Bishopton-born Ryan Yule has launched a travel agency which puts its profits towards supporting community projects in holiday destinations around the world.
Yule Travel Group, established in March 2026, operates as a Community Interest Company (CIC), selling mainstream package holidays at high-street prices while committing 100% of its retained profits, after running costs, to community causes.
The company believes it is Scotland’s first non-profit retail travel agency, following its own research into businesses registered with Companies House, the Scottish Charity Register, Co-operatives UK and the Community Interest Companies register.
Ryan, who has worked as a specialist travel adviser for nearly 10 years, established the business after seeing how tourism affects local communities during his travels overseas.
He said: “I grew up in Bishopton but have visited, and lived or worked, in places like Australia, Spain, Vietnam, Malaysia, Laos and Cambodia. Everywhere I’ve travelled, I’ve seen the tourism trade working well for its shareholders and not nearly as well for everyone else, both the people selling the holidays and the destination communities.
“I don’t believe a holiday should cost a family a penny more for their money to be put towards something ethical and sustainable. Yule Travel Group is my attempt to fix that.”
The company operates under an asset lock, which restricts how its assets and profits can be used and prevents retained profits from being distributed to owners for private gain.
Yule Travel Group has already contributed to four projects during 2026 through Lendwithcare, which supports small businesses and entrepreneurs in lower-income countries.
One project involved a couple from Erskine who booked a holiday to Hanoi in Vietnam. Their booking helped finance Sen, a Vietnamese woman seeking investment to maintain her family’s sustainable acacia plantation.
Other projects supported through the company have been in Ecuador, Paraguay and the Philippines.
The business is also supporting sport closer to home through its sponsorship of Gleniffer Thistle Ladies FC.
The sponsorship is now in its second consecutive season and provides financial support to the Paisley-based women’s football club.
Gleniffer Thistle Ladies head coach Neil Stafford welcomed the continued backing.
He said: “It cost us nearly £13,000 to put a team on the park last season so every penny counts. It’s great to build relationships and to have Yule Travel on board for a second consecutive season is a massive boost for us and we can’t thank Ryan and the team enough.”
Photo: Gleniffer Thistle Ladies FC with head coach Neil Stafford (far left). The club is being sponsored by Yule Travel Group for a second consecutive season
Photo Credit: Gleniffer Thistle Ladies FC
Ryan is also planning to expand the business model over the coming months to create independent employment opportunities across the UK.
The proposed scheme would allow people who face barriers to traditional employment, including single parents, carers and people with disabilities, to operate their own independent travel businesses.
Ryan added: “We’re removing barriers here and abroad, because ownership is what turns a job into an economy, whether in Paisley or Pak Beng.”
Yule Travel Group has also received recognition from social enterprise support organisation UnLtd, which is set to provide grant funding, advice and support over 12 months.
The company is registered in Scotland under company number SC882748 and says its holiday bookings are financially protected through Protected Trust Services.
Further information is available at www.yuletravel.co.uk.
Photo: Bishopton-born Ryan Yule, founder of Yule Travel Group, which uses profits from holiday bookings to support community projects
Photo Credit: Yule Travel Group