For those of you who watched British TV in the UK in the 1980s, you may remember a series called Hi De Hi, set in a holiday camp.

Friends joked when I started my new job as a Site Assistant that maybe I would need a xylophone to make my announcements, reminiscent of the lovely Gladys, played by Ruth Madoc. You can actually still watch the series on UK TV Gold, and I remember it with great affection.

Although there are a few similarities between my new role, and what the staff at Maplin’s Holiday Camps did, most of it was very different, so I thought I would share a little bit more about the role. I know a few people who follow my blog also travel, and it’s a popular second career choice for nomads.

I have already told you a bit about the site in a previous post, so this one will focus more on the actual job.

After my recruitment day in early December I found out at the end of that week that I had been successful, and had got through to the recruitment pool. I was lucky enough to find out just before Christmas that I had got a contract, but that can vary, as the club have a large amount of work to do sorting out staffing. 

There are currently 85 UK sites, and over 400 staff, and as staff move sites at least every 3 years, that is a lot of organisation. Once I was sorted then there is a process of liaising with HR, ordering uniform, and getting contacted by your area manager and site manager. 

Top tip, don’t do what I did and order large sizes for your uniform. They are very generous and I looked like a kid whose Mum had bought it to last the whole 5 years of secondary school!

The support from company is excellent, from the initial recruitment day, to the end of this year’s contract I felt really happy, knowing what was happening and what I had to do. I have mentioned the training before, there are a few online modules that you do in the first couple of weeks, things like Health and Safety, Equality and Diversity, and retail training. 

The rest is hands on, and covers things like the cleaning procedures, how to use all the equipment, and how to greet and pitch campers. This is specific to each site and camper of course, but there are some basic things that are common to all sites, such as the gap that needs to be left between tents, and caravans, for fire safety.

On our site, in common with many others, we had gravel pitches, which were clearly marked, as well as grass ones as in the photo below. It was important that you were clear with people where to pitch, so you didn’t end up having to tell them to move later, especially once they’d pegged their awnings in!

You have a 12 week probation period, with reviews at 4, 8 and the end of the probation. They gave me a chance to get some feedback,  set targets and give you a really clear idea of how you are doing. With only three of us on site, and due to days off, usually only two on duty any day, you get involved in everything really quickly. 

The working day depended on what shift I was on, I had the same ones each week, which did surprise me, as I thought they might vary. I worked 10 until 7, Mon, Tues and Thurs,  and 8 until 5, Weds and Friday, with Sat and Sun off. There is also an hour break for lunch halfway through the shift.

Mornings on late shifts always started with a quick catch up with my colleagues, usually sorting out what we would be doing, depending on the weather, and how many campers were expected that afternoon.

Campers leave by 12, and start to arrive from 1pm, so we could schedule grounds tasks for late morning, and the afternoon, in-between arrivals.

My first task on lates would be to do the cleaning,  which was my choice. I really enjoy cleaning, so volunteered to do it Mon to Fri. Cleaning is always done between 10.30 and 12, so I would start at 10.15 with brushing up around the shower and toilet block, and sorting my equipment. 

At my site I had 5 showers, 8 toilets, a urinal and 9 sinks to clean across the male, female and accessible facilities. I estimated that by the end of the 4 month contract I had cleaned the toilets about 750 times! This was the very last one of all of those.

After cleaning there would be check out admin, checking the pitches, then on to afternoon tasks. Mostly this was grounds work, mowing, weeding, and lots of general tidying up. What was particularly nice was seeing the later blooms, such as these daisies and Jerusalem Artichokes that we had decided not to get rid of the earlier weeding.

The first task on early shift would be an 8.30 check on the facilities block, as well as a walk around the site. This gives you a chance to check on any grounds work tasks. Luckily we had great weather, apart from one big storm, but we would check for fallen branches, soggy ground etc.

Facilities were also checked at 4pm and 7.30, which also gives you a chance to wander round and chat to the campers about their day.

As well as the outdoor work I was also on Reception duty some of the time. The office and shop was open 9 till 10.30 and 4.30 till 6, so one of us would be there then. Some of this time was for general admin, like daily check ins, giving advice, extending stays, checking up coming bookings.

I also did some specific things during my time there, such as reorganise and update our walks section, and add areas to our information boards about local facilities, local events, and more about the prisoner of war camp.

We always had lots of interesting people staying on site, and it was a great privilege to be able to help people with advice about where to walk or cycle, or how to organise a distillery visit.  Many of our European visitors  were particularly keen to do that as the region has over 30 whisky distilleries.

Meeting and talking to the campers was definitely the highlight of the job, especially as they were all so kind about the site and complimentary about our hard work to keep it looking good. I was always especially happy when they told me how clean the showers and toilets were!

We had visitors from so many different places, lots of Dutch and German,  but also Swiss, South African, American and Australian.  It was brilliant seeing all the different vehicles that they arrived in, these are just a few that really stood out.

I loved the Overland truck, but think the little micro caravan, or red and white Eriba are more me!

My colleagues, Steve the manager, and Tony who was a new starter like me, were absolutely wonderful.  They were so helpful, not only with work related things like when I couldn’t start the tractor,  but also helping me sort things out with the caravan.

I honestly didn’t have any issues with living and working on site, one of the things that was mentioned a lot at the recruitment day. I think it helps that I have spent the last three summers living on sites, and that my colleagues are both nomads, as many of the staff are. They live in their motor homes, and love travel, so we already had lots in common. 

So to conclude this very long post, loved the job, the people, the area. Never had a day when I wasn’t really excited to go to work. To be honest it didn’t really feel like work, just an excellent way to spend the summer in the company of like minded people. So, very much looking forward to starting again next year and for the new adventures I will have.

I am really pleased I took that step, and went for it, it has been amazing, and I am proud of myself for all my new skills, especially driving the tractor!

Until next time, hope you are enjoying life, see you soon and thanks for visiting.