Business travel and events management company ATPI has launched the second intake of its trainee programme, bringing six new recruits into its Suffolk office.
The scheme, which began on 6 October, offers four weeks of in-house training followed by five months of on-the-job learning with a dedicated mentor. It is aimed at addressing widespread talent shortages in the travel industry.
ATPI’s Suffolk hub has been running trainee programmes for more than 10 years. Last year, five graduates from the scheme accepted permanent positions across the operations team.
The programme has no upper age limit. This year’s intake ranges from 17 to over 50 years old.
Amanda Killick, head of HR and talent at ATPI, said: “It’s not just about bringing people into ATPI, it’s about igniting careers, nurturing potential and creating a community of people who will shape the future of the industry, and my favourite part is that there is no age limit.”
Katie Skitterall, group commercial director at ATPI, said the industry is “struggling to recruit and retain new talent, especially in the next generation”. She added: “This programme isn’t only about filling roles; it is about creating opportunities for the next generation and helping them thrive.”
Previous trainees have progressed into roles across digital, account management, supplier relations and training. Phoebe Buchan, who joined as a trainee consultant in 2019, now works as a global service delivery manager and won the Shining Star award at the 2025 Business Travel People Awards.
Trainees also attend industry events. Last year’s cohort visited Business Travel Show Europe as part of their first year.
