250 jobs for safari park
More than 250 jobs are up for grabs at West Midlands Safari Park - and temporary offices are set to be installed for staff at the site's headquarters after a fire destroyed them on Christmas Eve.
Staff are desperately trying to restore normal office operations in preparation for the opening of the animal park at Bewdley on February 10 and have joined Kidderminster Jobcentre in a bid to recruit workers for the new season.
The park's head warden Bob Lawrence today vowed the fire which gutted the 250-year-old Spring Grove House offices, conference and banqueting centre on the site would not delay the opening of the park to the public.
Both full and part-time staff are being sought for the grand opening and to cover peak periods.
Anyone interested is being invited to attend an open day aboard the Jobcentre Plus Jobsbus which will be rolling into Kidderminster town centre on January 6 between 10am and 1pm and on January 10 between 10am and 1pm.
Representatives from the West Midland Safari Park and Jobcentre Plus will be on board to discuss vacancies and hand out application forms.
Damage caused by the fire on Christmas Eve could run into seven figures. Rebuilding Spring Grove House could also take between one and two years if such a move is possible, staff claimed today.
Only the outer walls of the impressive building remain standing after the blaze and insurers and structural engineers have so far been unable to get inside to assess the damage
Mr Lawrence said today: "The fire will not delay the opening of the park to the public. We will be opening the gates on February 10 and as in previous years need to recruit staff for the various tasks involved."
Michelle Link, Human Resource Manager for the Safari Park, said: "We are looking forward to the new season and are delighted to be working with Jobcentre Plus."
Anyone who is unable to visit the jobsbus in Kidderminster can get details of the vacancies by calling 0845 6060 234 or logging on to the www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk website.
By Sue Smith
