Fairground worker

You could start by doing a leisure and entertainment maintenance engineering advanced apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

You could join a theme park or fairground as part of the ticketing and admissions team or catering services. You could then move into operating and maintaining rides as you get more experience and do training on the job.

You could apply for maintenance jobs if you've got some experience in mechanical or electrical service and repair work. Employers will prefer you to be 18 or over for insurance purposes.

You may be able to apply at age 16 for seasonal work to operate smaller rides and collect fares.

You'll need:

• practical skills for repairing and maintaining equipment
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to use your initiative
• the ability to work well with others
• to be flexible and open to change
• the ability to repair machines or systems
• problem-solving skills
• persistence and determination
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

A large goods vehicle (LGV) driving licence may also be useful if you’re working in a travelling fair.

Your day-to-day duties could include:

• operating and supervising rides
• making announcements over a public address (PA) system
• carrying out safety checks on the rides before the park opens
• carrying out small repairs
• general cleaning work

If you work for a travelling fair, you’ll also spend time:

• dismantling rides and other attractions
• loading equipment for transportation
• putting up rides at the next site.

You could work in a park or at events.

Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers and you may spend nights away from home.