About Subscribe Submit news Get in touch
 
Home Opinion In depth Video LIVE news Interviews Company profiles Events diary Jobs
Merlin introduces career acceleration scheme for frontline staff | Planet Attractions
     

news

Merlin introduces career acceleration scheme for frontline staff

Merlin is introducing a new education scheme that will offer training opportunities to guest-facing staff members to help elevate their careers and encourage diversity in the company’s senior ranks




The programme will feature a mix of practical work and experiential learning   Credit: Merlin Entertainments

Merlin Entertainments has introduced a new training programme for its front-facing members of staff that aims to help them further their careers and encourage diversity in the company’s senior ranks.

Dubbed ‘XCalibre Rising’, the scheme is open to all Merlin staff across its 140 different attractions in 24 countries, with an initial group to be launched into a 12-month business masterclass programme which could see their careers fast-tracked and boosted into potential managerial positions.

Programme participants will gain experience in different areas of Merlin’s global business, something which previously would not have been possible without years of experience.

The course will be divided into two key topics - marketing or attraction management - with subject areas covering personal impact, critical thinking, influencing, leadership, self-management, commercial savvy and marketing.

Participants will be offered a range of mentoring sessions and masterclasses, and will take part in business projects to be presented to Merlin’s Executive team.

They will also travel to different Merlin attractions across the world with Merlin covering travel and expenses, and will spend three months in a role which will hopefully lead to a permanent position following the programme.

“We want people from diverse backgrounds at every level of our business but we recognised that sometimes our personal circumstances don’t allow us the same opportunities to get formal qualifications or really pursue the career of our dreams and we end up jumping headfirst into a job just to make ends meet,” said Fiona Eastwood, executive champion for inclusion and diversity at Merlin.

“All it takes to create a career like no other is the right opportunity and we hope this programme will do just that! We know we have talented individuals across all of our businesses and XCalibre Rising provides a world-class fast-track career development programme. It's aimed at hard-working, passionate, talented people, who deserve a chance, and who haven't had the same privileges in life afforded to those on graduate schemes or in other blue-chip organisations.”


Visitor attractions

 

Dolly Parton to launch third Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show in Florida this June





Adventures by Disney announces 2026 Tours to Switzerland and Greece





TEA and Licensing International announce strategic partnership




Industry insights



The world is on fire, so why should we care about cultural heritage?



Video



WATCH: ‘Surround yourself in horror’ as Universal’s Horror Unleashed prepares for 2025 debut


In Depth



Supplier Showcase 2025: The biggest attractions projects landing worldwide this year



© Kazoo 5 Limited 2025
About Subscribe Get in touch
 
Opinion In depth Interviews
LIVE news Profiles Diary Video
Jobs
Merlin introduces career acceleration scheme for frontline staff | Planet Attractions
news

Merlin introduces career acceleration scheme for frontline staff

Merlin is introducing a new education scheme that will offer training opportunities to guest-facing staff members to help elevate their careers and encourage diversity in the company’s senior ranks




The programme will feature a mix of practical work and experiential learning   Credit: Merlin Entertainments

Merlin Entertainments has introduced a new training programme for its front-facing members of staff that aims to help them further their careers and encourage diversity in the company’s senior ranks.

Dubbed ‘XCalibre Rising’, the scheme is open to all Merlin staff across its 140 different attractions in 24 countries, with an initial group to be launched into a 12-month business masterclass programme which could see their careers fast-tracked and boosted into potential managerial positions.

Programme participants will gain experience in different areas of Merlin’s global business, something which previously would not have been possible without years of experience.

The course will be divided into two key topics - marketing or attraction management - with subject areas covering personal impact, critical thinking, influencing, leadership, self-management, commercial savvy and marketing.

Participants will be offered a range of mentoring sessions and masterclasses, and will take part in business projects to be presented to Merlin’s Executive team.

They will also travel to different Merlin attractions across the world with Merlin covering travel and expenses, and will spend three months in a role which will hopefully lead to a permanent position following the programme.

“We want people from diverse backgrounds at every level of our business but we recognised that sometimes our personal circumstances don’t allow us the same opportunities to get formal qualifications or really pursue the career of our dreams and we end up jumping headfirst into a job just to make ends meet,” said Fiona Eastwood, executive champion for inclusion and diversity at Merlin.

“All it takes to create a career like no other is the right opportunity and we hope this programme will do just that! We know we have talented individuals across all of our businesses and XCalibre Rising provides a world-class fast-track career development programme. It's aimed at hard-working, passionate, talented people, who deserve a chance, and who haven't had the same privileges in life afforded to those on graduate schemes or in other blue-chip organisations.”


 



© Kazoo 5 Limited 2025