Accreditation and Awards
You can also be assured that when you book with i-to-i, you are travelling with an experienced, established organisation that has been recognised as a leader in its field.
Security and assurance is vital at i-to-i, so when you travel with us, you can be secure in the knowledge that your safety and enjoyment is paramount.
To this end, we are affiliated to a number of external bodies that ensure we maintain the highest standards in our volunteer travel and TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) services.
Use the links below to jump to the relevant point on the page:
- Association of British Travel Agents
- Best Trainer Award
- Investor in People
- Know Before You Go
- ODLQC
- Small Business Award
- Sustainable Travel International
- The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
- World Youth Student & Educational Travel Confederation
- Year Out Group
Association of British Travel Agents
Association of British Travel Agents
ABTA – the Association of British Travel Agents – represents over 6,000 travel agents and 850 tour operators, throughout the British Isles. i-to-i were proud to become an ABTA Member in 2006 allowing us to carry the ABTA logo which means choice, value, and high levels of service.
Best Trainer Award
i-to-i Ireland wins Best Trainer Award
In March 2006, i-to-i Ireland won the Best Trainer Award at the SFA National Small Business Awards 2006, partnered by O2 Ireland and Bank of Ireland Business Banking.
Bertie Ahern, Patron of the Awards, commented that: “Ireland has one of the most active entrepreneurial economies in the EU and we must constantly seek to nourish and promote the spirit of innovation. These Awards demonstrate the high, but attainable, standards which successful performance and high achievement demand. The SFA see this Awards Programme as a major platform to both recognize and foster this new entrepreneurial talent and culture throughout the country spurring on creativity and employment which ultimately drives our economic development”.
Investor in People
In April 2002, i-to-i was awarded Investor in People status as a result of continuing efforts to provide the highest quality of service. Investors in People UK is the national standard of the National Training Task Force, given to organisations that demonstrate good practice in the training and development of people to achieve business goals.
Know Before You Go
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
i-to-i is an affiliate of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office "Know Before You Go Campaign", which aims to ensure travellers are properly prepared before leaving home to help them have a trouble-free and enjoyable time abroad. Please visit the FCO site for more information.
ODLQC
Open and Distance Learning Quality Council
The Open and Distance Learning Quality Council was set up by the UK Government in 1968 to enhance quality in education and training. It aims to protect the interests of learners by operating a voluntary registration scheme for providers of home study, distance learning, online and other open learning courses.
i-to-i has passed stringent evaluation to achieve Provider Accreditation Status from the ODLQC. This means i-to-i is recognised as a quality provider of training courses which are monitored by an external awarding body. As an i-to-i tutee, you have the right to contact the ODLQC if you are unsatisfied with the academic quality or content of the course.
Small Business Award
Yorkshire Small Business of the Year 2003
In December 2003, i-to-i was awarded Yorkshire Small Business of the Year by the Variety Club children’s charity in the UK. The award recognises leading businesses in the region that employ less than 150 staff and demonstrate exceptional knowledge of their marketplace and strong potential to grow.
Sustainable Travel International
Sustainable Travel International
i-to-i is a proud member of Sustainable Travel International, an organisation which aims to minimise the negative effects of tourism and enhance positive environmental, cultural and economic impacts on travel destinations and the planet at large.
As a member of Sustainable Travel International, i-to-i promotes eco-friendly travel, cultural immersion and volunteer projects in line with this mission.
i-to-i also encourages its travellers to participate in carbon offset programs designed to help neutralize global warming from greenhouse gas emissions generated by travel. We have a range of projects that will help you offset your carbon emissions by actively working to protect and restore fragile ecosystems. Click here to find out more.
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
If you’re looking for exciting ways to help you complete your Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, i-to-i has an array of innovative options.
If you’re going for Gold, by taking an overseas volunteer project with i-to-i, you can qualify for the Residential Section of your Award. Choose from hundreds of worthwhile conservation, teaching, building and community development programmes spread throughout five continents.
If you’re heading towards your Silver or Bronze Award, you’ll attain your Skills Section with an i-to-i TEFL course, which also means you’ll be qualified to teach English as a foreign language anywhere in the world.
Click here to find out more about using our projects and TEFL courses to obtain your Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
World Youth Student & Educational (WYSE) Travel Confederation
The World Youth Student & Educational (WYSE) Travel Confederation's mission is "to increase international understanding through the promotion of travel and educational opportunities for students and youth". As a member of WYSE, i-to-i is recognised as working in the interests of young travellers. We do this by providing work opportunities and fulfilling experiences based on international cultural exchange.
Year Out Group
Year Out Group
The Year Out Group (YOG) is a not-for-profit association of leading gap year organisations formed in 1998 to promote the concept and benefits of well-structured year out programmes.
The YOG also promotes models of good practice and helps young people and their advisers select suitable and worthwhile projects abroad. Their Code of Practice also provides the basis for the standard of service expected of the Group's member organisations.
