After wife Kay wanted a business to run, finance industry hubby Dave helped her create a successful travel agency in Oakham.

And now, the venture has grown to have several outlets across the country, generating a multi-million pound turnover.

Initially, Kay wanted to run the business from home for a wage, but her desire led Dave to take a year out of his finance career in London to help set up Savvi Travel Worldwide in Oakham's Mill Street.

The 58-year-old, who has a background in asset management, told Nub News: "It was the hardest work I have ever done. We picked Rutland as it was missing a good independent travel agent. It is a good area and we have been been here since 2012.

The couple then opened another shop in Olney, Buckinghamshire in 2015, Ampthill in Bedfordshire in 2018 and finally Hitchin, Hertfordshire, also in 2018. However, the couple have no more plans to expand.

Long before the pandemic made working from home fashionable, Dave confirmed the pair started working from home in 2011 before opening the shop in 2012.

Dave explained: "I used to buy companies that were in trouble asset strip then and sell the remaining for owners, to settle debts and so on. My wife was an admin manager for a local coach company.

"As I said, it was a business for my wife. I had no plans to open a shop, but we did due to the sort of holidays I wanted to sell.

"I did not wish to compete for internet business as I have always gone the way of good customer service. People want good advice, knowledgeable experts, nice surroundings and good coffee."

"We pride ourselves on our knowledge, expertise, honesty with clients and fantastic customer service. People want what they pay for. We have built a loyal database on this."

Such top class service has led to 5-star reviews on Trustpilot, Freeindex and Facebook , amid other sites.

The pandemic has had a major impact on the business, but it will pull through.

Dave explained: "Last financial year, we were 26% up and heading for £7 million turnover across the shops.

"This year we are down 86%. Luckily we are financially secure. We have had to refund a lot of money and we have managed to move existing holiday bookings to this year. It maybe that we have to move them again.

"We have not earned any money this year due to current restrictions but since we have been working from home, our clients have access to us 24/7.

"A lot of companies have closed the telephones, but we felt it was important to keep contact, good or bad. All our refunds are now paid back, having had a number of legal matters with tour operators and airlines, failing in refunding our clients."

Looking ahead, Dave says travel in 2021 and beyond is all about the vaccine, when it gets out to everyone.

He continued: "People's confidence in wanting to travel is the most important thing. They want to feel safe whether in the airport, the plane, the hotel, and resort.

"I must say I went away in August to see what to expect. I went to Crete, I did feel safer there than I did in the UK.

"The Government have had a difficult job, but the UK Travel restrictions are always one step behind the rest of the world."

As for getting a good deal, Dave says travellers and holidaymakers will need to be quick.

"Unfortunately prices will go up when the gate opens, so I would get booked now, pay a deposit to secure the price."

"If you wait till the gates do open, I think you will see some big increases."

Dave added: "With the vaccine in mind and after listening to Jeremy Vine about the rest of the world getting vaccinated and less privileged countries being back of the queue, we have signed up to support Giveavaccine.com.

"They are trying to raise a £100.000 to be able to join the table with the vaccine alliance and the likes of the Bill Gates Foundation to vaccine less privileged countries.

"If the rest of the world is not vaccinated, we will have nowhere to travel to. Savvi Travel are donating £15 pp per booking towards this and have managed to get a few large tour operators involved as well."

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