Travel Counsellors begins staff consultation with 100 jobs at risk

Wednesday, 11 Sep, 2020 0

Travel Counsellors is to cut a third of its head office workforce as it looks to reduce costs.

The home working company has begun consultation with 100 back office staff despite ‘green shoots’ of recovery in the business.

Chief Executive Steve Byrne said the looming end of the Job Retention Scheme had forced the firm to take action.

"As with many other businesses we have been able to take advantage of the Job Retention Scheme to keep a number of our valued support team colleagues within the company whilst we navigated unchartered waters," he said. "And whilst we are seeing green shoots and the business is in a strong position to adapt and emerge quickly from this, the ongoing uncertainty in the industry means we have had to look carefully at our costs and identify ways in which we can streamline our structure to support our future.

"As we move beyond the support of the Job Retention Scheme, we have taken the extremely difficult decision to begin the consultation process with a number of our employees, placing just over 100 back office roles in our Manchester based support centre at risk."

Byrne said the company undersood the ‘profound impact this will have on our people, which is of no fault of their own’.

"We are 100% dedicated to supporting them by putting every measure we can in place to help these talented people make the right transition for them, and exploring all options to keep as many within the business as possible," he said.

Travel Counsellors said a ‘wellness’ programme has been created for affected employees.

Staying in the business as a travel agent was among the possibilities being explored, it added.

Byrne stressed the cuts would not impact the service levels to consultants.

"We entered this situation in a really strong position with consecutive year on year growth and sales up by 15% in the four months prior to the pandemic, but of course, we are not immune to the current situation," Byrne added.

"We are confident these changes will support the long-term future of the company as part of a wider package of measures in place to guarantee we are well capitalised to grow."