Work Placement

Every year we offer a limited number of work placements throughout the zoo.

Internships

We offer two Internship options, the 3 Month Internship Programme and the One Year Internship Programme, both of which involve working with our Animal Keeping Sections on a voluntary basis.

All those doing work placement with the Animal Sections must be at least 18 years old so our internships are best suited to those taking a gap-year between ‘A’-Levels/National Diploma and further studies, sandwich placements or those who have already graduated from University/College, preferably having studied in a related subject.

Please note that all placements are voluntary and unpaid.

Click here for more information

All our three month internship places are filled until Autumn 2013. Should this change we will re-advertise on these pages.

Under 16s’ Work Experience

We have 16 places available during the period of March to July in the following departments: Catering, Retail, Guest Services and Zoo Services. For further details about work experience in the departments please see below. As places are limited we only offer places to local school children through Education Business Plus.

How to Apply

Please contact your local Education Business Plus (Connexions) for an application form. Once you have completed the form please send it to:

Recruitment
Chester Zoo
Upton By Chester
Chester
CH2 1LH

Placement Descriptions:

Catering
Students will assist with the presentation of hot and cold food (e.g. salads, sandwiches, sweets, vegetables, cooked dishes etc.) and help with clearing tables, cleaning floors and dishwasher operation.

There will be some opportunity to observe skilled catering staff at work and learn about food storage and hygiene protocol.

Retail
Working in the zoo shop the student will gain an overview of all aspects of retail work; customer care, display, pricing goods, stock rotation, stockroom etc. The student will also assist with general housekeeping tasks helping to keep the shop neat and tidy at all times.

Zoo Services
Work will include working along side experienced staff: on the monorail platforms and boat jetty, gardening, car parking, keeping the grounds litter free, interacting with our visitors and learning good customer care.

Guest Services
Students will assist experienced staff within the guest services department, duties include: visitor admissions, pass out gate, gift aid collection, wheelchairs and buggy hire, market research, information centre and membership sales.

Guest services interact closely with our visitors and this is an ideal opportunity to learn about customer care including dealing with complaints.

Places are limited to one student per section.