More than 7,000 seasonal jobs are being created by Newcastle holiday park operator Parkdean Resorts as part of a bumper investment plan.
The Gosforth firm, which owns and operates 66 UK parks including five in the North East, has confirmed plans to invest £140m this year, the biggest sum it has ever spent on its portfolio. Parkdean is making the spend on new accommodation, new and upgraded activities and facilities and installing park-wide Wi-Fi to further improve customers’ experience in the continuing staycation boom.
And with advance bookings at record levels the company – which has Church Point, in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Cresswell Towers at Druridge Bay and Sandy Bay in Ashington, Crimdon Dene, near Hartlepool, and Whitley Bay in the region – is also launching a recruitment drive for 7,000 seasonal jobs across sales, food and beverage, and housekeeping.
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Steve Richards, chief executive of Parkdean Resorts, said the investment comes off the back of a record year of customer feedback scores for the holiday park operator and it demonstrates Parkdean’s commitment to continued improvement.
Mr Richards said: “This investment is great news for our customers, staff and the local economies in which we operate. By investing in our parks we’re not only improving the guest experience we’re also ensuring that holidaymakers keep coming back year after year, spending money in local shops, attractions, pubs and restaurants, and supporting the communities which rely so heavily on tourism.
“2021 was a huge year for staycations, and our teams will continue to go above and beyond to deliver phenomenal service for our guests, making sure that 2022 is even better.”
Across the UK the £140m investment includes more than 850 new caravans and lodges, new developments at 16 parks and refreshed and upgraded chalets and lodges. So far, 13 parks have received new pitches and developments in 2022, giving guests the chance to become holiday home owners in some of Parkdean Resorts’ settings.
Around £6m has also been spent on connectivity projects, with Wi-Fi being made available to staff while also coming to caravans at 50 parks by the end of the year. More than £13m has been invested in the company’s ‘Parks of the Future’ initiative.
Three parks – Newquay in Cornwall, Southview in Skegness, and Naze Marine, in Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex – will receive new activities and upgraded facilities. In 2022, Parkdean will also continue to roll out its hugely-popular brand partnerships, with Bear Grylls’ Survival Academy, Tots’ Breaks, and events and entertainment from Milkshake and Nickelodeon.
More than 375 trainees joined the company on the Government’s Kickstart scheme last year and 550 more trainees are set to be recruited this year. Meanwhile, Parkdean Resorts has launched 25 commitments which it will achieve by 2025, across Environment, Society and Governance, including attracting and developing diverse talent, reducing CO2 by 25%, a 75% reduction in waste to landfill and the publication of an annual report detailing how it will care for its Parks, People and Planet.
