Staff embrace each other as former Grantham Thomas Cook store reopens as Hays Travel
There were hugs and a few tears this morning as Grantham's former Thomas Cook travel store reopened as Hays Travel, with three of the five original staff members returning to work.
The store, in the Isaac Newton Shopping Centre, has been closed since Thomas Cook collapsed last month after failing to secure an extra £200 million in funding to prevent it from folding.
But it has reopened today after Hays Travel, the UK’s largest independent travel agent, purchased all the Thomas Cook stores including the Grantham branch earlier this month.
Zena Hall, who has returned as manager admits that it has been an emotional morning.
She said: "Customers have been walking past and waving and putting their thumbs up. They have been so supportive.
"Hays really has been our knight in shining armour. They offered all five of us our jobs back but two of the team have already secured alternative employment elsewhere.
"There are lots more opportunities with Hays including a wider spectrum of holidays available including that we can now offer Jet2 holidays which we couldn't do before.
"We are just all very excited to get going so come and join us for a cup of tea."
Louise Martin, who had been with Thomas Cook for 29 years before being made redundant last month, added: "It has been quite emotional this morning and mixed emotions throughout the last few weeks.
"We are so happy to be back and excited about the new venture. Hays is a family company and there seems to be more opportunity.
"We have some very loyal customers who are all excited for us."
Zena admits staff have been overwhelmed with the amount of support they have received since the collapse of the travel giant.
She added: "The town has been so supportive. We've had beauty treatments from Grantham Beauty Clinic and a free night out at Gala Bingo in Grantham.
"We can't wait to see everyone again."