Fathers opting to work from home for more family time

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Fathers opting to work from home for more family time

As Father’s Day approaches on 15th June more dads are now enjoying the flexibility of working from home and spending quality time with their families.

Men in the UK are taking the opportunity to work from home and have more hands-on time with their children. The TUC reported that one dad in ten now spends more time at home, and that 750,000 men have successfully asked their employer for the right to flexible working.

This growing trend is reflected by leading independent travel company Travel Counsellors, which has always recognised the importance of a flexible working structure and now offers people with a passion for travel the opportunity to run their own travel business from home via a unique franchise opportunity, the Travel Academy.

This includes people like father of two Mark Hallam. Up until three months ago Mark, aged 43, had spent 12 years working in the motor trade as National Account Manager. Not only was his job very sales focused and high pressured, it meant he spent as least two nights a week away from home and away from his partner Michelle and two sons Ryan, 13, and Brad, 11.

“I felt like I was missing out on watching my sons grow up,” says Mark. “I wanted to make a change that meant I was doing something I was truly passionate about whilst spending the time I craved so much with my family. I also wanted to run my own business, so when I came across the Travel Academy franchise I knew this was the opportunity I had been looking for.”

Travel Counsellors launched the Travel Academy last year to enable people with no previous experience in the travel industry to take part in a year long, intensive travel training programme which allows them to run their own travel franchise from home, supported by over 200 staff at the company’s head office in Bolton.

“I have always had a passion for travel. The old cliché that travel broadens the mind is so true and although I have travelled more than most there is still so much to see and do. Working from home creating people’s holidays takes me on a different journey every day, so there is no way that I ever get bored or complacent.”

Mark is supported by award winning technology which enables him to communicate with a network of over 1000 other company agents and support staff across the globe. He has access to a specialised customer booking system supplied by the company that enables him to tailor make and dynamically package holidays to suit his customers.

“All my time is used effectively. I am not wasting time sitting in traffic everyday. I am able to dedicate this time to my customers and family. Plus I know there is always a great support team behind me if I need them. I am working in an industry I love, for myself and building value in my own business.”

He adds; “I have the work life balance I have always wanted. I am able to collect the boys from school and have dinner ready for Michelle so that we can enjoy family meals together instead of on our laps at different times in front of the TV. I don’t miss out on the boys’ sports and I can work my hours around what works best for me and my family. We are spending this Father’s Day as a family, as opposed to a quick phone call before bedtime like last year.”

For more information about the Travel Academy call 0800 195 7024 or visit www.tctravelacademy.co.uk.