Advantage Travel Partnership is hosting two webinars this week to provide advice to Baldwins staff looking to set up their own agencies.
The sessions – being hosted by the Advantage business development team – were set up following news that receivers have been appointed for Baldwins.
Baldwins was a member of Advantage until last month, but it opted not to renew its membership after being expelled from ABTA and losing its IATA accreditation.
A spokesperson for Advantage said a ‘small number’ of agents have signed up for the 45-minute webinars, taking place from 10.30am on Wednesday and Friday, during which they can learn about the various options available from the consortium.
The spokesperson said ‘lots’ of Baldwins staff, which has 11 branches, had already found new roles, or are in discussions for new positions.
Three former Baldwins employees have joined Off Broadway Travel and owner Tricia Conroy Smith said in LinkedIn post that they would be ‘thrilled’ to welcome more.
Advantage Head of Business Development David Moon said: “Clearly it would great to see all those impacted get new roles and move on with their careers. From our point of view, we are keen to talk to any of the team about the options available to them if they are looking to set up their own travel businesses, and that’s the aim of the webinar sessions.”
Kent-based Chris Scoble (pictured above), who owns a travel agency near one of Baldwins’ stores in Tunbridge Wells, is one of several in the travel industry also keen to offer at least one member of staff a new role. Describing them as ‘amazing’ and ‘loyal’, Chris, of Go Scoble, said he would like to discuss opportunities with them.
Chris said Baldwins staff have continued to give customers holiday advice since the agency lost its ABTA membership, but he said they haven’t been taking bookings. “Three or four of those customers have come to me and, in truth, I’d like more to come to me if there’s no chance of Baldwins being rescued,” he said.
“I feel really sorry for Baldwins’ staff, we all go to the same functions locally, and I know they are loyal, but opportunity arises out of bad things and, if I am brutally honest, I’d like those agents who have a contacts list. Baldwins’ customers are going to be looking for somewhere else to book and, in truth, I want them to come here, because I’m a businessman.
“I can’t take a lot of staff, I’ve only got a very small store, but I am keen to hire someone who wants to carry on in travel in this town.”
Mark Smith of leisure and business travel agency Simplexity Travel said he was also keen to talk to Baldwins staff with a view to them relocating.
