Travel Consultant Apprenticeship (Level 3)
As a longstanding training partner to several leading travel companies, Damar worked with a group of Business Travel Association members to develop this apprenticeship.
Damar’s travel consultant apprentices develop the skills needed to take on highly responsible roles, providing outstanding customer service, and delivering a range of often complex travel arrangements, accommodation bookings and ancillary services which help to ensure their travellers benefit from journeys and time at their destination that is positive and aims to exceed their expectations.
Key facts
Usually travel consultants specialise in either ‘corporate’ or ‘leisure’ travel and travel apprenticeships are perfect for both parts of the sector. Either way, employers agree that their essential knowledge, skills and behaviours are transferable across the industry.
Discover how Clarity Business Travel are growing their business with apprenticeship training.
14 months (includes preparation for end-point assessment)
Travel apprenticeships formed of nine carefully planned and sequenced 6-week modules that help apprentices learn and apply the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for each of the core occupational duties undertaken by travel consultants.
- Module 1: personal development, geography
- Module 2: the customer, products and services, sales
- Module 3: the business, external factors, sustainability
- Module 4: travel options, transport & accommodation
- Module 5: legal & compliance, equality & diversity
- Module 6: interpersonal skills, communication, influencing skills
- Module 7: customer experience, feedback, team and personal performance
- Module 8: dealing with conflict and challenge, travel information
- Module 9: industry technology, industry practice
- Knowledge test. A 60-question multiple choice test, with both knowledge recall and scenario-based questions, covering knowledge and analytical and technical skills in key elements of the standard such as geography (55% weighting).
- Professional discussion. A 1- to 2-hour structured meeting led by the independent end assessor, involving the apprentice and employer (e.g. line manager). The meeting will reference the apprentice’s “My Journey” log and will focus on how they have performed during the apprenticeship and their overall achievement of the knowledge, skills and behaviours in the standard (45% weighting).
All travel apprenticeships embed the functional use of maths and English as well as personal development topics in areas such as equality and diversity and British Values. Apprentices unable to evidence maths and English at GCSE level 4 or above may need to take functional skills exams as part of the apprenticeship. Additional training is provided if necessary.
People of all ages and educational backgrounds can undertake travel apprenticeships, but there are some restrictions, the most important of which are:
- The employer and the training provider must ascertain that the apprenticeship will allow the individual to gain substantive new skills. The training therefore needs to be materially different from any prior qualification or previous apprenticeship.
- The apprenticeship must align with the skills needs of the apprentice’s role.
- The apprentice must be employed, usually for 30+ hours a week, and work more than 50% of their time in England.
- All apprenticeships must take at least 12 months with apprentices spending a minimum of 6 hours per week in off-the-job training. All Damar apprenticeships plan for more than the legal minimum. There is more on how we maximise the benefits of off-the-job training here: https://damartraining.com/news/2023/so-what-is-off-the-job-training/.
If your annual UK wage bill is over £3 million, the cost of training can be funded via the Apprenticeship Levy. We can help you navigate your Apprenticeship Service account to access this funding.
If your annual UK wage bill is below £3 million, the government covers 95-100% of the training costs.
For apprentices aged up to 21, the apprenticeship is fully government-funded*. For apprentices aged 22 and over, the apprenticeship is 95% government-funded*. These new funding rules are applicable to apprentices starting from 1 April 2024.
*Please note: Some apprenticeships have accreditation costs which are not eligible for government funding
Travel apprenticeships are a springboard for progression to more senior roles in the travel industry or positions outside travel that require high level customer service skills. Damar travel consultant apprentices have progressed to other apprenticeships, most commonly team leader or supervisor.
We have regular start dates throughout the year for our apprenticeships. Please get in touch for more information.
Employers: Make an enquiry to find out more about Damar's travel apprenticeships and how they can benefit your business
Our delivery model
- Pre-work: Usually, reading or video content relating to the module.
- Main learning: Self-directed, interactive content on our online learning platform.
- Individual learning activity: An activity brief will be provided for the apprentice as introduced in the group coaching session. The student will work through the activity brief, building their evidence to support the portfolio and end point assessment. Importantly, this final activity allows the apprentice to embed and contextualise their learning.
- 1:1 Coaching Visit: Every six weeks, where work completed, and feedback are reviewed and, if it is to the right standard, the module will be signed off. It is also an opportunity to review progress and discuss personal development with the apprentice.
- Review meeting: Takes place with the apprentice and their supervisor every 12 weeks, immediately after a coaching visit, providing a further opportunity to review progress.