Business Administration Apprenticeship

An excellent opportunity to develop practical business administration skills within a large College environment, working as part of the busy Student Services team.

As a Business Admin Apprentice:

• You will support the Front of House Administrator and Student Services Team Leader to deliver an efficient, professional and customer-focused administration service across the College
• You will be the first point of contact for many people accessing the College, helping to create a welcoming, friendly and positive experience for students, visitors, staff and external partners, as well as responding to enquiries via telephone and email
• You'll act as an ambassador for the College at all times, promoting a professional, inclusive and helpful image
• You will support activities including coordinating room bookings, distributing post, arranging printing and photocopying, preparing certification, processing bursary forms, maintaining records and supporting the purchasing, monitoring and distribution of materials and resources
• You will also provide administrative support to senior College staff as required. Part of the role will be helping to organise College meetings, events and enrolment activity - preparation of plans, rotas and room bookings, preparing materials, and ensuring that arrangements are in place for activities to run smoothly
• You will also help with communications to prospective and current students, administrative support for employer-facing or off-site activity where required, using College IT systems to complete tasks accurately and efficiently
• Excellent communication and customer service skills, attention to detail, a willingness to learn and ability to work effectively as part of a team is essential
• The successful applicant will be expected to maintain confidentiality, follow College procedures, comply with health and safety requirements, and demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding, Prevent, equality, diversity, inclusion and British Values

Key responsibilities:

• Provide a welcoming, professional and courteous reception service to students, staff, visitors, parents/carers, employers and other customers
• Respond to enquiries in person, by phone or email, ensuring customers are signposted to the correct person or service
• Support the FOH Administrator and Student Services Team
• Leader with day-to-day admin duties
• Assist with the coordination and organisation of enrolment events, meetings, activities and College events
• Arrange room bookings, prepare rotas and support the organisation of spaces, resources and materials
• Distribute post, support printing and photocopying requests, and maintain organised administrative records
• Provide administrative support to senior College staff
• Process routine documentation, such as certifications, bursary forms and other student or staff-related paperwork
• Support the purchase, monitoring and distribution of stationery, materials and other resources
• Use College IT systems and office equipment confidently and accurately
• Identify opportunities to improve customer service and administrative processes
• Work flexibly across College sites or departments to provide administrative support and cover
• Follow College procedures relating to data protection, confidentiality, safeguarding, health and safety, equality/ diversity, and Prevent
• The post offers valuable experience for someone starting their career in business administration, customer service or education support, with the opportunity to develop confidence, communication skills, organisation, digital administration and a strong understanding of how a large college operates

The apprentice will complete the Level 3 Business Administrator Apprenticeship, combining practical, on-the-job learning within the College with structured training and support from an apprenticeship training provider. At the end of the programme, they will achieve a nationally recognised Level 3 Business Administrator qualification, which is equivalent in level to A levels.

Training will develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to work confidently in a professional administration and customer-service role. This is likely to include:

• Delivering high-quality customer service to students, visitors, staff, employers and other external customers
• Communicating professionally in person, by telephone and in writing
• Using digital systems and office software to manage information, records and administrative tasks
• Organising meetings, events, room bookings, resources and administrative processes
• Managing workload, priorities and deadlines effectively
• Handling information securely and maintaining confidentiality
• Understanding College policies, procedures, equality, diversity, safeguarding, Prevent, health and safety, and data protection requirements
• Identifying opportunities to improve services and administrative processes

Career progression:

• The apprenticeship will provide a strong foundation in customer service, administration, communication, digital systems, event support and organisational processes. These transferable skills can support progression within Student Services, Faculty administration, reception, executive support or wider College operations.

Possible future roles include:

• Business Administrator or Senior Administrator
• Student Services Administrator
• Front of House or Reception Administrator
• Faculty or Curriculum Administrator
• Executive Assistant or Personal Assistant
• Project Administrator or Project Coordinator
• Operations Administrator
• Office Supervisor, Team Leader or Office Manager
• With experience and further development, the successful candidate may also move into a specialist area such as customer service, events, finance, human resources, data administration, employer engagement or project support

We are looking for an enthusiastic, reliable and friendly individual who is keen to begin a career in business administration and customer service. You do not need previous office experience, but you will need a positive attitude, a willingness to learn and an interest in supporting students, staff and visitors in a busy College environment.

The successful candidate should be:

• Friendly, approachable and confident when dealing with a wide range of people
• Committed to delivering excellent customer service and creating a positive first impression of the College
• Organised, dependable and able to manage routine tasks carefully and efficiently
• Able to communicate clearly and professionally, both face-to-face and in writing
• Comfortable answering telephone calls, responding to emails and welcoming visitors
• Able to work as part of a team, while also using initiative to complete tasks independently
• Willing to learn new systems, processes and digital skills
• Accurate and attentive to detail, particularly when handling forms, records, correspondence and bookings
• Respectful of confidentiality and able to handle sensitive information appropriately
• Flexible and willing to support different teams, services or College locations when required
• Committed to equality, diversity, inclusion, safeguarding and the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults

If the candidate does not already hold Level 2 English and/or maths, they may be required to complete Functional Skills alongside their apprenticeship, depending on their age, existing qualifications and apprenticeship funding requirements. Apprentices must meet the relevant English and maths requirements before completing their End-point Assessment.

• Basic IT skills, including confidence using email, internet systems and Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel and Outlook, or a willingness to develop these skills
• The ability to travel to the College and, where necessary, other College locations
• Eligibility to undertake an apprenticeship, including being aged 16 or over, having the right to work in the UK and meeting the relevant residency and funding requirements
• Previous customer service, reception, volunteering, administration or retail experience would be helpful but is not essential

Northumberland College is a leading provider of further education, technical training and apprenticeships for young people, adults and employers across Northumberland and the wider North East. As part of Education Partnership North East (EPNE), one of the largest college groups in the country, the College supports learners to develop the skills, qualifications and confidence needed for employment, further study and successful careers.

Northumberland College is the largest further education provider in Northumberland, delivering a wide range of full-time courses, apprenticeships, adult learning, higher education and employer-focused training. We work with thousands of students and apprentices each year, as well as local and regional employers, helping to meet skills needs across a broad range of industries.

The College has campuses and learning environments across the county, including Ashington, Berwick and Kirkley Hall near Ponteland. Our largest campus is based in Ashington, while Kirkley Hall is a distinctive 400-acre rural campus specialising in land-based, animal, agricultural and environmental education, with its own zoo, equestrian facilities, workshops, gardens and extensive outdoor learning spaces.

We provide high-quality vocational and technical education in areas including business, digital and computing, construction, engineering, automotive, health and social care, childcare and education, sport, hospitality, hair and beauty, and land-based and animal care. Our staff work in varied, professional and customer-focused environments, supporting students, visitors, employers and local communities from first enquiry through to progression into employment or further study.

Northumberland College is committed to providing an inclusive, welcoming and ambitious learning environment where students and staff can achieve their potential.