The initiative allows agents to apply for funding to recruit, develop and retain talent through apprenticeship training to support their growth.

Since launching Appoint an Apprentice in 2023, Jet2holidays has committed more than £3 million in levy funding. Jet2 said the £1.5 million set aside for this year, its largest-ever pledge, will allow it to support even more agents over the coming year.

In addition to financial support, Jet2 will continue to work closely with agents to provide mentorship, guidance and support to help maximise the impact of apprenticeship programmes.

Last year, Jet2 introduced development activity, including a Destination Discovery fam trip for travel consultant apprentices and a dedicated career development webinar with the aim of helping apprentices better understand how the programme converts into long-term career progression.

Jet2 said this strengthened engagement and completion rates among agent apprentices, and ensure better overall return on investment for agents taking on apprentices.

'It's made me stronger and more self-aware'

North East miniple Now Lets Travel has recruited ten apprentices thanks for funding from Jet2, including Georgia Wilson, who was promoted to the role of team leader at Now Lets Travel Newcastle in January.

"The apprenticeship has really opened my eyes to a lot of things I had not come across before," she said. "It has changed how I work with my team, as I have realised everyone has different strengths and their own way of doing things, so I have had to adapt my approach.

"I feel like it has already made me a stronger and more self-aware leader, and I am looking forward to seeing what else I can learn by the end of the year. It has helped me build skills I actually use day-to-day, things like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management. I am learning things that are directly relevant to my job, which makes it feel more useful and engaging."

'Maximising positive impact for agents'

Alan Cross, Jet2 Director of Travel Agent Relationships, said: “Feedback from the recipients of the Appoint an Apprentice scheme has been extremely positive, so we are delighted to be introducing it for a fourth year and pledging our largest investment to date.

"We are always looking at ways to invest into our independent travel agent partners to help them strengthen and grow their businesses, and the substantial contribution we are making this year demonstrates our commitment to the scheme and our continued support.

"By expanding our offering, we can help even more partners and maximise the positive impact we are having on these organisations. We look forward to working with even more independent travel agent partners and playing a part in their success."

Available apprenticeship schemes include: Travel Consultant (Level 3); Content Creator (Level 3); Multi-Channel Marketing (Level 3); Marketing Executive (Level 4); Customer Service Specialist (Level 3); Business Administrator (Level 3); and Sales Executive (Level 4).