It comes after the company recently announced new shop leases for Heswall, Halifax, Torquay and Plymstock, all of which will open within the next two months.

The firm is also progressing with another four more openings, the locations of which are yet to be revealed.

The eight new stores will take Hays Travel’s total retail network to 144.

To coincide with its fast-paced growth, the business has launched the Retail Travel Academy programme, after seeing success with a similar scheme for homeworkers.

The eight-week programme is based in-branch, giving anyone without previous travel sales experience a chance to join the business as a travel consultant. In the two weeks since its launch, Hays told TTG that it had already confirmed five new agents in post.

Head of retail Paula Barrett said: “The scheme has been phenomenally successful so far and we have been inundated with applications.

“Our growth plans are going really well and the store which opened in the Metro Centre in Gateshead in February has exceeded our expectations.

“We are mainly focusing on the Leeds area and the south coast.”