From organising a team of 36 passionate entertainers to ensuring lost toys are returned to their young owners, Butlin’s Micheala tells Juliet Dennis what it’s like to be a Redcoat.
My typical day at work involves . . .
I get up and start the morning with a strong coffee and a banana. I work shifts so the time I get up depends on when I’m starting. No two days are ever the same at Butlin’s and it is my responsibility to make sure the Redcoat team is ready for anything. One day I could be creating the Redcoats rotas, known as ‘The Detail’, and the next I could be performing Redcoat duties myself – meeting guests and ensuring they have everything they need for an enjoyable stay. The most important part of the role is ensuring we offer the fantastic customer service that Redcoats are known for, so it’s my job to make sure the team has what they need to be able to deliver that. After finishing work I’ll go to the gym, spend time with the girls or head off resort, for a bite to eat. I’m a night owl and I rarely go to bed before midnight.
I’ve been in my job for…
Nine years. I started as a Redcoat in 2007, and have since progressed on to be a Redcoat team leader.
I became a Redcoat because…
The role is so iconic. For 80 years we have been the ambassadors of Butlin’s – interacting with, hosting and entertaining guests. That always really appealed to me.
The most rewarding part of my job is…
Watching families create special memories and seeing children smile. Often I get to meet children on their first holiday at the age of two, and they’re still coming back at the age of eight just as happy to see me and my team.
The most challenging part of my job is…
Organising 36 excitable Redcoats on busy days. They are all so passionate about what they do!
My favourite destination is…
I haven’t yet been, but a dream of mine is to visit Hawaii. It looks like heaven!
The thing I’m asked the most is…
Is it hard to smile all the time? It’s funny but we smile because we love what we do. The Redcoat uniform is not complete without a smile.
The worst thing that’s happened at work is…
As all parents will know, there is nothing quite like an inconsolable child who has lost their favourite toy. There’s no emergency quite like it and unfortunately this can happen quite often when there’s so much going on and the child is preoccupied. We generally have a good success rate of finding the toys.
To relax I like to…
Go to the health and relaxation spa on resort for a deep tissue shiatsu massage.
If I was only allowed one thing on a desert island it would be….
A guide on how to survive on a desert island. You need to be practical in my job!