Reviving the Industry: Hays Travel Offers Opportunities Amidst Thomas Cook’s Collapse

  • Hays Travel creates 1,500 new jobs and apprenticeships after acquiring Thomas Cook
  • 200 new posts at Hays Travel’s head office in Sunderland
  • 500 jobs handling foreign currency in new stores across the UK
  • Apprentice positions available at all 737 branches
  • John and Irene Hays employing former Thomas Cook staff
  • Discussions with landlords to extend leases for former Thomas Cook shops

Independent travel agent Hays Travel has announced the creation of 1,500 new jobs and apprenticeships following its acquisition of Thomas Cook in October. The roles include 200 positions at the company’s head office in Sunderland, northeast England, and 500 jobs handling foreign currency in each of the new Hays Travel stores across the UK. Additionally, an apprentice will be taken on at every one of its 737 branches over the coming months. Joint owners John and Irene Hays have so far employed and offered permanent contracts to 2,330 former Thomas Cook employees and continue to recruit people for the former Thomas Cook stores, with 450 opening in six weeks. Hays Travel has legal access to all of the former Thomas Cook shops and is currently discussing lease extensions with landlords across the UK as needed. This comes after Thomas Cook’s group companies ceased trading on September 23, leaving over 21,000 staff jobless. Some 555 of Thomas Cook’s retail shops closed when the company was denied a £250m government bailout.

Factuality Level: 10
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate and objective information about Hays Travel’s job creation following its acquisition of Thomas Cook. It includes details on new positions available, the number of former Thomas Cook employees hired, and plans for future expansion. The quotes from John Hays are relevant and informative.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about Hays Travel’s job creation and expansion following its acquisition of Thomas Cook. It includes specific numbers and details on new positions available, as well as quotes from the company’s managing director. However, it could benefit from more analysis or context on the broader implications of Thomas Cook’s collapse and the industry’s future.
Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: The acquisition of Thomas Cook by Hays Travel impacts financial markets and companies in the travel industry, specifically affecting employees and job opportunities.
Financial Rating Justification: This article discusses the impact of the acquisition of Thomas Cook by Hays Travel on the employment market within the travel industry. It mentions new job openings and apprenticeships created as a result of the acquisition, which has financial implications for both companies and their employees.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: Other
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: Minor
Extreme Rating Justification: There is no extreme event mentioned in the text. The situation with Thomas Cook’s collapse and its impact on staff is not considered an extreme event as it is a financial crisis, but the consequences are minor compared to other types of extreme events.

Reported publicly: www.retailsector.co.uk