SAFETY & SUPPORT
Considering recent events, we have reviewed our safety and support procedures and will continue to review them going forward. Travel as we know it has changed, however, one thing that has not changed is the way we prioritise the health and safety of every one of our customers. It is your basic right as a traveller to feel like you can relax on tour knowing everything is taken care of.
We also understand that you are going to have lots of questions, so please do not hesitate to contact us. Should you wish to know more, in the meantime, here are the some of the ways that we make your health and safety a priority.
At FHT, we are absolutely committed to every aspect of safety on your tour and we hold all the trade body licenses including ATOL, ABTA, STF and LOtC so you can be confident that your trip is safe in our hands
USEFUL DOWNLOADS:
You can download our latest School Travel Forum certificate here.
You can download our latest Quality Badge for Learning Outside the Classroom here.
Our expert team will support you from start to finish. When it comes to operating tours we have tones of experience and our gut instinct is to always do the right thing. This is reflected in us being the proud holders of the following awards:
Customer Service Excellence accreditation
We have held this award since 2013. We are the only tour operator to hold this accreditation which means we are regularly assessed by an independent body on meeting set criteria.
Investors in People
FHT are an Investors in People organisation meaning we demonstrate a commitment to the development and success of our people. We are the proud holders of IIP GOLD status.
Every year, an external auditor reviews all our health and safety procedures. Our latest audit was in August 2022 with Argent. Yet again, for the eighth year running, we have had NO RECOMMENDATIONS to help improve the way we control our safety management and quality provision.
Take a look at our Safety Management System Policy Document for more information
Our chairman David Craven was instrumental in setting up the School Travel Forum to raise standards in educational visits – it is now recognised as the safety & quality standard mark you can trust. As a full member of the School Travel Forum, FHT adhere to a rigorous Code of Practice and Safety Management Standards that meet the requirements of DCSF guidelines and are externally verified each year.
With more than 150 years combined experience in the educational travel industry, the team here at FHT are proud of our safety conscious environment and proactively review and improve our safety procedures. We also have the experience and knowledge to recommend the most suitable accommodation and transport providers for your age of students and your learning objectives.
Further information on the School Travel Forum:
STF Safety Management Standards
STF Demystifying Risk Assessment
Very few of our tours have problems because every effort is made, and checks put in place, to ensure your tour plan is flawless. However, if an issue does arise, we are here to help. At FHT, our team of experienced tour consultants will be on hand during office hours (08:00 – 17:30 hrs) to support you whilst on tour, AND outside of office hours as well.
We have 24-hour emergency response cover for issues that need to be addressed urgently. Our emergency duty officers are fully briefed on all groups that are travelling and have access to all of your tour planning details, which means you have complete peace of mind whilst on tour, should the need arise to call us.
“Peter was brilliant! From start to finish, the support i received was excellent. Unfortunately, our travel plans were slightly altered by the corona virus, but even then, Peter was on hand to solve all our worries. I would definitely recommend FHT Travel and have already started the process of organising another FE trip with them.”
Damian Wright, 18 March 2020 (Trustpilot review).
Following the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union on 31 January 2020 there have been a number of changes which will affect groups travelling with us to the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
We have picked out those changes we think are relevant for our customers.
If you have a European Health Insurance Card it will be valid up to its expiry date. If you apply for a card now, you'll get a new UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) instead of an EHIC. More details here.
If you’re travelling to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you should get appropriate travel insurance with healthcare cover before you travel. Make sure it covers any pre-existing conditions that were previously covered by your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
ABTA has always advised when travelling to the EU and beyond, that it is important you take out travel insurance. Our tour price includes comprehensive travel insurance as standard. So, unless you advise us that your school or college has its own travel insurance and you wish to decline our insurance, you will automatically have insurance cover with us.
For more information on our insurance go to: Next Generation Travel Insurance Policy
Further advice on travel insurance can be found at www.abta.com/travelinsurance
At FHT we are absolutely committed to every aspect of safety on your tour. Our safety checks include:
- Our Safety Management System is established and maintained to conform to the requirements of the School Travel Forum.
- We provide a 24-hour emergency helpline should you require any urgent assistance
- We have specialist staff who are fully trained auditors
- All accommodation used by FHT undergoes a safety audit prior to use and every 3 years thereafter
- All coach companies that we work with both in the UK and overseas will have completed our standard audit
- We specify that coaches used should be no more than 5 years old
FHT has been operating tours for over 11 years with over 150 combined years’ experience in the educational travel market. This experience combined with a strong set of values is the reason group leaders trust us with student travel.
At FHT we understand that each group is different which is why we have a wealth of knowledge on all our subjects and destinations to ensure we can tailor make your tour exactly to your requirements. It also means we can provide you with ‘insider’ knowledge about destinations that others may not know about. We are passionate about delivering you a little something extra with your tour.
“The reason I always use FHT and would never run a trip without them is because, not only are they highly professional and reliable, but they understand what it is like organising a trip with students. When students drop out, or change their mind, or want to know if there's any chance of joining even though it's late, or want to change rooms, or can't cope with this activity or that arrangement - I have never known FHT bat an eyelid. They just get on with seeing if whatever you want is possible. Their admin requirements are simple, and they provide all you need calmly, efficiently and in good time. I have always found them calm, unflappable and utterly dependable and I would recommend them to anyone else taking a student trip - and frequently have done.”
Sean Lang, 18 March 2020 (Trustpilot review).
You will find no hidden surcharges. Our pricing is transparent and honest. In your quotation and provisional booking letters we will tell you what is and is not included in your price. We also fairly estimate any future rates, not falsifying prices to create cheap deals.
Our approach is always to protect against currency fluctuation by buying currency as bookings confirm. Once your tour has been booked you will see no adjustments to your tour price because of currency.
Click here to see what should be included in your student trip quotation.
The FHT insurance policy has £10 million public liability cover. You can be assured that this exceeds the requirements of UK County Councils.
All properties used by FHT have undergone a safety audit prior to its first use and thereafter every 3 years. A member of the FHT team has seen every property that we use, and our Contracts Manager Sheelagh Clegg personally decides which accommodation we promote in our programme. In some cases, there will be hotels or hostels that will conform to local regulations but that we feel do not meet our standards and we will not include them in our tour programmes.
At FHT safe travel is our priority. Our policies include keeping overnight journeys to a minimum and ensuring coach drivers are fully rested and fit to drive before any journey is taken by providing them with single room accommodation. All coach companies that we work with both in the UK and overseas will have completed our standard audit.
The FHT team extends far beyond the walls of our offices. In many locations we have local agents available who are experts in their destinations and are able to offer a wealth of knowledge on everything from study visits to accommodation. They are there on hand to support you and us, should help be needed.
Should you require added support at key points on your tour, we can build the following options into your tour package.
Flight tours meet and greet - in the UK, we can arrange an airport representative to be on on hand at the airport to help with check-in through to boarding, as well as be there when you return.
Arrivals – At many of our destinations, we can arrange for a partner representative to be waiting as you exit passport control. They’ll then travel with you to your accommodation, help with check-in and answer any questions you may have.
Guide services - in key destinations our local guides can stay with you throughout your trip or just at key times of the day. They can provide students with an unparalleled insight into the destination.
The current global situation means that the possibility of being close to, or caught up in, a terrorist attack is a risk faced by us all. Like all risks this needs to be kept in perspective and managed in a thoughtful and proportionate way.
Please see the latest advice from the Outdoor Education Advisory Panel regarding foreign travel and questions around terrorism.
We also advise you to visit the FCO website.
Here are some useful links to support you in covering safety questions on your tour:
ABTA information on package travel directive
STF safety management standards
STF demystifying risk assessment
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
FCDO Latest Travel Advice by country
Next Generation Travel's Safety Management System Policy Document