A further two businesses have joined the Hays Travel Independence Group from its Explorer Franchise.

CK Travel Trade and We Do Travel, both based in Scotland, made the move to the consortium in December as they look to take the next big step on their journeys.

It comes a year after former franchisees Andy Holbrook and Lewis Miller teamed up to become the first to make the transition from Explorer to Hays Travel IG with WorldLuxe Travel.

For more than 30 years, the Hays Travel Independence Group has been committed to helping businesses grow and succeed.

Chris Stark-Proctor runs CK Travel Trade in Aberdeenshire with his business partner Kevin Christie.

He said: “It has been very busy since opening our branch in Fraserburgh.

“We have made a cracking start and Scotland qualifying for the World Cup has really helped us. At one point we had seven customers in our little shop at the same time.

“It has always been a dream to have a branch. I wish we had done it from the start. It really has been brilliant.”

Husband and wife team David and Eilidh McKerry opened their first We Do Travel branch in Dumbarton.

David, an engineer by trade, went full time in the business two years ago with Eilidh, who is a qualified chartered accountant.

David said: “We were over the moon. It was an easy move for us to take our business forward as part of the Hays Travel Independence Group.

“We are really looking forward to peaks, and we want to continue the steady growth we have seen.”

The two businesses will be looking to replicate the success of WorldLuxe Travel, which was presented with the Hays Travel Independence Group’s Newcomer of the Year award at the annual overseas conference in Greece in November.

Andy said: “The move to the Independence Group has allowed us to grow our businesses and operate more flexibly.

“It was a real surprise to be presented with the award at Conference. It was brilliant.”

Lewis added: “It is great to see businesses develop and join the Independence Group. The move has given us a great platform to expand.

“The next ambition is to grow our homeworking division over the next 12 months.”

Harriet Thompson, Head of the Hays Travel Independence Group, said: “We are delighted to welcome CK Travel Trade and We Do Travel to the Independence Group.

“They have both been extremely successful Explorer franchises and we look forward to working in partnership with them as they take this next big step towards realising their business ambitions.

“WorldLuxe Travel has become a great blueprint of what ambitious entrepreneurs can achieve as part of our group, and I congratulate Andy and Lewis on their award following their seamless integration.”