Oxfordshire business Audley Travel named one of the UK’s best 100 places to work
Published: 23/02/2018 / Updated: 19/06/2023
Witney based employer Audley Travel was awarded a coveted accolade in The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For (mid-size companies) at an awards ceremony in London last night, ranking number 63 and securing two stars in the report’s accreditation system.
Audley Travel (a tour operator which arranges tailor-made trips for clients to over 80 countries across the world) was also recognised in the Top 100 list for mid-sized companies in 2014, 2015 and 2016 and the Top 100 for small companies from 2005 to 2008.
Audley was the highest rated tour operator on the list and the report’s highlights included that 86 per cent of Audley staff are proud to work for the business, with 83 per cent saying their work at Audley is an important part of their life.
The business is a key employer in Witney, headquartered in its current office in New Mill (a stunning converted blanket mill on the banks of the River Windrush) since 2006. Audley has been involved in the Best Companies to Work For scheme since the same year, achieving at least one star in the accreditation each year and places on the Top 100 list on eight occasions.
Audley Travel’s HR Director, Jemimah Parnell, explains more about working for the travel company: “We are very proud to receive this recognition as we constantly strive to make Audley Travel the one of the best places to work in Oxfordshire. Audley has a fantastic culture and our employees are committed to progressing their careers within our business. We have spent a great deal of time developing our reward, recognition and benefits packages, with many additions resulting from feedback from the staff themselves.”
Alison Hall, a Senior Country Specialist who has worked for Audley in Witney for seven years says: “Audley is a fantastic place to work. Working in travel is a really interesting job and Audley makes sure we are rewarded for our hard work both through helping us develop our careers and also giving us the opportunity to see first-hand what an Audley trip is like, all expenses paid. Most recently I returned to India to experience luxury train travel. It was an amazing trip and it has really helped me in my day-to-day job to experience a trip as an Audley client does.”
Other benefits enjoyed by Audley Travel staff in Witney include regular social events planned by the in-house social committee, fresh fruit and smoothies available free of charge for all staff every day and an on-site gym. The office even has its own allotment where staff can help out on their lunch break.
Audley employs 307 staff in its Witney office (495 in the UK in total), in roles ranging from travel sales specialists who work with clients to design their ideal trip through to marketing and IT as well as finance and HR. Current vacancies are at https://www.audleytravel.com/careers. A careers open evening is taking place at the Witney office on Thursday 1st March.