Stuart Woodford from East Sussex joined the Travel Academy after 20 years spent in commercial radio. When his father passed away he decided it was time to make a change; so he quit his job, sold his house, and went on an incredible journey around the world. It was this journey that made him realise just how much he enjoyed the world of travel and he saw the Travel Academy as the perfect opportunity to build his own travel business from home.

Life Changing

“When my father passed away I decided I had to change a negative to a positive,” says Stuart. “I’d had enough of working in radio. My father had always loved travel, as did I, and I wanted to see the world and travel to many of the places that he had been. So I sold up and went on a life changing journey for three months.”

Stuart says,

Being able to say you love your job is something very few people can say – I am proud that I can. I am looking forward to the future and making my business even more of a success.

“After 41,590 miles in the air, 21 flights, 7 hire cars, 31 hotels, 2 major train rides, 2 white water raft rides, 2 snow mobile adventures and whale watching, I returned home to the real world knowing that travel is where I wanted to spend my career. I found out about the Travel Academy franchise and knew it was for me.

Since joining the Travel Academy programme Stuart has watched his travel business go from strength to strength and has established a loyal client base; “Every time we beat our previous best month’s booking revenue we receive a framed certificate. I got seven in my first year. Not bad for a beginner!

The Future

“I am so much happier now,” says Stuart. “I am doing a job I love whilst enjoying the freedom and flexibility that comes with working from home. I can provide a unique service to my customers because I am available outside of normal working hours and I am supported by a fantastic team at Travel Counsellors. Enthusiasm and determination are everywhere within the company. It really is very inspiring and I really do believe that attitude is everything.”

“Obviously I have to work very hard and it was difficult starting as self employed when you are used to being on a salary. But being able to say you love your job is something very few people can say – I am proud that I can. It is so rewarding to see so many happy faces and hear so many positive words before and after my customers have travelled. I am proud that I followed my passion. I am looking forward to the future and making my business even more of a success.”