The BTA could see the impact of data on the travel industry - each reservation, customer inquiry, clicked link, and preferred destination tells a story.

They wanted to help their members improve data skills across their workforce.

Fast facts

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The Business Travel Association (BTA) represents the business travel community and travel management companies

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Members account for over 90% of all managed travel booked in the UK

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Advises the UK government and industry regulators and delivers trusted thought leadership

The challenge

Data analytics is revolutionising industries across the globe, with travel riding the wave of this transformation.

The industry is a rich repository of data, which plays a vital role in unravelling customer preferences and market trends.

It was evident from early conversations with the BTA that there was a massive opportunity to upskill members' employees on data analytics, to allow them to draw more meaningful conclusions from it. 

“When we were informed by The BTA of this great opportunity offered by Grant Thornton to put forward employees to build their skills in data analytics through an apprenticeship programme, we just had to take it.”

Aneen Brynard, Global SME HR Director - American Express Global Business Travel

How we helped

Our Data Foundations programme, co-designed with education specialists BPP, is the foundation of our new data academy.

The programme focuses on the practical application of new technologies and analytical thinking, alongside the commercial and people skills necessary to apply them.

The BTA was able to enroll its members in the programme at no extra cost by accessing funds from the Apprenticeship Levy.

What’s different about the BTA Data Academy is that the content is specifically tailored to the travel industry.

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"It was apparent there is very limited awareness of the apprenticeship levy & government funding opportunities available to them. Therefore, the rationale was two-fold. Educate our Members about apprenticeships & funding, promote the benefits of staff learning & development, and provide a business travel bespoke apprenticeship academy to meet the specific needs of our members."

Helen Turner, Member & Partnerships Manager, The Business Travel Association

The results

26 individuals (BTA members) enrolled onto one of two programmes, offered at apprenticeship level 3 or level 4. Participants include employees from Agiito, Amex GBT, ATPI, BCD Travel, Clarity, Flight Centre, and Gray Dawes, with more planning to enrol in future.

“It's a no-brainer. Data is king but most people aren't properly taught how to use data.

There’s huge misconceptions around apprenticeships being just for young people - they’re for anyone of any age, at any stage of their career, who wants to develop themselves.”

Sue Ledgard, Corporate Account Manager, Talent Solutions

About our team

You can call on our range of apprenticeship programmes in leadership and management, accountancy, data, and coaching – all co-designed and co-delivered with a select group of training providers. We bring you a unique offering: a combination of high-quality training and extensive real-world business expertise. Our programmes are designed to provide some of the most sought-after skills that can be implemented to make real business impact. If our current programmes aren’t quite right for your needs then, like the BTA, we can work with you to design bespoke training for your people.
Sue Ledgard
Sue Ledgard
Corporate Account Manager, Talent Solutions