Team London Ambassadors

Team London Ambassadors are the welcoming face of London and provide visitors with accurate and timely information at major tourist hot spots during the busiest months of the year. 

You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated individual with good communication skills and a willingness to help members of the public. You will be able and willing to provide support to a range of individuals including Londoners, domestic and international tourists, people with disabilities, young people, families, and people with English as a second language. Whilst knowledge of London is helpful it is not essential as we will give you all the information and training you need to complete the role. 

You’ll have the opportunity to brush up on your own London knowledge and share top tips and information about popular attractions in our great city.

Responsibilities 

• Offer useful, friendly, and pro-active advice to both domestic and international tourist as well as Londoners.

• Support the public with up-to-date information and guidance on attraction opening times, transport queries, family friendly activities, step-free station access, and more.

• Provide support to a range of individuals including Londoners, domestic and international tourists.

• Listen to and carefully follow instructions from your Team Leader and/or GLA staff.

Qualities 

• Willingness and ability to deliver an excellent level of customer service. 

• A love of London and desire to share this with others. 

• Self-motivated and pro-active attitude. 

• Willingness to volunteer as part of a team and offer support to others. 

• Respectful of others with a commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. 

• Good spoken English and communications skills. 

• Ability to listen to and respond appropriately to requests from visitors.

• Additional languages are welcomed.

This year Ambassadors will be at up to seven central London locations, including: Piccadilly Circus, Parliament Square, Exhibition Road (V&A Museum) as well as many others. 

The programme will operate five days a week during the summer, from Wednesday – Sunday. Days are split into two shifts of four hours, with one shift in the morning and one shift in the afternoon.  

All new Ambassadors will need to commit to the following: 

• attend a 30-minute interview as part of the selection process in April-May 2022 

• attend a 2-hour training session in June 2022 

• complete core e-learning modules in Customer Service, and Equality and Diversity before shifts can be booked 

• volunteer for at least three shifts (four hours per shift) during the summer period at a location and shift time of your choice.

Please note: if we receive more applications than places available, we will select volunteers based on how well they demonstrate they meet the criteria in the role description in their application. If you are not successful this time, we will signpost you to alternative volunteering opportunities. 

Travel expenses

• Ambassadors who are based at central locations may receive travel expenses for up to zones 1-6 (equivalent to a maximum of £13.20 per shift) depending on the area in which they live. 

• Ambassadors volunteering at Gatwick Airport are able to claim up to £25 per day, for public transport or mileage costs. Free parking is also offered at Gatwick. Please bear in mind that this will be reimbursed at the end of the summer and not before. 

• Travel expenses and daily refreshment allowances are pre-loaded onto a pre-paid card provided to the volunteer at Foundation Training.

Refreshment allowance

• Each volunteer will receive £6 per shift for refreshments. This will be loaded onto your pre-paid card in advance of your shifts. The card can be used at most cafes and supermarkets.

Uniform and accreditation

• Ambassadors are provided with a unique uniform that makes them easily identifiable to the public. This is yours to keep, along with your accreditation pass. It must only be worn during Ambassador duties. 

Other benefits

• In addition to the experience gained in interacting with the public, all Ambassadors are provided with customer service training and a range of special opportunities from our host venues including free entry and discounts.  

• Once you are recruited and part of the wider Team London Ambassador programme, there will be the opportunity to volunteer in key roles for some of our Major Events including the London Marathon and Ride London. 

If you’re interested in volunteering, sign up to our mailing list.  

All prospective volunteers will need to complete an application form and to become an Ambassador volunteer.  

What does the Ambassador role entail?  

As an Ambassador you will be based around an information pod in one of our central London locations. You will be part of a team of up to five volunteers, and will interact with members of the public on a range of topics. This may include questions about transport links, the quickest route from A to B, suggestions for things to do in the local area and information about wider London offerings such as museums, exhibitions and so on. The role is about talking to Londoners and visitors alike to help them get the most out of the capital and showcasing the city and all it has to offer 

How can I prepare for my shift? 

As well as completing your e-learning modules on Customer Service and Equality and Diversity and attending the Foundation Training session, you’ll be expected to do some ‘homework’ and get to know your shift location. As well as basic information such as the nearest toilets, cash machines and transport hubs, you should brush up on local restaurants, theatres and attractions. You will be provided with information to help you to do this. 

How long will a shift last? 

Volunteers can choose their own shifts, with morning and afternoon shifts available five days a week from Wednesday – Sunday, from Wednesday 3 August – Sunday 4 September Volunteering shifts are likely to last between four to five hours. This will include a 20-minute break for you to eat, drink and rest. If you require additional breaks due to health requirements, please ensure this information is up to date on your volunteer portal and you inform the programme team so we can accommodate this. 

Can I volunteer for two consecutive shifts? 

Yes, this will be possible if the shifts are available. In this case, we encourage you to take a longer lunch break which your Team Leader will accommodate. 

How many shifts will I be expected to complete? 

To get the most from your volunteering experience we recommend undertaking at least three shifts. We understand that your availability may not allow you to commit to this number of shifts, or you may wish to do more, however three will allow you to get to know your location a little better and connect with other volunteers. 

What age do I have to be to take part? 

This opportunity is available to those aged 18 and over. 

If you have any further questions about the programme, get in touch on [email protected]  

How many volunteers will be recruited?  

We aim to recruit 540 volunteers for the Ambassador programme this Summer 2022. 

When will applications open and close? 

Applications to volunteer for the 2022 Summer Ambassador programme will be open until Sunday 3 April, 11:59pm.  

What will be involved in the recruitment process? 

Team London Ambassadors will be selected from their application form which capturing experience, enthusiasm and matching the Team London values too.  

Team Leader volunteers will be invited to attend an online interview in April 2022. This interview will take place over Microsoft Teams and will take no more than 30 minutes. A range of dates and times will be available for you to choose from.  

When will I hear whether I have been successful? 

Applicants will be informed whether they have been successful or not in May 2022. 

Will my additional needs be accommodated? 

The Ambassador programme is open to everyone, and our roles are fully accessible so there will be no boundaries to you taking part. If you have any specific access requirements, please ensure these are updated on your volunteer portal so that the team can make any necessary adjustments. If you have any questions regarding the accessibility of your role or require any support or adjustments, please email [email protected]