Alton Towers to recruit 1,200 people as bosses move on from Smiler crash
Alton Towers has launched a recruitment drive for 1,200 workers as bosses look to put a troubled 2015 behind them.
The Staffordshire theme park wants to bring in seasonal workers.
It comes six months after five people suffered serious injuries when the Smiler ride crashed - two people, Leah Washington and Vicky Balch, required leg amputations.
The theme park then revealed plummeting revenues and 190 job cuts.
But bosses are now aiming to bounce back with the jobs announcement a month a week ahead of plans for a new ride being unveiled.
Resort recruitment manager Kerry Alcock said: "All of our recruitment is done via an on-line application form through our website and because our business is so dynamic, we never really have a quiet period – applications come in every day from the day after we close.
"When we've got new attractions planned to open, as we have next year, this encourages even more people to apply."
She added: "We generally look for around 1,200 people at the start of the year to cover all the positions that will be available, and these will continue to offer flexible working patterns, full or part time hours to suit home life commitments and an excellent starting salary.
"As ever, personality is more important to us than academic qualifications, but we do need people who are outgoing and who have great communications skills."
Today Alton Towers also announced they are to launch a rollercoaster restaurant:
An internal park investigation concluded that the Smiler crash was caused by human error and park chiefs confirmed the ride would re-open.
Spokesman Carla Woolridge said the recruitment processes at Alton Towers had not changed stating all employees went through a 'full training programme'.
She added the Smiler would be re-introduced with extra safety measures and technical improvements while operators would receive enhanced training.
Business leaders welcomed the new jobs at Alton Towers.
Sara Williams, chief executive at the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, said: "It is very good to see they are recruiting people.
"They have had a great reputation in the past before the tragic and unfortunate accident.
"It is a great place to work and has been known to be a good employer."
She added: "Alton Towers is extremely important in terms of our tourism offer.
"I really hope they will have a positive year, I think now people can be pretty certain it will be safer than anywhere."
