Universal Studios UK is set to become one of the biggest employment stories Bedford has ever seen. The planned Universal theme park and resort at Kempston Hardwick is expected to create around 28,000 jobs in total, including roles during the construction phase and thousands of permanent positions once the resort opens.
How many jobs will Universal Studios UK create?
The headline figure is huge: around 28,000 jobs are expected to be created by the Bedford resort. The UK Government has said this includes nearly 20,000 jobs during the construction period and around 8,000 new roles once the park opens, particularly across hospitality, creative industries and tourism.
Universal has also said the resort is expected to become one of the largest employers in the region when it opens, with approximately 80% of employees expected to come from Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes.
That local focus is important. For Bedford, this is not just about a theme park arriving nearby. It could mean new career paths for school leavers, college students, apprentices, tradespeople, hospitality workers, performers, engineers, project managers, security professionals and people already working in tourism or leisure.
What jobs will be available at Universal Studios UK?
Universal has not yet published the full list of operational roles for the Bedford resort, but we can make a strong, evidence-based picture from what has been officially announced and from how Universal resorts operate elsewhere.
All Universal Studios UK jobs can be found on the Universal Parks website.
Construction and infrastructure jobs
Before the rides open, the biggest wave of employment will be construction and infrastructure. This is where many of the first major opportunities are likely to appear.
The project will need people working across site preparation, roads, utilities, power, water, drainage, construction management, health and safety, environmental compliance, engineering, surveying, logistics and specialist ride installation. In February 2026, ESP Utilities Group was appointed to design, build and operate major infrastructure for the resort, including a water treatment facility, new electricity substation, all-electric central energy plant, EV charging and low-carbon transport links.
That points towards opportunities for:
- civil engineers
- construction managers
- utilities specialists
- electricians
- environmental managers
- project coordinators
- quantity surveyors
- health and safety managers
- site supervisors
- plant operators
- logistics and procurement teams
These roles are already starting to appear in early recruitment activity, especially around technical delivery, ride systems, utilities and construction safety.
What jobs have been advertised so far?
Some Universal Studios UK-related roles have already appeared, mainly for the early project, technical and construction phases rather than day-to-day theme park operations.
Current and recent listings have included roles such as Designer, Show/Set, Manager, Security Operations, Manager, Emergency Management Services, Coordinator, Technical Compliance, Director, Security, Utilities Project Manager, Senior Manager, Talent & Culture, ELV Project Manager, Associate Engineer, Ride & Show Engineering, Technical Program Manager, Senior Construction Director for Health, Safety and Environment, Senior Construction Environmental Manager and Senior Health & Safety Manager for Construction.
These early adverts tell us a lot about the stage the project is in. Universal is not yet hiring ride operators, shop assistants, hotel receptionists or food and beverage staff. Instead, the focus so far is on building the team that can design, manage, construct, secure and deliver the resort.
Universal Creative’s own careers page also lists major career areas including Creative Studio, Engineering and Safety, Administration, Facilities and Construction, and Internships. It confirms that Universal Creative intends to build the company’s first Universal-branded theme park and resort in Bedford, with dedicated search links for Bedford roles.
Future theme park jobs once the resort opens
As the project gets closer to opening, the range of jobs should broaden significantly. Based on the confirmed plans for a theme park, hotel, retail, dining and entertainment complex, future roles are likely to include:
Guest-facing theme park roles
These will be the jobs most visitors think of first. Expect opportunities in guest services, ticketing, admissions, ride operations, queue management, VIP experiences, accessibility support, park information and customer care.
These roles will suit people who enjoy working with the public, solving problems quickly and helping visitors have a smooth day out.
Food, drink and hospitality jobs
With restaurants, cafés, food stalls, bars, hotel accommodation and entertainment areas planned, hospitality is expected to be one of the biggest employment areas. Roles could include chefs, kitchen assistants, baristas, waiting staff, bar staff, restaurant supervisors, hotel reception teams, housekeeping, hotel management and events staff.
The Government has said Universal has committed to working with local colleges and universities to train the next generation of hospitality workers, including through apprenticeships and internships. (GOV.UK)
Retail and merchandise jobs
Universal resorts are known for shops, branded merchandise and themed retail experiences. Once the Bedford resort moves towards opening, there are likely to be jobs in retail sales, stock management, visual merchandising, warehouse operations, buying, product display and store management.
Entertainment and performance roles
Universal’s global parks use actors, dancers, musicians, stunt performers, character performers and live entertainment teams. Universal’s auditions page lists opportunities for performers such as actors, dancers, singers, musicians, stunt performers, in-line skaters and stilt walkers across its parks and entertainment venues.
No Bedford audition programme has been confirmed yet, but entertainment roles are highly likely once the UK resort gets closer to opening.
Engineering, maintenance and technical jobs
A major theme park needs a large technical workforce long after construction is complete. Rides, shows, lighting, projection, audio, special effects, networks, safety systems and mechanical systems all need inspection, maintenance and repair.
Universal Creative describes its engineering and safety work as covering ride elements, show elements, audio-visual systems, lighting, special effects, network systems and interactives.
This could create long-term careers for mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, AV technicians, control systems specialists, maintenance technicians, safety inspectors and technical managers.
Security, emergency planning and operations
Security and emergency management roles have already appeared in Bedford job listings, which makes sense for a resort expected to welcome millions of visitors a year. Current adverts have included security operations, emergency management services, director-level security roles and technical compliance.
As the park develops, this area could grow to include uniformed security, control room staff, first aid, crowd management, incident response, business continuity and guest safety teams.
Office, support and corporate roles
Behind every theme park is a large support operation. Future roles may include HR, finance, marketing, PR, social media, IT, legal, procurement, training, payroll, scheduling, data analysis and administration.
A current Bedford listing for Senior Manager, Talent & Culture shows that HR and workforce planning are already part of the early recruitment picture.
Apprenticeships, internships and training
One of the most important parts of the Universal Studios UK jobs story is training. Bedford College Group has said it has already had conversations with local authorities and Universal officials about the skills needed for the resort. It expects growth across construction, hospitality, travel and tourism, aviation, marketing, media, digital technology and the creative industries.
The college group has also said it is preparing new programmes, including a new hospitality school and logistics academy, to help local people get ready for the jobs expected before and after the resort opens.
For students and younger jobseekers, this could be one of the best routes into future Universal careers. Apprenticeships and internships may become especially important as the resort approaches opening.
How much local interest has there been?
Interest in Universal Studios UK jobs is already strong. In August 2025, Blooloop reported that more than 18,000 people had expressed interest in future job opportunities, with around 80% living in Bedford or the surrounding region. Around 2,000 suppliers had also expressed interest in working with Universal. (
That level of early interest shows how significant the project could be for Bedfordshire. It also means anyone hoping to work at the resort should start preparing early, especially for skilled roles in construction, engineering, hospitality and visitor operations.
When will most Universal Studios UK jobs be advertised?
The biggest wave of theme park jobs is not expected immediately. The early roles are linked to planning, design, project management, infrastructure, construction, safety and technical delivery.
The main public recruitment push for operational roles is likely to come much closer to opening, as Universal begins staffing the theme park, hotel, restaurants, shops, entertainment venues and guest services teams.
The current target opening year remains 2031, according to the UK Government’s announcement.
