Thomson and First Choice Pioneer NVQ Qualification for Overseas Holiday Advisors

TUI UK & Ireland, parent company of Thomson and First Choice Holidays, becomes the first tour operator to introduce NVQ Level 2 Diploma in Tour Operations to its 800 overseas holiday advisor roles.

The ground-breaking programme has been tailored to the needs of the tour operator, and has been certificated by City & Guilds, so both managers and holiday advisors will gain professional qualifications whilst driving even higher standards in holiday experience. Based on UK National Occupational Standards, this pioneering work-based qualification will differentiate the tour operator’s people and service from its competitors and will ensure that its customers continue to receive industry leading standards of service.

Resort team managers are being trained to become professional assessors and will be awarded the Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement.

Overseas holiday advisors will have ownership and responsibility for their own targets and objectives, and will be assessed against national standards, with topics including customer service and presentation, effectiveness at work, health & safety, planning and delivering welcome events, sales and transfers. The initiative will enable the tour operator to roll out further additional qualifications tailored to meet the personal development needs of overseas teams.

Ian Chapman, director of holiday experience commented: "This pioneering NVQ scheme demonstrates our commitment to offering the highest standards of customer service. It's an exciting way for our team members to gain a credible qualification in the workplace, and not only ensures that they are trained to the highest level, but also means that we can continue to attract, develop and retain the highest calibre of overseas holiday advisors in the industry."

In addition TUI UK will continue to offer its childcare team the "Certificate for the Children & Young People's Workforce" apprenticeship which was successfully introduced in 2010.

About TUI UK:
TUI Travel PLC is the UK's leading leisure travel company. Under the names Thomson and First Choice, TUI specialises in sunshine holidays, package holidays, family holidays and beach holidays.

Customers expect the travel companies they deal with to have the highest standards of business practice and accountability. First Choice is registered with the Association of British Travel Agent (ABTA), fully bonded by the Civil Aviation Authority under Air Travel Organisers' Licence (ATOL) and part of the Federation of Tour Operators.

PR contact:
Grace Jones
TUI UK Ltd,
Wigmore House
Wigmore Lane
Luton
LU2 9TN
01582 648725
www.thomson.co.uk