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Eskdale & Liddesdale Advertiser • Owned by the Community : Published for the Community Thursday July 9, 2020 11
It’s Not Just Travel College
IN BRIEF

which inspires Julie ambitions

DUMFRIES and Galloway Col-
lege’s principal has outlined her
vision for the college’s post-
Former Langholm Academy Dux tells us her lockdown story COVID-19 future.
Joanna Campbell delivered
the plan A New Chapter: Our
College in the New Normal to
IT WILL come as no surprise “By mid-April, it had become an online audience of staff, stu-
that the past few months have much clearer what options I dents, stakeholders, and guests
been somewhat of a roller could offer to my clients. Every from the new cutting-edge
coaster for Julie MacDonald’s holiday booked had to be looked healthcare centre in Dumfries.
business at on an individual basis. Students and staff resume learn-
The term “peaks” is travel- “Different suppliers and air- ing and teaching on August 31.
trade jargon for January, often lines have different policies on The college will put strict
extending into February and postponements and cancella- safety measures in place and
March. tions. Most clients were keen use a mix of face-to-face teach-
This is the peak booking period to rebook to have something to ing and online classes to achieve
and often a very good time to look forward to. the new normal.
pick up amazing offers. “Some preferred to receive She said a college-wide train-
People are encouraged to book refunds, although these are tak- ing programme for staff is un-
early to secure their first choice ing a considerable time to be derway and virtual helpdesks
of dates, the best flight times paid, given the sheer volume for staff and students are now
and their preferred room types. and the limited resource at many available for use.
Julie said: “ I had an incredibly travel companies which have She also launched the college’s
successful January, making furloughed staff.” Ambition 2025 strategic vision.
many bookings. Unfortunately, because her It is based on five strategies:
“I worked every single day income is commission-based, it finance and performance;
from the time I got up until the dried up completely during lock- growth and innovation; systems
time I went to bed. down and it felt a bit like it was Julie MacDonald is a successful travel consultant and infrastructure; people and
“Although it was very tiring, unravelling all the hard work culture; and the student experi-
I loved every minute. Every she had done. A LIFE-CHANGING decision “I have lived in Linlithgow unrivalled support to its travel ence.
new business owner knows it She added: “Things are starting as she approached 50 has ever since and, despite several consultants and clients. She said: “All of us at
takes time to get established to feel much more positive again. enabled a former Langholm bumps along the road, I have “I have access to more than Dumfries and Galloway College
and by the end of January, I Enquiries have really picked up Academy Dux to turn her never looked back. 450 suppliers, many trade only, are looking forward to welcom-
really felt I was. and I have booked several hol- passion into a new career. “This time I decided it was which ensures I can offer pretty ing back everyone and putting
“Come early February, things idays for next year. Julie MacDonald was able to time to take the plunge and start much any type of activity or in the hard and rewarding work
started to slow down a little. “I expect availability to be re-evaluate her life after she my own business, doing some- holiday anywhere in the world. it will take to achieve our Am-
That is not unusual, although lower in 2021 as airlines cut found herself “surplus to thing I’m passionate about. “I offer everything from off- bition 2025 goals.”
the strange new virus taking back on their schedules and requirements” at her job in Passion the-shelf packages with the likes ____________________
over China may have had some- hotels are forced to operate at Linlithgow. of Tui and Jet2 to truly bespoke
thing to do with it. lower capacity. After a career spanning more “My passion for travel goes and often unusual itineraries.
“By the beginning of March, “Couple this with lots of pent- than 25 years in corporate pen- right back to my early teens It’s this latter type of booking
clients really were developing up demand as everyone has been sions and investment manage- and it has continued to grow which really “floats my boat”. Jobs are at
cold feet about booking. deprived of their holidays in ment, there was a restructuring ever since.” “There’s nothing I enjoy more
“The travel situation around 2020, it is feeling a lot like at the firm where she had Julie, who celebrates her 50th than bringing travel inspiration more risk
the world was changing rapidly, peaks again. worked for 10 years and where birthday on July 29, now runs to my clients and organising
with news emerging by the hour “There are some great prices she was a partner. her own travel consultancy their dream trip.
of restrictions being put in place, but they won’t last long and you Julie, the daughter of former through the franchise Not Just “I pride myself on taking care
flights cancelled and borders need to be quick to secure the Academy headteacher, David, Travel. of every detail to save clients DUMFRIES and Galloway risks
closed. availability on your preferred and Sandra, who worked in the She decided to go down the the time and effort and ensure losing an entire generation to
“It became clear that travel dates. TSB, said she had been through franchise route to ensure she that all they have to do is go on unemployment unless more ac-
around the world was going to “Give me a shout. I’d be changes before. had a substantial company back- holiday and make wonderful tion is taken, says an MSP.
shut down completely. delighted to help find your per- She said: “My biggest was ing the business with the frame- memories. Statistics compiled by Scottish
“There were so many fect escape.” when I drove away from London work and infrastructure which Starting my own business has Labour have shown the number
unknowns about what that would in December 2006, leaving my this brought. been really exciting. It’s very of young people aged 16 to 24,
mean for holidays booked and Contact Julie on 0800 001 6250, job, marriage, home and friends She added: “In situations, like different from being employed who are receiving social security
to what extent I would be able to move back to Scotland to the unfortunate demise of by a big company and there payments, has risen exponen-
to ensure positive outcomes for facebook.com/juliemacdonaldnjt, start a new life with my then Thomas Cook, Not Just Travel has been, and is, so much to tially in Scotland between
my clients. This was definitely juliemacdonald.notjusttravel.com three-year old son. came into its own in offering learn.” February and May this year.
a low point for me. During this period in the region
the percentage of young people
claiming social security rose
by 64.2 per cent, from 600 in
February to 985 in May. This
is seven per cent of the region’s
working population.
Colin Smyth, South Scotland
MSP, is calling on the UK and
Scottish governments to act
now and implement a proper
jobs guarantee scheme or risk
losing an entire generation to
the ravages of unemployment.
He said: “These figures are
shocking and devastating for
every one of the young people
involved.
“As the UK government
furlough scheme ends, that num-
ber is set to rise.”
Julie at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe The Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA