The GTMC-backed travel consultant apprenticeship has won approval by the department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and minister of state for skills and equalities, Nicholas Boles.
The government-led scheme is part of an initiative to develop a standard for a travel consultant. The aim is to attract more young people to pursue a career in the business travel sector.
Part of this development included a consultation period with other organisations working within both the business and leisure travel sectors to agree a common standard for an apprenticeship in travel.
The GTMC was heavily involved in the assessment submitted to BIS and is now working to encourage members to offer apprenticeships to young people and develop careers in the sector.
The next stage will be to produce an agreed assessment plan for approval in order to ensure there are “robust and consistent” requirements in place for apprentices to qualify over the coming months.
GTMC CEO Paul Wait called the announcement a “significant step forward” in attracting young people to business travel.
MP Nicholas Boles said: “I congratulate GTMC and members of the Travel Trailblazer on their involvement in designing the new apprenticeships for Travel Consultant, which we have published today.
“I am proud to say that through working with leading employers and groups such as GTMC we have now reached our target of creating two million apprentices since 2010. However two million is just the start. I want more employers to follow suit and start making apprentices a key part of their growth strategy,” Boles added.
The GTMC said further details on the Travel Consultant Apprenticeship will be announced early next year.