Luke Marshall has worked as a Ticket Sales and Information Assistant for the past two summers.  Luke is now employed by Royal Collection Enterprises as a permanent Ticket Sales and Information Assistant.

I applied for the position of Ticket Sales and Information Assistant at Buckingham Palace because it sounded so interesting.  It certainly appeared to be a bit different from the norm, and, as a student, I was seeking something that would stand out on my CV. Oh, and it also went down extremely well with my Grandma!

Working as a Ticket Sales and Information Assistant can consist of many different duties.  On a typical day during the Summer Opening, I would attend a morning briefing, when the team obtains information about the previous day or any important changes that may affect our day.  As you work on a rotational basis, you may have been off on a particularly busy Wednesday and need to be brought up to speed for your shift on Thursday. During the briefing, you will be assigned to your position for the day - this could be at the Visitor Entrance or in The Queen's Gallery or the Royal Mews, or you could be assigned to the Contact Centre, working on the phones, taking internet bookings or allocating tickets.  Usually you will be moved around on different days, but you will often be assigned to the area in which you work best.  Sometimes you will even be asked to work at Windsor Castle - it's a very different atmosphere to the hustle and bustle of the city.

Working as a Ticket Sales and Information Assistant in such a world-renowned place brings you into contact with a huge number of visitors from around the world.  Communication skills really are key in this role; it can be difficult when there are language barriers, but patience, perseverance and friendliness are key to understanding your customer's needs.  It can be really rewarding when you break a language barrier and meet the individual or group's needs.

A very important part of the day has to be lunch! The food is great. Although I would have to say that the best element of the role is the team you work with. As a permanent employee, I work throughout the year with a strong core team and during the summer I am lucky enough to be part of a large, hugely energetic and diverse team. It's hard work but great fun, especially as we all wind down in the evening through various social events.

When I was invited back for the 2006 season I was thrilled.  I had just finished University and didn't know which direction I wanted to go in.  When I started my training for the 2006 opening, I decided that I would like to be part of the team permanently.  I mentioned this to one of the senior members of the Ticket Sales and Information Contact Centre, and there happened to be a vacancy - it just went from there really!  As far as my future plans go, I am really keen to build a career within the Royal Collection or another department of the Royal Household.