Andy Walker
Andy Walker – Operations Manager, Sealife Cuxhaven (secondment)
BA Hons Business Marketing, Nottingham Trent University 2005
“The opportunity to join the Merlin graduate scheme came at a perfect time – I had recently graduated and was already working in an environment I loved, Alton Towers. I had worked in other businesses before but my past jobs had never seemed “enough”. I knew this programme would enable me to fast track up the ladder of an organisation where the culture was exciting, fun and different to that of just about any other company out there.
“The biggest learning for me was finally working in a marketing department when the previous week I had been at the coal face working on the Waterpark reception. This experience and the variety of placements that followed developed my confidence and adaptability enormously.
“I have presented to our board on my achievements at the end of each year – there are not many companies of this size where the CEO takes such an active interest in the future leaders in the company and I relish that. Most recently this has led me to join the opening team of a brand new attraction in Germany – this has been a massive buzz, and an opportunity I certainly wouldn’t have had if I wasn’t in the graduate programme.”
