Alton Towers Resort have announced that up to a further 70 salaried jobs could be cut across the Resort’s theme park and hotel operations as the Resort looks to continue to cut costs following the events of June 2015.
Although business has started to recover, visitor numbers at the Resort are still ‘some way below’ the levels seen in 2014. The redundancies, which staff were notified about last Monday (7th November) according to local paper the Stoke Sentinel, will be made across the Resort’s theme park and hotel operations as the business seeks to make further ‘efficiencies’ prior to the start of the 2017 theme park season. Speaking about these latest cuts, an Alton Towers spokesperson said:
As part of Alton Towers’ continued recovery we have been looking at ways to improve our operating model.
A detailed review of operations has been undertaken across the business to seek further efficiencies and increase flexibility. As a result of this review, Alton Towers Resort can confirm that it expects to make between 60 to 70 redundancies ahead of the 2017 season.
Alton Towers will work closely with all those affected in order to support them through the consultation process and any subsequent requirement for alternative employment and job search activities.
This was an incredibly difficult proposal to make and it has not been taken lightly. However, we are committed to the long term development of the resort and believe that this action now, together with a continuous programme of investment, will ensure its future growth, which is so vital to the local economy.
These latest plans to reduce jobs across the Resort come twelve months after similar plans to cut up to 198 salaried roles at the Resort in November last year, the end result of which saw a total of 98 staff made redundant. The 2016 season has also seen a number of measures implemented in an attempt to streamline operations across the Resort, including the closure of attractions such as Hex; Driving School; Wobble World; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; and Nemesis: Sub Terra as part of a Towers Loving Care programme, as well as a reduction in theme park opening hours, including some mid-week closures during off-peak periods. Whilst the theme park did see a significant increase in attendance for Scarefest, and reached full capacity during the Saturday of the Fireworks Spectacular event, this latest announcement would suggest that there is still a significant amount of recovery needed to help secure the Resort’s long term future.
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