A NORTH West travel agency have launched an apprentice drive to find 20 new employees.

Hays Travel is looking for the next generation of travel industry 'high fliers' for their high street stores in Birkenhead, Moreton, Prenton, Wallasey, West Kirby, Heswall and Bebington.

The firm's bosses started the scheme three years ago and are now looking for a new wave of apprentices.

Hays Travel Birkenhead manager Natalie Price started off as an apprentice in the industry, she said: “It’s a terrific scheme for a young person to get involved in because it is tailor made with all they are going to need to succeed in their new career.

“Right from the word go, they are dealing directly with the customers, learning new skills and it’s great to watch their confidence grow in a relatively short space of time.

“I enjoy seeing and helping to support their personal development and as a former apprentice myself, I really can’t recommend it enough to a young person who has an interest in a travel career.”

Potential apprentices do not need any previous experience in the travel industry.

Morgan Needham, 18, started as an apprentice in Hays Birkenhead store, she said: “I am really enjoying it and being able to learn on the job has been brilliant for me.

“The way it is all set up means you feel you have a lot of support around you which when you are first starting out in work is really important. I don’t feel under lots of pressure all the time or feel thrown in at the deep end. I know there is always someone there, much more experienced than me, who I can turn to if I am not sure of something.

“I’ve grown in confidence as a person since I started with Hays Travel.”

Applicants will need to fill in an application form and will be called forward for a one-to-one interview before a final decision is made.

Retail director for Hays Travel North West Lindsey Barber said: “We are keen to support a new wave of young people from the areas local to our branches and help them set off on a new and exciting travel career path.

“Seeing young people, from the communities we serve, flourish in our business and go from scratch to management positions within the stores has been very rewarding both personally and for the business.

"We are excited to welcome a new wave of candidates passionate about a career in travel.

“I started in the industry myself as an apprentice aged 16 and it is a fantastic career.

“It would be a great opportunity for a young person with an interest in travel because you do have to have an enthusiasm for the industry in order to be successful with us.

“It has the potential to provide a guaranteed job and career with great prospects and they will also get the chance to travel to different countries.

“It is important to the personalised service we provide that our teams have first-hand knowledge of many of the holidays we offer so they can help our customers find the right holiday.

“Our apprentices are no exception and so there will be opportunities for them to explore the world.”

For more information about apprenticeship opportunities call 0800 2155 045 or visit www.haystravel.co.uk/careers