Having worked as a hairdresser for 30 years, 49-year-old, Debra Weir decided it was time to take her a career in a new direction. With a passion for travelling and researching new places, the Travel and Tourism industry seemed like the perfect fit.
Speaking to Debra about her time at college she said,
“The course was so varied which I liked. We covered all aspects of travel, including airport services with Swissport, tour guiding, which was very interesting and itinerary planning, another one of my favourites. For me, the biggest challenge was the IT and remote learning, but with the support of the lecturers I was able to overcome these barriers and now know my way around the computer easily.”
Whilst studying HND Travel and Tourism, Debra secured a job with Hays Travel as a Foreign Exchange Consultant.
Debra continued, “Although the HND was a full-time course I wasn’t in full days, all week which meant I was able to work part-time at Hays Travels. It was a fantastic opportunity for me to learn all aspects of the job and put into practice some the skills I learned at college.
"The course opened many doors for me within the travel industry and I now work full-time at Hays with the aim of progressing on to a become a Travel Consultant. To sum it up, as a mature student, West College Scotland has given me an excellent opportunity to learn which has allowed me to follow a new and exciting career path. It’s been the best decision I have made.”