Gig Opportunities in New-Build Developments: From Bike Store Attendant to Events Coordinator

Hook: Turn move-in season into your next paycheck — even if you’re a student

Large residential developments create a surprising ecosystem of short-term and part-time gigs: from a bike store attendant stocking e-bike chargers to an events coordinator running launch parties. If you’re a student juggling classes, or a lifelong learner looking for flexible work, these on-site roles are high-value, local, and often easy to verify. This guide shows you which gigs appear on new-build sites in 2026, how to find them, how to check legitimacy, and exactly what to say when you apply.

The evolution in 2026: why new-builds are hiring more short-term staff

By late 2025 and into 2026, developers increasingly package residential projects as lifestyle ecosystems rather than just flats. Amenity-rich schemes — think bike stores, community bars, dog parks, pop-up retail, and dedicated events suites — require flexible staff for:

• move-in waves and launch events (practical completion to first-month turnover)
• short-term pop-ups and seasonal activations (holiday markets, open-days)
• on-site maintenance and concierge cover while permanent staff are recruited
• pilot services for sustainability and mobility programs (bike hubs, EV charging attendants)

Developers now rely on resident apps, proptech platforms, and local contractors to run these services, which means more gig-style and temporary roles suited to students. The result: predictable hiring windows, repeatable part-time shifts, and opportunities that can fit around study.

Common short-term and part-time gigs you’ll find on new-build sites

Below are practical, real-world roles students can pursue. For each role I include what you’ll do, when they hire, and the skills or certifications that make you stand out.

1. Bike store attendant / micro-mobility attendant

• What you do: maintain communal bikes, manage e-bike charging, rent and sign out bikes to residents, log repairs, assist with safety checks.
• When they hire: at handover, early move-in and when cycling amenity is unveiled — often temporary cover while a permanent operator is set up.
• Stand-out skills: basic mechanical knowledge, bike-trade course, customer-facing experience, familiarity with app-based rentals.

2. Events coordinator / events assistant

• What you do: plan and run resident launch nights, open-days, pop-up markets, and fitness or social programming.
• When they hire: one to three months before a show-home launch and for recurring community events.
• Stand-out skills: event checklists, budgeting basics, vendor coordination, brief portfolio of events or social proof.

3. Sales-gallery host / marketing assistant

• What you do: staff the sales suite, welcome prospective buyers, run viewings, help with marketing materials and social media coverage.
• When they hire: from the pre-launch phase through developer marketing cycles — often part-time shifts during weekends.
• Stand-out skills: presentation, customer service, photography for social channels, familiarity with CRM basics.

4. Concierge / resident services assistant

• What you do: manage deliveries, meet residents, assist with bookings for communal spaces, and report maintenance issues.
• When they hire: at move-in and during initial months when the resident population ramps up.
• Stand-out skills: strong communication, basic property management knowledge, conflict resolution training.

5. On-site barista / pop-up bar staff

• What you do: serve coffee or drinks at the community bar or during events, manage stock and payments.
• When they hire: ahead of social activations and weekend resident events.
• Stand-out skills: barista certification, hospitality experience, flexible evening/weekend availability.

6. Dog-park attendant / pet amenity assistant

• What you do: oversee indoor or outdoor dog-play areas, maintain cleanliness, schedule classes or agility events.
• When they hire: when pet-friendly amenities open or for event days.
• Stand-out skills: animal-handling experience, basic first aid for pets, customer-facing skills.

7. Temporary maintenance helpers / handypersons

• What you do: assist contractors with small repairs, painting touch-ups, furniture setup for show homes or events.
• When they hire: during practical completion and staged fit-out periods.
• Stand-out skills: basic DIY skills, CSCS card or equivalent, reliability for early starts.

8. Security / stewarding roles

• What you do: steward events, manage access control during open days, and ensure resident safety during high-traffic moves.
• When they hire: big launch weekends and move-in weekends.
• Stand-out skills: SIA licence (UK) or equivalent, crowd management experience.

9. Pop-up retail or kiosk staff

• What you do: staff temporary shops, demo products, manage point-of-sale during activation windows.
• When they hire: during retail pop-ups, seasonal activations or developer marketing activations.
• Stand-out skills: retail experience, cashless payment familiarity, upsell skills.

10. Community/social media content creator

• What you do: create short-form video, photo content of events, resident testimonials, and community features.
• When they hire: around launch and for ongoing community-building — often freelance/short contracts.
• Stand-out skills: smartphone videography, quick editing, a small portfolio or TikTok/Instagram examples.

How students can find these gigs — practical channels and search tactics

Follow a mixed strategy: online filters, direct outreach, and show-up-in-person tactics work best for on-site roles. Use the 30-day action plan below to get started.

Where to look

• Developer websites — search for careers or community services pages for projects in your city (example: marketing suites).
• Local property managers and facilities companies (search for “estate management”, “residential management” + city name).
• Temp agencies that specialise in events, hospitality and facilities management.
• Job boards — use filters such as “temporary”, “part-time”, “seasonal” and keywords: "residential development", "on-site services", "events coordinator", "bike attendant".
• Student career portals — many campuses have relationships with local developers for internships and part-time cover.
• Walk-ins — drop a one-page CV at on-site sales or marketing suites during open days.
• Social platforms — follow local development projects, contractors, and resident apps on LinkedIn, Instagram and community groups.

Search tips and sample search strings

• On job sites use: "temporary residential events", "on-site services development", "sales suite host".
• Use location + amenity: "London bike hub attendant One West Point", "Manchester new build concierge".
• Set alerts: Google Alerts for project names, and job alerts on LinkedIn/Indeed with the keywords above.

Legitimacy checks: how to verify an on-site gig fast

Short gigs are attractive targets for scams. Use this checklist before you accept work:

1. Confirm the employer: Is the job listed on the developer’s official site or the property management company? Check LinkedIn company pages.
2. Ask for a written agreement: start/end dates, pay rate, invoice/ payroll method, shift times, and a contact name and phone.
3. Payment verification: avoid cash-only jobs. Legitimate sites will use payroll or provide contractor invoices and payment terms.
4. Check IDs and site signage: on-site ads, branded sales suites, and staff badges signal credibility — visit during office hours if possible.
5. Search reviews: search the company + “reviews” on Glassdoor/Google and industry forums. Even temporary recruiters leave footprints.
6. Licensing: for security, stewarding or childcare verify required licences (SIA in the UK, food handling certificates, DBS checks for vulnerable groups).
7. Beware of red flags: unsolicited requests for money, lack of written contract, vague contact details, or requests to share bank passwords.

"If a job sounds too flexible and pays too well with no contract, pause. Legitimate on-site roles offer basic paperwork and a point of contact." — Trusted career advisor

How to apply: CVs, cover notes and first-day prep (student-friendly)

Short-term roles require clarity and availability. Follow this simple package:

Your one-page gig CV

• Top line: Role you want (e.g., Events Assistant) + availability (days, hours) and approx. start date.
• Skills bullets: 6–8 short bullets (customer service, cash handling, social media content, basic bike repair).
• Relevant experience: List 2–3 roles or school projects with 2–3 achievements each (e.g., "Organised 200-person campus launch; handled vendor logistics").
• Certs and checks: Include barista, first aid, SIA, or DBS if you have them.
• Contact & references: One referee and a mobile number; include a link to a short social portfolio if applicable.

Sample message to apply in person or by email

Keep it short and focused.

Subject: Application — Events Assistant (Weekend Availability)

Hi [Name], I’m [Your Name], a second-year student at [University]. I’m available weekends from March and have event support and social media experience. I’d love to help during your upcoming launch. I’ve attached a one-page CV and am happy to meet by the sales suite this week. Thank you for considering me. — [Phone number]

Interview and first-day checklist

• Bring ID and a printed one-page CV.
• Confirm start time, pay rate, and who to report to.
• Arrive 15 minutes early, wear neat, industry-appropriate clothing, and ask for a brief site induction.
• Take notes on shift handover, emergency procedures and who covers payroll/questions after the contract.

Pay, taxes and practicalities for short-term gigs

Developers and contractors typically engage workers via:

• short fixed-term contracts (student-friendly)
• casual payroll via agencies
• self-employed/contractor invoicing for freelance roles

Ask whether the job pays via payroll (PAYE) or requires self-invoicing. Keep records and invoices; even small gigs count toward experience and tax reporting. For student workers in 2026, many employers offer digital payslips and app-based scheduling — ask about the system during onboarding.

Advanced strategies that get you hired faster

1. Pitch a mini-project: for events or community roles propose a 6–8 week activation (e.g., "Sunday bike maintenance morning") with a short plan and cost estimate. Developers respond to students who bring solutions.
2. Bundle your skills: combine social media content and event support into one pitch. Offer to document events in return for shifts.
3. Leverage student societies: propose collaborative sessions (fitness, dog-owner meet-ups, study groups) to sales teams — it creates built-in attendance for events.
4. Offer flexible availability at peak windows: move-in weekends and launch evenings are urgent; committing to these slots increases your hiring chances.
5. Build relationships with local contractors: landscapers, security firms, and hospitality agencies often contract students repeatedly across projects.

Case study: how a student landed a 3-month events coordinator role

In late 2025 a second-year urban planning student approached a sales suite for a 701-home London tower with a one-page plan: weekly community coffee mornings, weekend yoga classes, and pop-up retail days. They offered to run the first month unpaid in exchange for experience and delivered social media clips. The developer hired them for three months to run events around the move-in window. Key takeaways: show initiative, propose measurable activities, and create a short trial window.

Hiring season and timing — when to apply

New-build hiring clusters around project milestones:

• Pre-launch (6–8 weeks out): marketing, sales suite hosts and content creators.
• Launch and handover (0–6 weeks): concierge, maintenance helpers, security, events support.
• Early post-occupancy (1–3 months): community managers, part-time amenity staff, pop-up kiosk roles.

For students, prioritize applications in the 8-week window before a listed show-home opening or advertised move-in date. If a development advertises phased handover, apply early for repeat short-term opportunities as each phase will need temporary cover.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

• Accepting cash-only offers with no contract — always get at least a simple written agreement.
• Overcommitting to shifts that clash with exams — be transparent about availability and get commitments in writing.
• Failing to get a contact — an on-site name and phone number prevents ghosting.
• Ignoring basic training — quick online certifications (first aid, food handling) significantly increase employability.

Action plan: 30 days to your first on-site gig

1. Week 1: Create your one-page gig CV, update LinkedIn and set job alerts for your city.
2. Week 2: Identify three developments within 30 minutes of campus and email sales suites with a brief pitch.
3. Week 3: Attend one open day or visit a sales suite with printed CVs; follow up contacts on LinkedIn.
4. Week 4: Accept a short trial or cover shift, confirm payment method and contract in writing, and prepare for a professional first day.

Final notes on future trends (looking beyond 2026)

Over the next few years we’ll see more embedded service ecosystems in residential developments: resident apps will coordinate shift work, proptech will route short-term gigs to local labour pools, and sustainability-focused amenities (bike hubs, repair cafes, EV valet) will grow demand for students with green skills. These changes mean the most employable students will combine practical service skills with basic digital literacy and a portfolio of short projects.

Next steps — your call to action

Ready to land a gig at a new development? Start by creating your one-page gig CV and setting three job alerts today. If you want tailored help, sign up for targeted alerts at employments.online, upload your CV for a quick review, or join a local careers workshop to practise pitching to on-site hiring teams.

Turn the next building launch into paid experience that builds your resume and your network — and do it on your terms.

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