Travel and cruise companies are rallying together to help former Thomas Cook employees, who have been left unemployed following the collapse of the travel giant early yesterday morning (23 September 2019).

A total of 20,000 staff, including 9,000 in the UK, are out of work as a result of Thomas Cook’s failure to secure a rescue deal.

Since the news broke, countless cruise lines, travel companies and members of the public took to social media to express their sorrow and regret about the fall of Britain’s oldest travel company, and to extend their sympathies to members of staff.

Harsh reality of the #ThomasCook collapse: an empty car park, as most of the 1200 head office employees stay at home. The travel company’s HQ is next to our Bauer Media office in Peterborough and it’s been a desperately sad 24 hours. My thoughts are with all those affected ???? pic.twitter.com/88qVl0Uzyl

— Tim Pollard (@TimPollardCars) September 24, 2019

Along with this, many have offered to help those employees affected by offering their career support and advice.

Within the cruise sector, MSC Cruises announced on social media that it was welcoming all CVs, adding:

“We are thinking of our colleagues and friends at Thomas Cook. At MSC UK head office in Stockley Park, Uxbridge, we have some fantastic opportunities for people with a strong customer service ethic and love of cruise.”

https://twitter.com/lottierich_/status/1176121156295954432

Commenting on 23 September, Cruise 118 confirmed it had a number of concierge sales positions available and would hold a series of free workshops for Thomas Cook employees who would like to “refresh their interview techniques or updated their CVs”.

Giles Hawke, CEO of Cosmos and Avalon Waterways in the UK, expressed his sympathies in the following statement: “We are sad to learn that Thomas Cook has entered compulsory liquidation, our thoughts are with all the staff and customers affected.

Following this, Janet Parton, sales director at Cosmos and Avalon Waterways, tweeted:

“For any Thomas Cook staff that are in Bromley/surrounding areas, we have vacancies in our Cosmos & Avalon contact centre. If you have great customer service & communication skills get in touch. I just wish we had opportunities for all of you.”

For any Thomas Cook staff that are in Bromley/ surrounding areas, we have vacancies in our Cosmos & Avalon contact centre. If you have great customer service & communication skills get in touch. I just wish we had opportunities for all of you. ???? [email protected] #ThomasCook

— Janet Parton (@janetparton) September 23, 2019

In the larger travel sphere, Tui Group announced that it would be holding a recruitment fair in Luton to help those agents affected.

“We are sorry to learn of the Thomas Cook news. We really feel for everyone affected by this announcement – customers on holiday, anyone due to travel with them and of course their employees. We will be holding a recruitment fair at our Luton Office for people who are impacted.”

Travel Counsellors has confirmed it will also hold Thomas Cook care events. Travel Counsellors’ UK managing director and CCO Kirsten Hughes urged people to “get in touch with our careers team to chat about their options by emailing [email protected]”.

We are sorry to learn of the Thomas Cook news. We really feel for everyone affected by this announcement – customers on holiday, anyone due to travel with them and of course their employees. We will be holding a recruitment fair at our Luton Office for people who are impacted. pic.twitter.com/77BYC8S0et

— TUI Careers (@TUICareers) September 23, 2019

Along with this, Advantage Travel Partnership has implemented its Operator Failure Plan to assist its members via a 24/7 hotline for agents.

Not Just Travel and The Travel Franchise have launched a homeworking package to help Thomas Cook employees.

Virgin Atlantic has opened a recruitment window for existing flyers to apply for cabin crew, which is shared on its Instagram page. This vacancy is exclusive to Thomas Cook Cabin crew. The company is also calling all Thomas Cook employers to visit its careers site to review the vacancies.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2wqKr7hajZ/

Wallace Arnold Travel released the following statement:

“Our thoughts are with any staff affected by the failure of Thomas Cook. Wallace Arnold Travel shops have a vacancies for Sales Managers and Travel Consultants available in the Yorkshire region.”

All Thomas Cook employees requiring redundancy are being advised to contact support charity ABTA LifeLine. Employees can also visit the government website for help and advice.