Midcounties Co-operative Travel mentors students
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More than 40 Walsall College Travel and Tourism students have complemented their studies by successfully completing customer services and sales training with Midcounties Co-operative Travel, the largest independent travel agent in the UK.
The students attended the two-day training at the Holiday Inn in Walsall. Topics covered included communicating with customers, body language, building and managing relationships and converting an enquiry into a sale. The course also involved students taking part in role-play scenarios based on various customer interactions.
The BTEC Level 2 & 3 Travel and Tourism students have now been invited to complete work experience placements at the firm’s branches across the region and put their training into practice.
David Higgins, curriculum manager for Hospitality, Travel and Tourism, said: “Whichever career direction students decide to take in the travel and tourism industry, customer service and sales skills are fundamental requirements in the sector. This training was a fantastic opportunity for students to see how these skills are employed in reality in the industry.”
Nichola Hodgkins, colleague knowledge and skills manager at Midcounties Co-operative Travel commented: “We are delighted that the students were able to join us during the Customer Journey training programme. It was amazing to see how the students and Midcounties Co-operative Travel colleagues interacted with each other and were able to share this fantastic experience.”
The travel agency will now put the students through competency-based interviews to help them develop their interview techniques and employability skills.
Level 3 Travel and Tourism student, Harwinder Mann, 17, said: “I really enjoyed the training and found it an interesting insight into the company and how it operates. I’m looking forward to doing my work placement at the agency and I feel a lot more confident after the training.”
Picture caption: Emma Harwood, Assistant Branch Manager at Co-operative Travel in Walsall with Travel and Tourism Students from Walsall College
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