We’re celebrating UCW Business Management Alumnus Abbey who was recently acknowledged by The Association of Women Travel Executives (AWTE) for her work in advocating for neurodivergence in the workplace. Abbey shared her experiences with dyslexia and encouraged others in the industry to speak openly about their experiences. Abbey said: “I’ve been committed to ensuring that the travel industry is an inclusive and accessible space for all professionals, regardless of neurodiversity.”
Abbey spoke about how the acknowledgment was important to her, saying: “Being acknowledged by AWTE made me incredibly proud, as it reinforced the importance of creating a supportive and inclusive industry where everyone can thrive, regardless of their background or challenges.”
The AWTE is an influential network that supports, develops, and promotes women in the travel industry. The organisation provides mentorship, networking opportunities, and recognition for outstanding contributions to the sector.
We caught up with Abbey to learn all about her journey since graduating from UCW to reaching this prestigious acknowledgement. “Since leaving UCW, I started my career at Bristol Airport in a customer-facing and operational role, gaining valuable experience in the fast-paced travel industry. I then moved into customer service and store management roles at Thomas Cook and the luxury travel brand Kuoni, which gave me deeper insights into retail travel and customer experience.”
Thanks to these roles and Abbey’s time at UCW, she was able to progress to Jules Verne, an award-winning escorted touring specialist, as an Agency Sales Manager. After thriving in this role, she advanced to Business Development Manager, where she focused on building relationships with travel agents and driving revenue growth year on year. Some of the projects that she worked on at this company included:
- Launching our products to the UK travel agent market to expand our reach.
- Collaborating with UK tour managers and hosting customers abroad to enhance their travel experiences.
- Creating and launching two travel industry podcasts, where she interviewed inspiring figures, including Simon Reeve, to discuss the evolving world of travel.
UCW opened up many opportunities to Abbey, allowing her to travel the world, hosting both customers and travel agents in incredible destinations such as India, China, Jordan and the Azores. “Experiencing different cultures and witnessing first-hand how our tours create unforgettable memories for travellers has been incredibly rewarding. These trips have also given me the opportunity to strengthen relationships with travel partners and immerse myself in the destinations we offer.”
Alongside all of these incredible experiences, Abbey still remembers her time at UCW fondly. Her favourite part of studying here was the relationships she built with peers and tutors. “Some of my closest friends today are people I met during my time at UCW, and the support and camaraderie we shared made the experience truly special.”
UCW prepared Abbey perfectly for her career in travel: “UCW provided me with both theoretical knowledge and practical workplace skills, which were invaluable in shaping my career.” Rather than just focusing on textbook learning, UCW emphasised real-world industry understanding, including:
- Gaining insight into workplace and organisational cultures, which helped Abbey transition smoothly into professional roles.
- Learning about industry trends, customer behaviour, and business operations, which gave Abbey a strong foundation in travel tourism and business.
- Developing problem-solving and communication skills, which have been essential in Abbey’s sales, business development, and leadership roles.
The combination of academic learning and hands-on experience gave me the confidence to enter the industry and progress quickly in my career. This forms part of the Business, Accounting and Operations Careers Excellence Hub. University Centre Weston has ten sector-specific Career Excellence Hubs, which evidence our dedication to supporting both employers and learners in achieving their future goals. By creating a seamless connection between industry and education, we enable learners to acquire not only the essential skills and knowledge but also the professional networks necessary to excel in their chosen fields.
To follow in Abbey’s footsteps in Business Management, click here to find our course!
If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available in the Weston College Group here. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College Group has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College Group is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.
