BARRHEAD Travel has revealed that Newcastle will be the location of its first branded store in England.
The Glasgow-based travel agent, which plans to open several branches south of the Border over the next year, is investing £1 million in an outlet within the intu Eldon Square Shopping Centre.
It expects to create 20 jobs at the 1,500 square foot shop, which will be located at the shopping centre’s busiest entrance.
Barrhead already has a store at intu’s Braehead near Glasgow but this will be its first partnership with the shopping mall specialist south of the Border.
The Newcastle store, whose opening date has still to be confirmed, will include a foreign exchange bureau, international flight centre and “bespoke” travel service. Its travel specialists will offer a range of holidays and cruises from major tour operators and cruise lines.
Barrhead, which was founded by Bill Munro in 1975, currently employs 850 staff in 58 locations.
Chief executive Sharon Munro, who acquired the business from her father in a management buyout in 2007, said: “As we grow and develop as a business, it’s vital for us to invest in job creation and in developing our reach in England.
“We have a strong network of stores across the UK and we’re certain that unveiling a store in Newcastle will strengthen our portfolio. The level of investment and the number of jobs we are creating demonstrates that we are continuing to grow the business and strengthen our team.”
Barrhead Travel reported last month that pre-tax profits had increased by five per cent from £1.82 million to £1.91m in its most recent financial year.
Gross turnover grew by nearly 28 per cent to £245.9m in 2014 from £192.2m the year before, according to accounts filed recently at Companies House.
Ms Munro said the business had benefited from the addition of foreign exchange bureaus in almost all of its 58 high street locations.
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