Theme park jobs are a rollercoaster ride!
Apprentices at Alton Towers can now earn a free degree
ENGINEER Charmaine Forrester admits one of the biggest perks of her job is getting to ride rollercoasters.
She joined Alton Towers at the age of 17, and has now worked her way up to become an engineering apprentice at the theme park.
The 22-year-old said: “We have to check the rides every morning before people can get on them. They have to be signed off. I’m involved in both electrical and mechanical engineering.”
The trains also need MOTS, servicing, and day-to-day maintenance.
Charmaine, who lives near Market Drayton, said: “I’ve always had engineering in my blood. My brother is an engineer and, when I was young, there was quad racing in my family.”
Alton Towers is currently recruiting for around 1,000 roles in time for its 2022 season.
Although many of these are seasonal, there will also be some longer term opportunities and the chance to train on the job.
Roles include gardeners, scenic construction, lifeguards, entertainers, and even an animal care host who works with sharks.
The resort has around 80 to 100 apprenticeships in areas ranging from team leadership, marketing and management, through to being a restaurant chef.
And Alton Towers is also about to launch a school leavers’ programme, where five people can earn degrees for free.
The degree apprenticeships will be open to those aged 18 and over, and will combine studying with working in the hotel or park.
Jason Mumford, senior recruitment, learning and development manager, said: “They will be at host level for six months, then team leaders to fasttrack their development. At the end of the three years, I would hope they secure a permanent job.
“We already have a foundation degree with Staffordshire University in resort management. But this latest programme is new.”
Also brand new are between 300 and 400 ‘resort champion’ roles.
It could appeal to a range of jobseekers, including those on benefits and those who previously worked in the tourism and hospitality sectors but lost their jobs during the pandemic.
Will Mativat joined Alton Towers last April as a maintenance assistant.
The 23-year-old, from Crewe, said: “I used to like the adrenalin of the rides. Now I get an adrenalin rush through work.
“I work across the park. It could be dealing with machines that break down or the lifts in the rollercoaster restaurant.
“On fireworks night, we had to fit the cables and ensure the lights came on at the right times.”
His most hairy task was during Scarefest when Will had to check the lights in the maze.
“I’m a bit of a screamer. I had to walk through it,” he said.
Louisa Page also works on the maintenance side. She first joined Alton Towers in 2010 as a ride host, and went on to work on 18 different rides before switching to a more technical role.
The 41-year-old former supermarket worker, who lives in Tunstall, said: “I’ve always loved theme parks – and this is the best one.
“You learn so much working here. You get a lot of satisfaction from it.
“And when the theme park is busy, the atmosphere is electric.”
■ To find out more about available job opportunities, go online at www.altontowersjobs.com.