Join the story of how Chessington’s seasonal workers make every summer unforgettable, handling the busy season with dedication and teamwork.

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As the sun shines brighter and the days grow longer, something magical happens at Chessington World of Adventures Resort.

The usually tranquil paths of the park start to buzz with anticipation.

Children’s laughter mingles with the whirring of rides, and the smell of popcorn fills the air.

It is the beginning of the summer rush, the most exhilarating and challenging time of the year for theme parks across the UK.

However, behind the scenes, a story unfolds—a tale of preparation, strategy, and the unsung heroes of the season: the seasonal staff.

A Summer to Remember: The Calm Before the Storm

For Sam Gadd, the rides and attractions team leader at Chessington, summer is both a thrill and a test.

As the school holidays kick in, the park transforms into a whirlwind of excitement, with thousands of visitors flooding in, eager to experience the thrills of roller coasters, animal encounters, and family fun.

However, with this surge in guests comes a unique challenge—ensuring everyone has “the best day” possible.

The answer lies in a small army of nearly 1,000 seasonal workers who descend upon Chessington every summer.

These individuals, many of them students, become the heartbeat of the park during the peak season, manning rides, selling tickets, and keeping everything running smoothly.

However, recruiting and managing this temporary workforce is no small feat, especially in a post-Covid world where the job market has shifted dramatically.

The Recruitment Race: A New Reality

The world was different when theme parks reopened after the COVID-19 lockdowns.

The familiar faces of seasonal workers were fewer, and the competition for staff was fiercer than ever.

E-commerce and supermarkets had become the new havens for job seekers, offering stability that was hard to compete with.

Mike Vallis, Managing Director of Resort Theme Parks at Merlin Entertainments, recalls those early days with a mix of frustration and determination.

“We struggled to recruit at that point,” Vallis admits, reflecting on the challenges of returning workers to the leisure industry. However, Merlin, the parent company of Chessington, was not about to give up.

They knew they had to make seasonal work a job and an experience worth returning for.

Crafting the Perfect Summer Job

So, how do you make a seasonal job at a theme park irresistible? For Merlin, it started with the basics: listening to their employees.

From tweaking uniforms to offering free tickets after three weeks on the job, they began making changes that showed they cared.

It was about filling positions and making workers feel valued and connected to something bigger.

And it worked.

The return rate of seasonal workers began to climb.

From just 20% before the pandemic, more than 30% of their workforce returns each summer, eager to be part of the magic again.

For many, like Sam Gadd, it is not just a job but a stepping stone.

Starting as a seasonal worker in 2021, Sam quickly moved to a permanent management role, proving that Merlin is more than just a summer gig—it is a career pathway.

A Family Affair: The Power of Camaraderie

Ask any seasonal worker at Chessington why they come back year after year, and you will likely hear the same thing: the people.

“It is like one big family,” says Sam, describing the tight-knit bonds that form throughout the summer.

The camaraderie, shared experiences, and the highs and lows of managing a bustling theme park all add to something special.

This feeling of belonging is a powerful motivator.

It keeps workers returning and drives them to go above and beyond for the guests.

Whether it is making a child’s day by helping them meet their favorite character or ensuring a ride runs smoothly for the umpteenth time that day, the dedication of these seasonal workers keeps the magic alive.

The Challenge of Competitive Pay

In today’s job market, pay matters more than ever.

Merlin knows this, and they have made it a priority to stay ahead of the curve.

By offering competitive wages surpassing the national minimum and living wages, they have attracted steady workers despite the challenges.

However, it is about more than just the money; it is about what the job offers beyond the paycheck.

For those who shine, there are opportunities to learn, grow, and even step into leadership roles.

Mike Vallis started as a seasonal trainee engineer at Thorpe Park nearly 40 years ago, and now he is at the helm of Merlin’s resort theme parks.

His story is a testament to the possibilities that lie within a summer job at Chessington.

Recruitment: A Year-Long Mission

However, recruiting seasonal workers takes time.

It is a year-long process that kicks off long before the first guests arrive.

By November, Merlin is already reaching out to last year’s workers, gauging their interest in returning.

Come January, recruitment is in full swing, with open days, career fairs, and word-of-mouth referrals bringing in a fresh batch of eager workers.

It requires careful planning and a small amount of creativity.

However, for Merlin, it is all worth it when the gates open and the park comes alive with summer energy.

The Lifeguard Parallel: A Shared Challenge

Merlin’s story is familiar.

Across the UK, organizations like the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) face similar challenges.

Each year, they hire 1,600 seasonal lifeguards, many students, to keep the beaches safe.

Like Chessington, the RNLI competes with other industries for these workers, offering a job that’s as demanding as it is rewarding.

For university student Ali Setterfield, who is now in his second year as a seasonal lifeguard, the experience is about more than just a paycheck.

“You are doing something good,” he says, reflecting on the satisfaction of knowing his work makes a difference.

This sentiment echoes through the stories of seasonal workers across the country.

Conclusion: The Heartbeat of Summer

As the summer season unfolds at Chessington World of Adventures, it is easy to get lost in the excitement—the rides, the shows, and the laughter of families making memories.

However, behind it all is a team of dedicated seasonal workers who are the park’s true heartbeat.

They are the ones who keep the magic alive, who make every day “the best day” for every guest.

Moreover, as the season ends and the crowds begin to thin, these workers will move on, some returning to school, others to different jobs.

However, many will return next summer, ready to do it again.

Because for them, Chessington is not just a job—it is a summer to remember, a family to be a part of, and a story that keeps growing.

Trivia: Did You Know?

Merlin Entertainments, the company behind Chessington World of Adventures, is the second-largest attraction operator in the world. It manages over 130 attractions in 25 countries and welcomes more than 67 million visitors annually.