Travel company Thomas Cook is targeting older workers, back-to-work mothers and part-timers in its latest recruitment drive.

The company will offer job shares and flexible working arrangements, such as term-time contracts, as an incentive to bring in potential employees.

Thomas Cook joins a host of employers which have recently announced similar schemes, including B&Q, Tesco and Asda.

According to UK chief executive Manny Fontenla-Novoa, 20% of Thomas Cook’s top sellers work part-time and 32% are over 50.

Thomas Cook is also pioneering a scheme aimed at attracting people back into the travel industry who originally left the sector following the downturn which resulted from the 11 September attacks.

The campaign is entitled ‘Welcome Back’. “This recruitment drive shows how confident we now are in the business,” said Fontenla-Novoa.