Travel guru Chase flying high from Modern Apprenticeship
Aberdeenshire’s Chase Zanoni is flying high making dream holidays a reality.
The teen is working, learning and earning, smashing targets, boosting profits and exceeding customer expectations.
The 18-year-old said: “I have learned so many different skills as a Modern Apprentice, including communication, problem solving, literacy and numeracy skills and IT.
“Helping people book their dream holidays feels fantastic.
“Doing the Modern Apprenticeship has opened my eyes to all the different opportunities within travel and I’d love to work my way up into management.”
Chase, of Pitmedden in Aberdeenshire, shone on his Modern Apprenticeship with Hays Travel, becoming a regular top seller and gaining a 5 out of 5 score on Trustpilot.
He joined the UK’s largest independent travel agent in October 2023 and ranked second in profit across his entire region last March – outperforming many fully qualified retail travel consultants.
Between May and August 2025 Chase beat his sales targets by at least 140% up to 181%, an extraordinary achievement which shows how quickly he has progressed.
He was invited to the company’s coveted Golden Ticket event for high achievers, has represented Hays Travel at school careers events and is also involved in charity and community events on behalf of his local branch in Aberdeen.
Chase, who has always loved travelling, joined the company straight from school because he knew that a Modern Apprenticeship was just the ticket to help create unforgettable travel experiences.
Bosses say he quickly took ownership of his learning in training sessions and on the shop floor, developing strong organisational and communication skills and building excellent rapport with customers and his colleagues.
Chase left Meldrum Academy with Nat 5s in Maths, English, Travel & Tourism, Creative PE and Home Economics and, instead of moving on to higher education, felt an apprenticeship was the best next step to a high-flying career.
Modern Apprenticeships are working for Scotland, developed with employers to meet workforce demand. They are jobs open to anyone aged 16 and over who wants to work, learn and earn.
Modern Apprentices spend most of their time learning in the workplace while being supported by a learning provider, like a college, to gain an industry recognised qualification.
Hays Travel Aberdeen Branch Manager Kim Lock said: “Chase has worked so hard to become one of our top sellers in the store and we are very proud of him.”
Hays Travel Chief Operating Officer Jonathon Woodall-Johnston added: "Our apprenticeship programme rewards us with a pipeline of talented new recruits who are vital to the success of our organisation.
“They bring innovative ideas and in-depth knowledge of technology and inject the organisation with diversity, energy and enthusiasm, bringing vitality and vibrancy to our shop floors and head office departments.”
Chase’s achievements have led to him being a finalist in the Modern Apprentice of the Year SCQ Level 6+ category at the Scottish Apprenticeship Awards in association with SP Energy Networks.
The awards take place on 26 February as the launch event for Scottish Apprenticeship Week (2 to 6 March). Find out more about the award finalists and the event by visiting apprenticeships.scot/awards.