Homeworkers are happiest in five years, says survey

Homeworking travel agents are the happiest they’ve been in five years, according to the latest poll by Co-operative Travel.

Its annual survey the group found 97% of its Personal Travel Agents were ‘very happy’ or ‘happy’ when they sat at their desk in the morning.

Last year the figure was 89%, and 94% the two years before that.

The survey analysed responses from homeworkers to questions about their job satisfaction, including earnings, support and training.

It found 75% said their earnings were meeting their expectations although only 64% said they earned a figure they wanted to earn.

"We’re extremely heartened by the results of our 2018 survey," said Sheena Whittle, head of The Personal Travel Agents at Co-operative Travel.

"Over the past six years, we have been striving to create a supportive and nurturing working environment for our Personal Travel Agents and have continued to use our survey results to direct our focus and investment. This research really demonstrates our success in achieving that goal."

The survey results were published as the group announced an 8% jump in sales for Personal Travel Agents for the first six months of 2018, with the average holiday price seeing a rise of 4% to £966 per passenger.

It said long-haul sales have increased by 28%, year on year, ski by 8% and cruise by 10%.

Sales of UK holidays rose by 44%, with the Personal Travel Agents maximising the opportunity that the balmy UK summer presented.

"The summer months weren’t easy, but we worked hard to help our Personal Travel Agents identify the shifting trends in what customers were buying and to adapt their strategies accordingly," said Whittle.