Start your career

Take your First Step

Find out where to start your journey in travel with our guide to different routes into the industry, from further education to on-the-job training

There are many ways to get your foot on the first rung of the travel industry ladder – just as there are many sectors you can choose to focus on. If you’re keen to kick-start a career in travel, the route you take will depend on how you like to learn and what you plan to do next.

Apprenticeships

“Apprenticeships are a great way to enter the travel industry,” says Michelle Van Sprang, director at AS Training. “They provide the opportunity to earn while you learn through structured training and development, gaining first-hand knowledge from industry leaders and professionals.”

Ranging from Level 2 (intermediate) to Level 7 (master’s degree equivalent), apprenticeships span a range of sectors and offer the national minimum wage (currently £6.40 for those in their first year) plus at least 20 days’ paid holiday annually.

Apprenticeships are available to people of any age, making it a great way either to start your journey or change career direction and continue to earn.

With a traditional apprenticeship, you’ll typically spend one or two days a week studying in college or with a training provider, and at least 20% of your time learning alongside professionals within different companies. You’ll gain valuable experience for your CV and make a range of contacts that can lead to job opportunities.

On-the-job apprenticeships are conducted entirely within one organisation, such as Tui, Hays Travel or Jet2holidays, which have recently added extra apprenticeship funding to help develop the next generation of talent in travel. You’ll get training and work experience exclusively from one company, which provides both a learning environment and practical work experience.

University degrees

Studying travel and tourism at university offers in-depth knowledge of the industry, from consumer trends to destination management,” says Dr Peter Robinson, head of events, tourism and hospitality management at Leeds Beckett University.

“Degrees in this field cover a broad range of business skills, including marketing, finance, operations and strategy, equipping students to thrive in a breadth of roles and leadership positions within the industry.”

The array of travel and tourism degrees is wider than ever, with courses such as international hospitality management, aviation management and business travel or events-focused qualifications, through to growth areas such as sustainable tourism.

Many courses emphasise on-the-job training with a work placement or sandwich year, allowing students to gain first-hand industry experience either in their local area or abroad.

College courses

College courses are a bridge between school and the workplace, with Level 3 travel and tourism programmes providing students with a solid foundation in the field that brings together classroom lessons with hands-on experience through industry connections and internships.

These qualifications are undergoing change, following government plans to scrap funding for Level 3 courses in England. The Tourism Education and Skills Working Group has therefore introduced Technical Occupational Qualifications (TOQs), primarily aimed at 16 to 19-year-olds, which are set to replace existing provision from September 2026.

TOQs will be equivalent to three A-levels or the new T Level, with the same number of Ucas points, and have been developed in consultation with the travel industry.

David Rowley, product manager at national awarding organisation NCFE, says: “The aim is to bring more focus to skills, but to keep as much breadth as possible.”

The qualifications will have more emphasis on sustainability and understanding social media and artificial intelligence, plus a renewed focus on the aviation industry’s specific needs.

“A bespoke course will provide training for students interested in becoming ground or cabin crew, but also contain content appealing to aspiring pilots, including flight operations.

Apprenticeship

My advice…

“Do lots of research – the travel industry is made up of more than just operational roles and there is something to suit everyone’s skills.”

CERYS GLYNN completed an 18-month in-house apprenticeship at Jet2.com and is now a full-time emerging talent and careers administrator.

“My apprenticeship journey began after finishing high school, when I realised that university wasn’t the route I wanted to take. I started to explore options that meant I could continue to develop academically while starting my career.

The apprenticeship opportunities at Jet2.com and Jet2holidays stood out to me, as I had always travelled with Jet2, so I was already aware of its reputation.

“As an individual who loves working within a fast-paced environment, a career in travel seemed perfect. As an apprentice, I experienced a variety of opportunities, from visiting our training centre and doing a ‘jump seat’ flight – shadowing the air crew to learn more about their duties – to development opportunities like presenting to our directors and taking part in apprentice sessions.”

College

My advice…

“The travel and tourism industry is definitely not only about becoming a cabin crew member. There is so much more to l earn about the world and the people around you.”

ISABELLA RANWELL ZANCHETTIN completed a Level 3 extended diploma in travel and tourism from Birmingham Metropolitan College (BMet) this year and works as a golf retail shop assistant at The Belfry Hotel & Resort in Sutton Coldfield.

“After trying the sixth form route, I realised it wasn’t the right path for me. I checked out a few colleges in my area and Sutton Coldfield College [part of BMet] seemed like the right fit.

During my course, I got to visit Manchester airport and the Black Country Living Museum, and won a Global Travel & Tourism Partnership competition trip to Dubai. I also created and hosted a ‘Travelicious’ food-tasting event, alongside my classmates.

During the two-year course, I believed that the travel and tourism industry was for me, but wasn’t sure what specific route to take. In March 2024, we did work experience at The Belfry Hotel & Resort, which our lecturer organised for us as part of the course.

From that, I got a position in the golf retail shop. I am also looking to do a management course within The Belfry, with the hope of getting into events, conferences and wedding planning in future. I love working at The Belfry as I meet so many new people from different countries every day.”

University

My advice…

“I never thought my educational pathway would involve university, but it gave me so many fantastic opportunities to meet and liaise with industry leaders.”

JOSHUA WILSON studied international travel and tourism management at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, graduating in 2023 after a placement in cruise to take on a role with Celebrity Cruises. He now works as a travel consultant for Hays Travel in Belfast.

“I chose the university route as my goal was to gain a deeper understanding of the industry. The programme I followed not only focused on academic theory but also gave me plenty of hands-on experience in travel and tourism.

At the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, I had the opportunity to truly make the world my classroom, travelling to incredible places like the US and Switzerland as part of my course. Seeing how vibrant and diverse this industry is made me excited to pursue a career in it.

“One of the highlights was working with Celebrity Cruises. I was part of the start-up crew for the launch of the Celebrity Ascent ship in 2023. I got to witness it being built from the ground up and worked right through to welcoming our first guests in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

“I’ve also been active outside my studies. I was a member of the Institute of Hospitality, attending various networking events across the UK, and I had the honour of serving as the chair of the student committee at my university.

From working at major events such as The Open golf championship to being involved with the newest Celebrity cruise ship, I feel fortunate to be part of such an exciting industry.”

Internship

My advice…

“Dive in wholeheartedly. Embrace every opportunity to learn, network and explore. Travel is an industry like no other, brimming with excitement and endless possibilities.”

TIA GHAI graduated from the University of Birmingham with a degree in modern languages, which she followed with a master’s in international hospitality management. She is now a strategic account manager at Attraction World Group.

“My internship has been pivotal in shaping my career in the travel industry. During my master’s in international hospitality management, amid the challenges of Covid, I realised I needed practical experience. The opportunity for a flexible internship with Attraction WorldGroup came up and I took it – the flexibility perfectly complemented my studies, allowing me to balance both.

“As I rotated through the business, I gravitated towards the product department and chose to stay on part-time when I was offered a job. In a smaller company, I’ve been able to engage with all aspects of the business.

My journey has brought me to being a strategic account manager for ‘B2B2C’ [business-to-business-to-consumer]. In this role, I manage key client relationships in market segments such as airlines and cruise, driving innovative growth and taking ownership of sales experiences.”