Emma Gibson

Emma Gibson has beaten the odds and been offered a job in the travel industry – despite the setbacks the sector is facing due to the pandemic.

Emma, 17, is studying Level 3 Travel & Tourism at New City College Epping Forest, in Borders Lane, Loughton, but will be working full-time as a travel agent at Universal Reservations once she completes her studies this summer.

When Emma applied for her college course at the end of 2019 she had no idea that Coronavirus would have such an impact on the travel industry. But she put aside worries of an uncertain future and continued to work hard, achieving Distinctions in every unit, and never giving up on her dream of a career in travel.

In 2021, with the pandemic still causing chaos for the tourism sector, Emma started job hunting, but found that opportunities were very limited. Many companies had made staff redundant, airlines were folding and the outlook for new positions was bleak.

But Emma’s passion for travel was evident and she didn’t give up.

She persevered with applications and then, after several rounds of successful phone and face-to-face interviews, Emma was offered a job with Universal Reservations travel agency in Chingford, which is now seeing an upturn in business as the restrictions brought about by the pandemic have been lifted.

Emma has started working part-time already at Universal and will become full-time once she leaves college in a few months.

Simone Butler, Emma’s Tourism & Aviation tutor, said: “Emma is such a hard worker and really deserves this role. I am very happy for her and I know she will make it a success.”

The travel business is now thriving again, so why not consider a Tourism & Aviation course at New City College? We have very strong links with employers, including Ryanair and Swissport, and many of our successful students go on to work in the industry.

If you are interested in a career in the tourism sector or want to travel the world as air cabin crew, apply now!