The AirMiles Travel Company today launches the AirMiles Academy, which marks the biggest investment in staff development in the industry.

The Academy is the first ever industry accredited in-house education programme and offers training for all 650 AirMiles� employees, from basic best practice to an MA in Travel Management*.

Against a backdrop of a travel industry plagued by financial losses, staff and resource cutbacks and an uncertain international situation, The AirMiles Travel Company has bucked all trends in its quest to create the industry�s most knowledgeable and professional travel experts.

The AirMiles Travel Company in partnership with the University of Brighton aims to lead the way in raising the calibre of travel industry employees through developing the professionalism and travel knowledge of its staff.

The AirMiles Academy has been developed in partnership with the University of Brighton, acknowledged as offering one of the only specialist and leading travel management degree courses. The modular programme, with internal and external tutors, adheres to the company philosophy; �the more you go, the more you grow�. �Go� modules are mandatory, providing staff with the skills and knowledge required to perform their role, and �Grow� modules are optional, providing the opportunity for the further development of individuals, either within their existing area of specialism or within areas identified for personal development.

Dr Paul Frost, Head of the School of Service Management, at the University of Brighton commented �we are delighted to be working with The AirMiles Travel Company. This partnership offers travel professionals a unique opportunity to further develop their knowledge and skills in an environment in which industry and education can work together to address the key skills required in today�s travel industry.�

The AirMiles Academy will provide the umbrella for all training, learning and development programmes throughout company, both at its Head Office in Crawley and in the Travel Centre in Warrington.

Drew Thomson, managing director of The AirMiles Travel Company, said: �We have developed The AirMiles Academy because we firmly believe in investing in the education of our staff. As an industry we employ some of the most talented and passionate individuals and we must nurture this passion if we want travel to be an aspirational place to develop a career.�

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Notes to editors *Although the Academy will encompass all training initiatives at The AirMiles Travel Company, staff will have the opportunity to study towards an AirMiles Travel Diploma at a primary, intermediate or advanced level. The Advanced Diploma is equivalent to Level One of a foundation degree in Travel Management. Ultimately, training could lead to staff graduating with a BA in Travel Management followed by an MA in Travel Management. These qualifications are fully recognised industry-wide.

The Academy is designed to cover training within all areas of The AirMiles Travel Company. As such, it will include the development of support staff, who will be able to study non-travel subjects under the Academy umbrella.

The Academy framework consists of both Travel and Generic Modules; each Module is made up of a number of Units and each Unit consists of either one or a series of Sessions. Units and Sessions are made up of a mix of lectures, courses, experiences and private study/research. Some of the Module titles are: Travelling the World, The Geography of Travel, Travel Law, The Travel Industry � structure and organisations, The Travel Industry � contemporary issues and future trends, The Commercial Environment and Destination Discovery.

Generic programmes include Technical Skills, Great Line Managers, Personal Skills, Finance, Marketing as well as a unique Module dedicated to building understanding of the AirMiles business and its structure.

The School of Service Management at the University of Brighton has been providing specialist management education for the travel, tourism, hospitality and retail industries for over 25 years. Based on the University�s campus in Eastbourne, the School prides itself on the close working relationships formed with students and industry to deliver a world class educational experience.

Staff teaching within the School come from a variety of industrial backgrounds, delivering programmes of study that are grounded by �real world� experiences, vocationally relevant and closely linked to the needs of employers.

For further information, please contact Kim Polley on 01293 722252, or at kim_polley@airmiles.co.uk