Holidaysplease offers start-up loans to homeworking teams

Holidaysplease is offering start-up loans to experienced agents interested in working from home.

The agency is expanding its homeworking division and is looking to attract experienced agents and travel call centre staff who are attracted to homeworking but want to stay in a team rather than work individually, as well as existing and experienced managers or team leaders who want to develop their own homeworking team.

Richard Dixon, director of Holidaysplease, said: “Over the years we have had homeworkers expand their homeworking business onto the high street or into a call centre environment, so we know that the way we work and the systems we provide work well for expanding teams.

More: Holidaysplease reports record Q1 as clients prioritise trips

“We know that there are initial costs to cover when setting up a retail agency or office environment so we will be offering start-up loans where needed to the ambitious people we are looking to work with to help them get off the ground.

“We have also taken on people in the past who are downsizing their retail travel business from the high street and want to retain their best clients whilst also taking advantage of the opportunity of the free upmarket long-haul orientated leads that we generate for our homeworkers via our successful online marketing campaigns to expand their client base.”

Holidaysplease is initially looking to develop up to five homeworking teams, which can be formed of two people or more.

Dixon said: “A couple of go-getting colleagues may initially start together to build momentum then push on to build their own homeworking team. There really is no upper limit.

“The right people will have the opportunity and all the support needed to take their business as far as they want to.”

Alternatively, agents can develop their own travel brand within the company.

Dixon said: “We now have approaching 50 franchise partners at the Holiday Franchise Company, some of whom already operate in pairs or small teams so again, we know that our platforms and structures work perfectly for people wanting to build a serious online travel business with us.”

Last year, Holidaysplease offered to help struggling travel agencies by giving them the opportunity to ‘lend’ their staff to the firm to avoid them being made redundant and leaving the industry.