Team Members

Beverley Platt (Commercial Director) Previous Experience: Before establishing TFT in 1997 I lectured in Travel and Tourism at a college for 8 years having previously worked as a Tour Operator. About Me: Jo and I met whilst lecturing in travel and tourism and both felt that there was a definite gap within the industry for a professional, quality training service. From there TFT came into being and we are both so proud to see how the company has grown to provide that professional, quality training on a national and international level.

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Joanne Roche (Managing Director) Previous Experience: Before establishing TFT in 1997 I lectured in Travel and Tourism at a college for 7 years having previously worked at Thomas Cook for 5 years. About Me: Bev and I met whilst lecturing in travel and tourism and realised there was a definite gap in the travel industry for a quality training company. With this in mind, we set about building a company whose focus was firmly on providing a very high standard of training opportunities to all - whilst also making it an interesting and enjoyable experience for those involved. We are both so proud of TFT and its tremendous success and we are just as excited about the opportunites to develop our company and build new partnerships into the future.

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Andy Robinson (Quality Assurance Director) Previous Experience: I joined TFT in 1998 as a trainer assessor, after ten years working for Servisair at Manchester Airport as a Passenger Services Supervisor. About Me: I am so proud to have been TFT's first employee and it's great being part of such a dedicated yet friendly and fun team. Watching the company grow over the years has been a fantastic experience and because it really is a fantastic place to work I'm sure that growth will continue into the future.

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Carl Johnson (Finance Director) Previous Experience: I started my working life as an Office Junior in the finance department of the Co-operative Group food business. Fortunately the Co-operative Group was prepared to fund my finance qualifications so I was working while studying. After a few jobs in food I moved across to Travelcare in 2002 and have been involved in the Travel Industry ever since. About Me: I started working for TFT in March 2008 and have been amazed by how passionate our staff are about providing the best possible service to our learners. To have so many people completely dedicated to helping our learner’s progress is fantastic and I am grateful that I have been given the opportunity to work for TFT.

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Sue Ledgard (Customer Relations Director) Previous Experience: I have always worked in the travel industry in various sectors including Tour Operating, Retail and Business Travel. I then moved to become Sales Representative for a Tour Operator specialising in the USA. I then spent 8 years as a Sales Manager at Qantas Jetabout Holidays before coming to work for TFT when it was just a 3 man band in 2000. About Me: I am really happy to have worked at TFT since the early days and to have been able to watch it grow into the really successful company it is today. We have great values, great vision and it is a great place to work... I am extremely proud to do so!

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Sally Makin (Head Of Business Development) Previous Experience: I have worked in customer service and sales since leaving school in retail shops and call centres whilst gaining my degree in Media. I then joined the TFT team as an assessor and Key Skill Co-ordinator before starting my current role. About Me: I love sales and business development at TFT because it is so easy to sell the brilliant training and qualifications we can provide! I have always loved to travel and have also really enjoyed getting to know the travel industry and what goes on behind the scenes.

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Wendy Skehan (Office General Manager) Previous Experience: I started in the Travel Industry straight from leaving school on a modern apprentice programme. In 2000 I joined TFT as a Trainer/Assessor. I have now been with TFT for almost 9 years and have worked as the Quality Manager and Audit Manger before moving into my current role. About Me: The growth of the company over the years has been unbelievable and I am very proud to have been part of this. Training For Travel truly is a fantastic place to work and the variety of roles I have had since working here has given me fantastic knowledge and a great career.

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Jordan Makin (Marketing Manager) Previous Experience: After completing my degree in Fashion Styling and Photography, I started my own company as a Landscape Designer. Dealing with the varying range of customers, their challenging and demanding needs, combined with my natural urge and flair to design and create, it set me along the way of fitting in quite well at TFT. About Me: Growing up, I've always been surrounded by the Travel Industry, and have had the opportunity to travel the majority of the world. This, combined with my degree experience for branding, marketing, selling and creating, TFT is the perfect place for me to be. It is truly a fantastic place to be on a daily basis, and I feel very privileged to be a part of this ever expanding team.

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Lindsay Garvey-Jones (Business Development Manager) Previous Experience: I have worked for First Choice, Lunn Poly (now TUI) and Travelworld as branch manager. I've been an area manager for Airtours, overseas children’s rep and a Butlin’s redcoat! And also a lecturer for Travel & Tourism at Dewsbury College. But most recently as Business Development Manager for Shearings Holidays. About Me: Always having the love for travel, I knew pretty much from being small that this was the industry for me!!! TFT have welcomed me like an old friend and the whole team are very passionate about the company’s commitment to the industry in providing such a professional and enthusiastic service and I can’t wait to go out within our industry and showcase this fabulous company and what it stands for.

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Barbara Holt (Programme Manager for The Co-operative Travel) Previous Experience: My previous experience has been in the retail sector of the Travel Industry. My career in travel started by working for a family business based on Merseyside, and then joining Co-operative Travel and Thomas Cook. I also taught for a short while at a local community college. About Me: I joined TFT almost 10 years ago, primarily to deliver the Customer service NVQ to all Co-op branches in the region. Now TFT deliver 13 qualifications to the Co-operative group alone and I am fortunate enough to make sure that this is executed successfully. I love my job and have been fortunate enough to see former Apprentices progress and develop into very competent Managers at Co-op travel. This makes me feel very proud but also very old!

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Becky Rosie (Audit Department Manager) Previous Experience: I have always worked within the travel industry since leaving school. I began my travel career at Althams Travel as a Travel Consultant and simultaneously as a TFT Modern Apprentice before joining the TFT Team back in 2003 as a QIS Administrator. During my time at TFT I have always worked within the Audit Department and I have worked my way up to my current role as Quality Audit Manager. About Me: I am very proud to have been one of TFT's first employees and I am extremely dedicated and thoroughly enjoy working for such a warm, friendly and committed company. I feel privileged to be able to watch TFT grow even further in the future and I am excited to be a part of it.

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Cath O'Neill (Co-operative Travel Account Manager) Previous Experience: After completing A levels in college I joined The Cooperative Travel where I worked for ten years in a number of various roles ranging from Travel Consultant through to Branch Manager. I then joined Training For Travel and have worked for the past six years as an assessor / trainer and the past year as The Cooperative Travel Account Manager. About Me: I enjoy being able to share my knowledge and experience of the travel industry and thrive on providing excellent customer relationships. I feel extremely fortunate to have worked for TFT over the past seven years and to continue to be working for Training For Travel in many years to come.

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Emma Witczak (TUI Account Manager) Previous Experience: Since leaving full time education I have worked full time in the travel industry. Working for both small independent agents and large multipules. The experience and opportunities I have been given have been fantastic and I truly believe there is no better industry to work in. About Me: Since joining the team at TFT in 2007 I have enjoyed every part of my job as no two days are the same. My current job role allows me to fulfill my potential and continually improve and maintain the fantastic relationship that Training For Travel has with its customers. I am very proud to be working for Training For Travel and hope to have a great future with them.

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	Jac Cresswell (Operations Manager) Previous Experience: I worked for 4 years at Lunn Poly, followed by 1 year at St. Andrews Travel as an agent. I then spent just over 3 years teaching Travel and Tourism at a college. About Me: Travel is my passion from selling the world to traveling the world and now to teaching about travel and helping others to sell the world.
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Lucy Ellis (Assessor & Learner Support Manager) Previous Experience: After leaving school I went straight into an apprenticeship programme at Cresta Holidays completing my Travel Services NVQ at Level 2 and 3. I worked at Cresta for 5 years in various roles from Sales to customer service and then decided to have a change of direction and began working for TFT in 2004. I have been here ever since! About Me: The travel industry is an exciting place to work and after leaving Cresta it was great that I could stay in this industry but work on the training and assessing side. In my current role I get to work with various learners at different stages of their qualification & career offering support and helping them to achieve their full potential. I also work with our assessing team offering guidance and support on various areas of assessment. I look forward to watching TFT grow and our staff and learners achieve great things.

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Michelle Staniland (Quality Development Manager) Previous Experience: My Travel career started when I left school when I started on a Youth Training Scheme programme with a small independent retail agent. I then continued to work within the travel sector in a variety of roles including Training & Development for Airtours and Holidays By Phone. The natural progression for me was to work for Training For Travel as I had always supported the work that they did for a number of years prior to me joining the team permanently in 2004. About Me: I love the industry and always have since a very early age! I have been very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to work within the industry and follow my passion to deliver Quality through continuous improvement & development. In my current role I work with assessors to deliver quality standards in everything that they do. I am excited about TFT's future and look forward to making a difference through the people that I develop.

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Samantha Ellis (Quality Assurance Manager) Previous Experience: I started working in travel at Cresta Holidays where I was one of TFT's first Travel and Tourism Apprentices. Whilst at Cresta I worked in reservations and was regularly the top seller and I was then promoted to Special Operations.Whilst at Cresta I worked towards a Certificate in Education through working with TFT before joining the TFT team full time where I now assess and internally verify. About Me: I have always loved the travel industry and, having started as an apprentice myself, I found the chance to share my knowledge and experience with people starting out in the industry really satisfying. Now I can support the team of assessors at TFT to do just that whilst also developing exciting new opportunities for our company, staff and learners which is great fun!

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Anne-Marie Sharples (Business Development Co-ordinator) Previous Experience: After completing a degree in Media, I worked in customer service and event management where I co-ordinated various events, including a fashion show at The Lowry. I joined TFT in July 2008 in the programme development team before moving into my current role. About Me: I am very happy to be part of TFT and have settled in really well because it is such a lovely place to work. I have always loved to travel and enjoy the daily challenges of my role. I feel that the knowledge and skills that I gained through my degree and my previous experience have allowed me to get the best out of my role.

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Debbie Wombwell (Moodle Co-ordinator) Previous Experience: After completing my Travel & Tourism Certificates at college I started my career as a Travel Consultant with Callers Pegasus (now Tui). I worked in the Travel Industry for 7 years and gained a wealth of knowledge and experience. I studied my Teaching Certificate whilst working in the agency and then moved into teaching and assessing. After assessing in the travel industry and teaching at college I started working for TFT as an assessor. Since then I have gained my IV award and have moved roles into the Teaching and Learning department developing on-line courses and managing our VLE – Ollie! About Me: I am very fortunate to have a job role where I can combine training and working within the travel industry. My role in the teaching & learning department allows me to support and create opportunities for all to learn about Customer Service & the Travel Industry. It is satisfying and rewarding to be able to share my knowledge and experiences and ensure learning is delivered in a motivational and dynamic way to support learner success and achievements.

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Natalie Daniel (Customer Relations Advisor) Previous Experience: When I left full time education, I was a professional dance teacher, working with various people or all abilities. This gave me experience of meeting the demands of a wide variety of people, ranging from children to adults, giving me extensive experience in problem solving and customer service. I then went on to join TFT in January 2008 as Assessor and Operations Support. About Me: I am extremely privileged to be part of such a fantastic and successful company. My role involves helping the Assessors and the Operations team with a range of different things, which gives me great job satisfaction. I thoroughly enjoy working for Training For Travel and I am excited to see what the future brings!

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Caroline Roberts (North West, Ireland & Isle of Man Team Leader) Assessment Area: MY TEAM: Allison Woods, Joanne Lumby, Clare Miller, Donna Devine, John Greenwood, Louise Holden, Naomi Lawton, Phillippa Johnson-Kitchen, Paula Clark, Rachael Woodworth, Robbie Williams, Wendy Mulholland Previous Experience: I started in the Travel Industry in 1988 as a Modern Apprentice with a local independent travel agent, since then I have been an overseas representative and also Ive worked as a branch Manager with the Cooperative Travel group for 12 years. I joined TFT in September 2006 as an Assessor/Trainer and since worked my way up to be the new Team Leader for the North West. About Me: It has always been my ambition to work in the travel industry and I have loved every minute of it. I love Training and developing my apprentices and also I now have the opportunity to do this with my team. I am really looking forward to the future in my new role and with TFT.

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Claire Richardson (South West Team Leader) Assessment Area: MY TEAM: Louise Parkes, Christine Lloyd, Lucy Worthing & Joanna Harber Previous Experience: I started my career as a Travel Consultant with Bakers Dolphin Travel and then worked with our tailor made department specialising in Birdwatching holidays!! I then moved to work for Condor Ferries as Customer Service Supervisor and Cabin Hostess. About Me: The main thing I love about my job is the variety - no two days are the same.

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Helen Brewster (Overseas Team Leader) Assessment Area: MY TEAM: Geoff Cox & Anna Holmgren Previous Experience: After graduating in 1997 I decided to take a 'summer out' to gain some experience working in Europe. I took a summer position as a 'Campsite Courier' with Eurocamp, and my career in travel started here! I spent 10 years with Holidaybreak plc in their Overseas Operations Department - working predominantly as an overseas Area Manager, but also as a Contract Negotiator in France. Upon leaving Holidaybreak I remained within overseas operation management and worked for both Mark Warner and Crystal Ski, where I latterly co-managed Crystal's flagship club hotel in the French Alps. I have always enjoyed the staff development aspect of my roles, and as such the move to training was naturally the next step for me. I joined the ranks of Training for Travel in 2007 as their Overseas Team Leader. About Me: I have been very fortunate that I have been able to combining my love of travel with my career choices. I love seeing new places, meeting new people and experiencing different cultures. My role enables me to do this and no two days are the same. The young people I train remind me so much of myself when I was starting out in travel, and I love being able to help them develop and broaden their horizons in the industry.

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Jordan Campbell (South East Team Leader) Assessment Area: MY TEAM : Sally Murray, Wendy Humm, Richard Lloyd, Lauren Howes, Tina Wright, Donna Mitchell, Chrissi Knights, Julie Bailey Previous Experience: I started working as a Modern Appretice for Going Places when I was 16 and I gained my Levels 2 and 3 in Travel Services. After several years there I joined the Co-operative Travel as an Assistant Manager for 4 years working in several branches and as an Area Relief Manager. About Me: I love being out in different branches meeting different people and find the travel industry an exciting, rewarding industry to work in.

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