It is probably safe to say that parking isn't always the first thing that springs to mind when people are considering what career path to take. However, when you stop to think about it, having an effective parking sector is actually vital for the day-to-day operations of the whole country.
According to statistics from the Department for Transport, there are currently more than 35 million vehicles licensed for use on the UK's roads at present. Meanwhile, more than 15 million people drive to work every single day.
That's a lot of cars and a lot of drivers, all of whom need a place to park. Without parking professionals to manage these huge numbers, there would be chaos on the roads throughout the country. If you think congestion and traffic are a problem at the moment, imagine how bad it would be without the parking sector keeping order.
It's clear parking professionals are a vital part of the UK's workforce, but what are some of the exact positions available in the industry?
- Civil Enforcement Officer (Traffic Warden)
- Car Park Attendant
- Parking Manager
- CCTV Operator
- Parking Policy and Performance Manager
- Parking Supervisor
- Traffic Engineer
- Head of Parking
- Controlled Parking Zone Design
The roles above are just a snapshot of some of the most common positions available in the parking sector. So, now that you know what types of parking jobs are on offer, who will you be working for should you pursue a career in the industry?
Many parking positions such as Civil Enforcement Officer are employed by councils and local authorities. It is the responsibility of these organisations to ensure the UK's roads as are as safe and efficient as possible, so it's natural that they are responsible for the parking sector.
Plenty of pros
Working in the public sector can have many advantages. Pay tends to be higher than in the private sector, with superior holidays and pension schemes often on offer as well. What's more, you get the satisfaction of knowing your work is making a contribution to the local community, as the fees raised from parking offences are regularly put towards road repairs and other useful causes. Jobs in parking are not exclusively found in the public sector, however, and there are plenty of positions on offer with private companies that are often well paid.
Parking is a worthwhile and rewarding career that allows you to provide a service the country needs, but what are the other advantages? Positions such as Civil Enforcement Officer involve spending much of the day out on the streets on patrol. If you don't like the thought of being sat in front of a computer in an office for 40 hours every week this could be the job for you. There also tends to be wide level of variation in parking jobs and it's rare to be stuck doing the same task over and over again.
Parking is a sector that provides plenty of opportunities for progression and while you will likely need to start at an entry-level position it will be possible to move up into management and more senior roles as your level of skill and experience grows.
Interested in pursuing a career in the parking sector? Here at Unity we are specialists for recruitment in the industry. Click here to see the range of parking jobs we currently have on offer.
