Leeds’ Utc Travel receives £275k investment to grow online offer and create jobs

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A subscription-based travel club that offers members discounted holidays has landed £275,000 investment from Finance Yorkshire to grow its online platform.

Leeds-based Utc Travel, which launched in 2021, will use the funding to add a multiple destination tool to its online system – giving members the opportunity to build holiday itineraries on their site. The money will also go towards recruitment at the firm’s customer service centre and be used to establish an AI chatbot that will field questions from customers.

Utc’s model is membership based, meaning users pay £9 per month to access what are described as trade prices for hotels, holiday packages, transfers, attractions and car hire. The firm, led by chairman Stephen Knight and CEO Brett Norton, says customers can save up to 40% on prices at other online operators.

Its specialism is providing for businesses that to offer perks to employs via its club membership. So far it has set up partnerships with John Lewis, the British Chamber of Commerce and DHL, as well as with other membership organisations.

Utc chairman Stephen Knight said: “Our subscription membership model enables customers to book everything in one place with more flexibility, greater discounts with full customer service.”

He added: “We value Finance Yorkshire’s partnership approach in that the investment comes with advice and expertise from its fund management team.”

Alex McWhirter, CEO of Finance Yorkshire, said: “Stephen and Brett have brought together a team of seasoned travel professionals to deliver an attractive proposition to consumers particularly via the employee benefit market. Our investment will support utc.travel ’s growth ambitions at a time when today’s keen travellers are seeking the best deals.”

Finance Yorkshire’s regional Fund provides flexible investment packages to eligible SMEs based or moving to areas within Yorkshire and Humber with ambitions to expand, create jobs and improve productivity.

Original artice – https://business-live.co.uk/all-about/yorkshire-humber

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Leeds’ Utc Travel receives £275k investment to grow online offer and create jobs

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Pamela Andersons Baywatch swimsuit to go on display

Thousands flock to Assad regime prison in search for missing loved ones

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