted grade. It’s fantastic recognition of the Learning and Development Team’s dedication to the programme and towards developing future talent within our business.
Our Apprenticeship Programme is a perfect example of providing brilliant career opportunities for young people and we’re opening doors to a hugely exciting industry. There’s enough variation within the business for Apprentices to fill their entire career if they so choose. The results highlight the incredible success of the Apprentices, their Mentors and their Managers. Thomas Cook is committed to growing its own talent and attracting enthusiastic, passionate young people into the business.”
Emily Gibbard, Regional Business Manager for the Thames Valley and South London region, joined Thomas Cook as an Apprentice 20 years ago and she now manages 30 stores. “After joining the Thomas Cook Apprenticeship Programme, I progressed to a Customer Service Manager role. By the age of 20, I was a Store Manager and a Regional Business Manager at 25,” says Emily. “The Programme serves as an excellent springboard into the workplace and I’m so grateful for all of the opportunities that have been offered to me as a result of it. Now, I love helping current Apprentices get their foot in the door and seeing their careers take off in the travel industry.”
This year, Thomas Cook hopes to recruit 350 new apprentices into its retail network. The Apprenticeship Programme is also expanding into other areas of the business, including the Contact Centre, e-commerce, Finance and HR. Interested applicants can visit www.careers.thomascook.com for more information.
*based on 2014 figures
