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Park People Ainsley James
Keeping Thorpe Park’s guests safe gives me job satisfaction
As an engineer at the Thorpe Park Resort, I’m part of the team that inspects the safety of the rollercoasters. Safety is of paramount importance and always our number one priority. To ensure this level of safety is achieved, every attraction is rigorously inspected and tested before each day of the operating season. Any malfunctions or repairs that require remedy are prioritised and then rectified. My role is to organise the preventative, reactive and winter maintenance tasks to ensure the smooth running of the attractions within my area. This job is extremely varied, which is what keeps most of us interested. My daily tasks can range from attending meetings to discuss future plans for the park’s engineering team, to climbing 130ft up a rollercoaster lift to investigate a possible fault. There are times, however, when rides require testing so I could be getting soaked on the Loggers Leap log flume or accelerating to 80mph in less than two seconds on the Stealth launch coaster. We also react to unplanned repairs, in addition to all the planned maintenance.
Throughout the winter when the park is closed, each attraction is disassembled to component level to be inspected by an independent inspection body. Once they are checked and the ride rebuilt, a full functional test must then be completed. We will then be issued with a ‘declaration of conformity’ to show that each attraction is safe to operate. I started as an engineer at a young age, becoming interested in finding out how everything works. Initially this meant I would take everything apart with no idea how to put it back together! I also became interested in motorcycles and boats, which fuelled my interest in engineering. I was successful in securing an apprenticeship within a small engineering team responsible for the maintenance of a complete printing and binding factory in Colchester. The training programme lasted four years, and involved attending college and on-site training to develop my skills and gain a qualification. Once my training was complete, I was lucky enough to be offered a full-time job within the team. Apprenticeships are an excellent way to become familiar with engineering. They are great because they teach both the practical and theoretical side of engineering alongside each other. I feel they provide benefits to both the employer and employee and are the best way to begin a career in engineering.
A great point in my career was in 2012 when I became electrical area team leader here at Thorpe Park. This opportunity came after working at the Alton Towers resort from 2007 where I started my career as an electrical engineer with Merlin (operator of both parks). The opportunity to move across to Thorpe Park to expand my skills and knowledge, and meet new people has been a great experience and presented me with other exciting new challenges and opportunities.
The best part of the job for me now at Thorpe has to be the satisfaction that I get when I see the excited families enjoying their stay at the resort, knowing I have played my part to ensure they have a safe and enjoyable day.
Ainsley James, 31, is an electrical area manager at Thorpe Park near London and an ambassador for Tomorrow’s Engineers Week (#TEWeek14). Staged across the UK from 3-7 November, the aim is to change perceptions of engineering among young people, their parents and teachers.
tomorrowsengineers.org.uk
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