UP to 2,500 jobs could be saved after all 555 Thomas Cook stores nationwide, including the branch in Worcester, were bought by rival Hays Travel.
Hays Travel, which claims it is the UK’s largest independent travel agent, said it will re-employ a ‘significant number of former employees’ after Thomas Cook collapsed last month.
The Worcester branch on the High Street has been closed since September 23 after news of the demise of the holiday giant was confirmed after company chiefs failed to find the estimated £200million demanded by lenders to keep the holiday firm afloat.
Hays Travel has already employed more than 25 per cent of the former Thomas Cook retail employees and is proposing to re-open the stores with immediate effect where possible and to take on up to 2,500 people.
More than 100 new jobs will be based at the company’s Sunderland headquarters with the rest in shops across the UK.
The deal will see existing shops re-open alongside Hays Travel’s own 190 shops across the UK.
Hays Travel is a private company, jointly owned and managed by managing director John Hays and chair Irene Hays. The proposed new jobs will see the firm double its workforce.
“Thomas Cook was a much-loved brand and a pillar of the UK and the global travel industry. We will build on the good things Thomas Cook had – not least its people – and that will put us in even better stead for the future,” Mrs Hays said.
“We all share a passion for the travel industry and we want to continue to build the company’s reputation for first class service and being a great place to work and develop a career.”
John Hays said: “Our staff were devastated to hear about Thomas Cook and we all immediately felt we wanted to help.
“In the last two weeks we have already employed or offered jobs to around 600 former Thomas Cook colleagues, and it has been a very emotional experience for them.
“Now we are able to re-open the shops, we are looking forward to welcoming many more people who share our passion for the travel industry, into our family business,” he added.
