THE north's largest independent travel company has won a major share of a 100 million three-year contract to service the travel requirements of more than 400 universities and higher education organisations in Britain.
Selective Travel Management in Belfast is the only Northern Ireland company to feature among the six specialist organisations which were successful in tendering to provide travel services for members of the Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium (SUPC).
It's the second time Selective Travel has held the contract, and managing director Mukesh Sharma estimates it will bring up to 20 million of additional turnover to the business, creating 15 jobs at a range of levels and paving the way for additional growth within the next three years.
He says: This new contract reinforces our position as one of the leading and fastest-growing independent travel management companies in the UK and the biggest in Northern Ireland. Importantly, it also cements our growing pre-eminence in the academic sector where we have outstanding expertise and experience.
The Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium is a membership-based buying organisation for universities and further education colleges.
Mr Sharma said: This new contract for SUPC will see us provide and manage travel and accommodation arrangements around the globe. The work will be as demanding as it is varied, but our team in Belfast is perfectly positioned to handle the challenge, delivering 24/7 support to customers who may be anywhere in the world.
"In the past two years we have doubled our staffing level. Now we are delighted to be a position increase that sustainable job total still further.
Since 2009, through acquisition and mergers, some of the best known and most respected local names in corporate and business travel, notably McNeill Rigby and Menary Travel and Corporate Travel, were brought together under the Selective Travel Management banner, giving it critical mass as well as a leading edge in terms of professional expertise.
The contract win follows a 350,000 investment by Selective Travel Management in state-of-the-art technology, staff training and an expanded corporate headquarters at Murrays Exchange.
Our ongoing investment in the business in staff, training and infrastructure is already paying dividends, enabling us to tender for and win large scale national contracts," Mr Sharma added.
