What is the purpose of this qualification?
It is anticipated that this qualification will be of specific relevance to:
• Young people who are aspiring to a career in the travel and tourism sector but are not yet sure in which precise area, and who intend to access level 3 qualifications or a level 3 apprenticeship but need a fairly extensive learning programme at level 2 before they will be ready to access level 3.
• Young people and adults usually with prior attainment at level 1 and below, including those who have had a significant break from or disjointed experience of education, who wish to work in the travel and tourism sector but need a fairly extensive grounding in the subject and an opportunity to develop more general workplace skills over an extended period before identifying the most appropriate job roles and applying for work.
What skills, knowledge, or understanding does this qualification develop?
This qualification provides a wide range of introductory skills, as well as core knowledge, relevant to travel and tourism, alongside generic employability skills which are needed both in the travel and tourism sector and across other sectors. Mandatory units include:
• Understanding the Travel and Tourism Industry
• Customer Service for the Travel and Tourism Industry
Optional units include knowledge and skills relevant to different job roles in the sector (such as travel planning, airports and airlines, accessibility in travel and tourism, hospitality for travel and tourism, UK and world tourism destinations) alongside generic employability skills (such as leadership skills, working in a team, solving work related problems and setting and meeting targets at work).
How is this qualification different from other, similar qualifications?
This qualification is part of a suite which includes an Award, Certificate, Extended Certificate and Diploma. Learners should take the Diploma if, before progressing to employment (with further training where possible), to a level 3 Apprenticeship or to a Level 3 qualification, they need an extended introduction to the sector including the opportunity to build up a range of skills and knowledge, explore a number of potential job roles and career pathways in the sector, and gain a set of more generic workplace skills. The Diploma will be suitable for learners who would benefit from an extended period of time working at level 2, up to 2 years, before they are ready to progress to employment or to a level 3 qualification or apprenticeship.
Which sector does this qualification support?
This qualification could lead to a number of roles in travel and tourism such as travel agent, travel advisor, reservations assistant, visitor centre guide, hotel receptionist.
What are the progression options?
Learners can progress to a Level 3 certificate or diploma in Travel and Tourism or to a Level 3 Apprenticeship in Travel and Tourism in any of the available pathways.
Progression & entry requirements
Learners do not need any prior qualifications or a specific level of attainment to take this qualification although they will benefit from having English and Maths skills at level 1. It is available to learners aged 16+.
