From Seasonal to Senior: Building a Career in Holiday Parks

Working in a holiday park might start as a short-term role, a summer season, a part-time job, a first step into hospitality. But for many people, it becomes something much more. A place to grow. A career with purpose. A path that leads from the front line to senior leadership.

The UK holiday park industry has always been a people-first environment. As staycations continue to rise and parks evolve with better facilities and broader guest expectations, the opportunities for progression are only growing.

A Seasonal Career That Grows With You

Unlike some industries where progression feels hidden or out of reach, holiday parks often offer clear, visible pathways. Many of today’s park leaders began in hands-on roles, learning the ropes by doing the work, serving guests, solving problems, supporting teams and gradually taking on more responsibility as their confidence and knowledge grew.

What makes this industry special is how much that early experience matters. When you've worked a busy check-in, turned around a caravan in record time, or helped a family make memories, you don’t just understand operations, you understand people. And that’s what leadership in this world is really about.

Develop your skills over time

Every season brings a new set of experiences. And those experiences bring new skills, from communication and teamwork to decision-making and operational awareness. Over time, those experiences stack up, and you start to see how the whole park fits together. That’s often when people feel the pull toward leadership.

Progression doesn’t always follow a straight line, and that’s okay. Sometimes it means stepping sideways to try something new, or putting your hand up for a development opportunity, or simply staying curious and committed. What matters is showing up with care, learning as you go, and building the kind of trust that opens doors.

The Leadership and Career Journey

Career growth in this the holiday park sector isn’t just about job titles; it’s about becoming the kind of leader who makes a real difference. Someone who keeps calm under pressure. Who knows how to rally a team. Who understands that guest satisfaction isn’t a metric, it’s a feeling.

Training helps. So does mentorship, feedback, and the support of good leaders above you. But the biggest driver is often your own mindset: a willingness to learn, a passion for people, and a belief in the bigger picture.

As you move further into leadership, your perspective widens. You begin to think about performance, planning, and long-term strategy. You balance the guest experience with the commercial reality. You mentor others just as you were mentored yourself.

And whether you’re leading a small team or an entire park, the heartbeat stays the same people.

For those who love working with people, who thrive in variety, and who see the value in small moments as well as big results, holiday parks offer a rare kind of career journey. Check out our the best holiday park jobs here and how to find the best positions here.

One where every step teaches you something. One where growth feels grounded, not forced. And one where you can look back one day and say, “I built something here.”

Thinking about your next step?

Whether you’re just getting started or ready to grow into something bigger, we’re here to help you shape a career that feels right for you not just for now, but for the long run.

Get in touch with the team at HPL Recruitment to chat about what’s possible. You bring the passion, we’ll help with the path.