Hiring and Sponsoring Travel agency managers and proprietors (SOC Code 1225)

Travel Agency Managers and Proprietors, classified under SOC Code 1225, are vital professionals in the travel and tourism sector who oversee the daily operations of travel agencies. Their role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, including:

• Planning Work Schedules: Organizing and assigning tasks and responsibilities to ensure efficient operation of the agency.
• Coordinating Staff Activities: Working closely with clerical, secretarial, and other support staff to meet client needs.
• Client Consultation: Discussing clients' travel requirements and providing expert advice on various modes of transport, including road, rail, air, and sea.
• Booking Management: Making and confirming travel and accommodation bookings, as well as arranging group holidays, tours, and individual itineraries.
• Regulatory Advisement: Informing clients about currency regulations, passport and visa requirements, and necessary health precautions for their travel.
• Resource Determination: Assessing financial, staffing, material, and other short- and long-term needs to ensure the agency's success.

With the continuous growth of the travel industry, these professionals are integral to enhancing customer experiences and navigating the complexities of travel planning. This guide will assist HR professionals in effectively recruiting and sponsoring travel agency managers under the UK’s immigration regulations.

What is SOC Code 3411 for Travel agency managers and proprietors?

SOC Code 1225 refers to travel agency managers and proprietors who oversee the operations of travel agencies. Their responsibilities can include:

• Planning work schedules: Organizing staff schedules and assigning tasks and responsibilities.
• Coordinating activities: Supervising the activities of clerical, secretarial, and other support staff to ensure efficient operations.
• Client consultations: Discussing client requirements and providing expert advice on road, rail, air, and sea travel, as well as accommodation options.
• Booking arrangements: Making and confirming travel and accommodation bookings, as well as arranging group holidays, tours, and individual itineraries.
• Travel regulations guidance: Advising clients on currency exchange, passport and visa regulations, and any necessary health precautions for their travels.
• Resource determination: Assessing and determining financial, staffing, material, and other short- and long-term needs for the agency's operations.

Travel agency managers and proprietors play a vital role in the travel and tourism industry, ensuring smooth travel experiences for clients and contributing to the growth of the sector.

Eligibility to Hire Travel agency managers and proprietors (SOC Code 3411)

1. Job Requirements

Travel agency managers and proprietors must possess a diverse set of skills and qualifications to effectively manage operations and serve clients. Key requirements include:

• Work Experience: Proven experience in travel agency management or a related field, showcasing leadership and responsibility in previous roles.
• Client Interaction: Ability to discuss clients' travel requirements and provide sound advice on road, rail, air, and sea travel options, as well as accommodation.
• Booking Proficiency: Experience in making and confirming travel arrangements, including accommodations, group holidays, tours, and individual itineraries.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Familiarity with currency exchange, passport and visa regulations, and necessary health precautions for various travel destinations.
• Organizational Skills: Strong capability to plan work schedules, assign tasks, and coordinate activities among clerical and secretarial staff.
• Strategic Planning: Skills in determining financial, staffing, material, and other needs for short- and long-term operational goals.

Ensure the job description aligns with SOC Code 1225 and that the candidate’s experience and skills meet the expectations for the role.

1. Salary Thresholds
2. Use the Minimum Salary Calculator to ensure your salary offer meets immigration requirements.

Sponsoring Travel agency managers and proprietors: A Step-by-Step Guide for HR Professionals

Once you’ve confirmed that the role and candidate meet the eligibility requirements, follow this step-by-step guide to sponsoring Travel agency managers and proprietors under SOC Code 1225.

Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence

Before hiring non-UK Travel agency managers and proprietors, your company or institution must obtain a sponsor licence. This licence enables you to legally sponsor overseas Travel agency managers and proprietors under the Skilled Worker Visa program.

• Sponsor Licence Application: Submit documentation proving that your business is legitimate and has a genuine vacancy. Visit the sponsor licence application guide for more information. 
• Sponsor Licence Fees: Small businesses typically pay £574, while larger institutions pay £1,579. For more information, visit the sponsor licence fees guide. 
• Processing Time: Applications typically take up to 8 weeks, but using the Sponsor Licence Priority Service can reduce the processing time to 10 working days.

Once your sponsor licence is approved, you will receive a sponsor licence number, which allows you to assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).

Step 2: Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

Once you have your sponsor licence, the next step is to assign a CoS to the Travel agency managers and proprietors. This document provides key details about the job and the individual being sponsored.

• Defined vs Undefined CoS: Use a Defined CoS for Travel agency managers and proprietors applying from outside the UK, and an Undefined CoS for those already in the UK. Learn more in the Defined & Undefined Certificates of Sponsorship guide. 
• Required Documents: Provide details such as the Travel agency managers and proprietors’s portfolio, passport and job offer. Refer to Documents Required for Certificate of Sponsorship for a full list of necessary documents.

Step 3: Apply for the Skilled Worker Visa

Once the CoS is issued, the Travel agency managers and proprietors can apply for the Skilled Worker Visa.

• Visa Fees: Fees vary depending on the role and visa length—use the visa fees calculator to estimate the costs. 
• Immigration Skills Charge: Employers are required to pay this charge as part of sponsoring non-UK workers. This is separate from visa fees.

Conducting a Right to Work Check for Travel agency managers and proprietors

Before the Travel agency managers and proprietors begins working, you must conduct a right to work check to ensure they are legally allowed to work in the UK.

• Manual Right to Work Check: Verify original documents such as the Travel agency managers and proprietors’s passport and visa. 
• Online Right to Work Check: If the Travel agency managers and proprietors holds an eVisa, you can use the UK government’s online system to verify their right-to-work status.

For more details on how to perform these checks, see the right to work check guide.

Post-Hiring Responsibilities and Compliance

1. Record-Keeping and Reporting  
2. • Record-Keeping: Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of the Travel agency managers and proprietors’s employment details, salary and contact information. 
   • Reporting Changes: Report any significant changes to the Travel agency managers and proprietors’s role—such as promotions or salary increases—via the Sponsor Management System (SMS).
3. Sponsor Licence Duties and Compliance
4. Failure to comply with your sponsor licence duties can result in penalties or sponsor licence revocation, impacting your ability to sponsor future Travel agency managers and proprietorss.

How Borderless Can Help with Sponsoring Travel agency managers and proprietors

Sponsoring Travel agency managers and proprietors under SOC Code 1225 can be a complex process, but Borderless can simplify it for you. We offer comprehensive support to help you manage the entire sponsorship process.

End-to-End Sponsorship Support

At Borderless, we assist with:

• Sponsor Licence Application: Guiding you through the application process and ensuring all required documents are submitted correctly. 
• Certificate of Sponsorship Assignment: Streamlining the CoS process to make hiring easier. 
• Compliance Management: Helping you stay compliant with immigration laws to avoid penalties.

If you need assistance with hiring or sponsoring Travel agency managers and proprietors, get in touch for personalised support.

Conclusion

Hiring and sponsoring Travel agency managers and proprietors under SOC Code 1225 can be a rewarding way to enrich the cultural landscape of your organisation. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully navigate the sponsorship process while ensuring compliance with UK immigration laws.

For further guidance, Borderless is ready to assist you with all your sponsorship needs. Contact us for expert advice.