We currently have 10 students from a variety of universities including Loughborough, Aston, Nottingham Trent, Leeds, and Hertfordshire.

The Placement Scheme is run by the TUI UK and Ireland Commercial Department. This is part of the mainstream sector of the business which includes Thomson, First Choice and Portland Holidays. Students will join either the Product, Cruise or Trading Departments for their placement.

Each year we take on between 10-12 students. We currently have 10 students from a variety of universities including Loughborough, Aston, Nottingham Trent, Leeds, and Hertfordshire.

Fresh ideas – undergraduate students bring fresh ideas and a new dynamic to teams. During their induction they are set an innovations project for which they are asked to develop a new product proposition for Thomson or First Choice. We want them to start thinking about the development of products and processes from the outset and to instill in them the importance of innovation to our business.

• Managerial and training experience for existing employees – members of staff are able to gain experience through managing and training the new students, therefore developing their own skills, confidence, and motivation. Line managers are also able to increase their management experience through the expansion of their teams.

• Academic research – in our first year of running the scheme one of our students carried out a research project investigating the different cost bases employed at TUI UK & Ireland since the company merger in 2007. This project, while an important piece of academic work for the student, was also of great benefit to the company in highlighting the most efficient method to use in the future. 

• Key to company performance – the students we employ take on responsibility for a destination in either product or trading. These destinations each have around 30,000 to 40,000 customers visiting in a summer season, so the students are key players within the Commercial Department and our financial performance. 

• The success of the placement scheme –  our current students are now busy developing and improving the 2010-11 programme. Their understanding and insight into the placement market really helps us connect and engage with their peers who are looking for placements now and keeps the programme fresh. 

There has always been a steady intake of employees at a graduate level, within the commercial department, and many of our team completed a placement year as part of their degrees before later joining the company (including our commercial director, David Burling). We therefore recognise the Benefits of providing excellent work experience, as a means of harnessing talent. 

TUI UK & Ireland is such a large company, we feel that we can provide a placement scheme that will give students real responsibility a proper role and opportunities.  Through the feedback we have had from our placement students and the recognition from these awards this is something that we are achieving and we look forward to further building our reputation as one of the best student placement providers in the UK.