Damar and Clarity celebrate first successes for travel consultant apprentices

Clarity Travel was one of the first employers in the country to recruit apprentices on to the new Travel Consultant Apprenticeship Standard as part of their Brighter Beginnings programme.

Damar and Clarity were both heavily involved in the creation of the apprenticeship standard and Damar now partners with many of the sector’s leading employers and key industry bodies including ABTA and the GTMC.

The apprenticeship helps travel firms to develop the skills of new and existing staff. It builds individuals’ knowledge across a range of areas including sustainability, geography, different travel products and relevant law and regulation. Importantly, it also develops the customer service and relationship building skills so that business and leisure travelers receive a great service.

Clarity are now celebrating the success of the programme, with ten of Clarity’s apprentices having now completed their Travel Consultant Apprenticeship, some of the first in the country to do so. Nine have secured a merit, with one, Megan Hearn, achieving a distinction. A further two apprentices are due to complete over the coming weeks.

The future looks bright, with Clarity planning to recruit a further 8 apprentices to start this year onto the Brighter Beginnings programme. They continue to develop their offering – the next group will benefit from an enhanced educational trip as part of the apprenticeship and both Clarity and Damar are committed to providing the best possible learning and working experience for their next generation of travel consultants.

Pat McDonagh, CEO of Clarity said:

“At Clarity, we are passionate about developing new and young talent and being directly involved in shaping the bright stars who will make up the future of our industry. To be the first travel management company to embrace the programme shows our commitment to developing and mentoring staff who will one day lead the next generation. We are already reaping rewards in terms of the calibre of people we’re bringing in to our organisation.”

Neil Wainwright-Farrar, Clarity Learning & Development Manager commented:

“It is fantastic that our Brighter Beginnings Apprenticeship programme has huge recognition both internally and externally across our competitors. To be one of the first travel employers to have apprentices successfully complete the new Travel Consultant Apprentices is a great credit to the learners, Damar and Clarity.”

Jonathan Bourne, managing director of Damar Training said:

“We are delighted by the success of the Clarity programme. Seeing the first apprentice travel consultants now successfully completing and embarking on their careers in an exciting and important sector for our economy shows the difference that apprenticeships can make to individuals. The fact that Clarity are recruiting again this year underscores the value of the travel consultant apprenticeship to business.”

Jeanie Logan, the apprentices’ Damar trainer commented:

“It has been amazing to work with the apprentices and see them grow from school leavers entering the world of work for the first time to fully-fledged business travel consultants, all with permanent roles within Clarity. They have all worked incredibly hard and their success is testament to their dedication.”