THE UK’s first Universal theme park has taken a huge step closer to opening.
Online forms for people to register interest in working at the new Universal theme park have been distributed online.
The park is set to open its doors in 2031[/caption]
It is being built on a 476 acre site in Bedfordshire[/caption]
The new park will create 28,000 jobs
An estimated 28,000 jobs will be created by the theme park bringing in £50 billion for the economy.
The park will create roughly 20,000 jobs during construction and a further 8,000 when open.
The park is expected to open its doors in 2031 but no formal planning application for its construction has been submitted yet, it has been slated for a site in Bedfordshire.
The news that the government was backing plans to build the park broke in April.
People can already register interest in jobs
Now in a major step towards opening Universal has launched online forms for people to fill out and register interest in taking on a job at the new park.
Businesses can also now register interest in becoming suppliers for the theme park.
The forms state that there is expected to be a “significant” number of opportunities for businesses across various sectors.
If planning permission is granted construction at the massive 476-acre site will begin in 2026.
The park is to be built on a former brickworks in Bedfordshire with a preliminary opening date of 2031.
The online forms for people who want to work at the new theme park read: “Universal Destinations & Experiences, a unit of Comcast NBCUniversal, intends to build and operate the company’s first-ever entertainment resort complex in the United Kingdom, located in Bedford, pending planning consent approvals.
“This development will have a transformative impact on Bedford and the UK economy. It will be a major contributor to the creative arts and tourism industries, generating nearly £50 billion of economic benefit for the UK and creating thousands of new, high-quality jobs.
“We’re committed to advertising these jobs to local people and will engage with the community at the appropriate time. While it may be some time before these opportunities become available, you can register your interest by completing this form.”
Information for businesses that want to register their interest as suppliers for the park was also given.
It reads: ““Should the project receive planning consent, it is expected there will be a significant number of opportunities for businesses created across a range of different sectors.
The site was once home to a brickworks[/caption]
“We’re committed to advertising these to local businesses and will engage with the community at the appropriate time.”
Universal is set to offer a huge range of attractions
The planned theme park is said to offer cutting-edge immersive experiences, high-speed roller coasters, innovative attractions, and world-class hospitality.
The resort will also feature a 500-room hotel and is expected to bring in 8.5 million visitors in its first year alone.
It is reportedly expected to include its own train station, an entertainment zone, and dozens of attractions.
What the new Universal theme park means for the UK
By Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor
UNIVERSAL Studios being given the go-ahead for a UK theme park is welcome news for rollercoaster fans.
After the decade-long saga of the London Resort – a £3.5billion project dubbed the UK’s Disneyland that was eventually scrapped – the new Universal park will be the first new theme park in the country in decades.
Backed by both locals and now the government, it will also be the first Universal park in the UK and could have a number of themed lands including Harry Potter, Super Mario and Minions, although nothing has been confirmed yet.
We have a way off until it opens, with it hoping to be ready by 2031.
But with our Head of Travel Lisa Minot having a sneak peak at the new Epic Universe theme park in Florida (opening this summer) – it’s certainly an exciting addition to the UK.
