'I would absolutely love to work at Universal'

If Universal gets the go-ahead to build a new theme park on a 480-acre plot of land south of Bedford, it will be three times larger than Legoland and could create thousands of jobs.

The US-based company said it "would become one of the largest single employers in Bedford" and revealed that 75% of its workforce would come from Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes.

Bedford College already trains hundreds of students in engineering, tourism and the performing arts - just the kind of roles that need filling.

So what might a theme park mean for the next generation?

Sophie Vatore, 19, a performing arts and make-up student, said: "I would absolutely love to work there. I hope they have performances.

"Work experience would be cool - it's not like a job for me, it’s doing something I love."

Alex Bellamy, 18, is an engineering student.

"I’m just really interested in the whole idea of it," he said. "You know, the fact we’ve created something to provide thrills for people is really good and all the engineering behind it [is something] I find really interesting."

Jason Glennie, an 18-year-old stage management and technical theatre student, already sees similarities between the equipment at his college and what the park could provide.

"To have that on a large scale would really give people the opportunity to see a part of the industry that is in the shadows around Bedford," he said.

"We're always looking for work to have that huge opportunity for jobs - and to meet people would be perfect for what we want to start doing."

Toni Clack, an electronics engineering student, said: "The software engineering and building the electronics are all skills that are interchangeable.

"As soon as you learn the basics of electronic software then you can take it anywhere you want."

Steve Croft, an engineering lecturer, said the college had at least 100 young engineers each year looking for jobs.

"The theme park is a great opportunity because these students are learning automation, they’re learning general engineering skills, like maths and science, so we’re making them into well-rounded general engineers, and they're looking for job opportunities," he said.

"A theme park is going to be massive [and] there's going to be lots of work in the design and the construction of it but also the running of it as well. It's going to put Bedford on the map and that going to bring on lots of other businesses."

Nigel Clauzel, head of performing arts, said: "You go to other theme parks where they’ve got people performing, dressing up, entertaining the kids, so the opportunities for us are really widespread.

"We’ve got technicians who can work in events management, so it’s quite an amazing opportunity for them."

Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 0800 169 1830