Business Support Apprentice

Kirklees Metropolitan Council; Colchester; On-site; GBP 14,000 - 17,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

26 days annual leave + bank holidays +

Pension scheme

LifeWorks health platform

Essex Rewards discounts

Job summary

Essex County Council invites applications for a Business Support Apprentice in Colchester. This fixed term, full-time role is based at Rowan House and includes on-site learning and development, with a structured apprenticeship leading to a Level 3 Business Administrator qualification.

You will work in a busy team, perform admin tasks, handle communications, and develop IT and organisational skills through supported on-the-job training. On completion, many apprentices progress to permanent roles.

Qualifications

• Educated to at least GCSE level or equivalent by experience.
• Able to stay organised in a busy office environment.
• Good communication and customer service skills essential.
• Teamwork and collaborative working approach required.

Responsibilities

• Assist with routine administrative tasks and front-facing duties.
• Handle emails, phone calls, and data entry accurately.
• Maintain diary and manage workload efficiently.
• Support team with day-to-day administrative tasks.

Skills

Highly organized

Strong communication

Customer service

Teamwork

Education

RQF Level 2 (GCSE) or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office/365

Job description

Business Support Apprentice

Fixed Term, Full Time

£15,435 Per Annum

Location: Colchester

Closing Date: 05/11/2026

Are you looking to take first steps in starting a career in Business Administration?

Would you love to work alongside a supportive, friendly, welcoming and high achieving team? This could be the opportunity you are looking for!

As this is an apprenticeship opportunity, you will be required to work onsite at Rowan House, Colchester 5 days per week to enable support, learning and development.

Benefits:

• Healthy work life balance; flexible and hybrid working options.
• Wide range of learning and development opportunities.
• IT equipment and home-working equipment supplied.
• 26 days annual leave + bank holidays + choice to buy extra.
• Generous Local Government Salary related pension scheme.
• Access to hundreds of discounts and benefits through Essex Rewards.
• Access to our health and wellbeing support platform with LifeWorks.
• Disability Confident Leader: we are committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job.
• Up to 4 days per annum volunteering leave.
• National Apprenticeship Wage for the first 12 months of your Apprenticeship. After 12 months of service, your salary will increase to the National Living Wage
• A Business Administrator Level 3 qualification via Adult Community Learning (ACL).

Whilst undertaking an apprenticeship within Essex County Council, you can expect to be supported from your first day. You’ll be invited to attend a specific onboarding event, have access to exclusive training material via My Learning platform, enrolled in the apprenticeship channel alongside colleagues on similar paths, invited to frequent gatherings, and offered peer-to-peer guidance. Additionally, you will have the chance to showcase your apprenticeship experience to external audiences. Apprenticeships are a valued career pathway to achieving your ambitions within Essex County Council, whilst gaining a qualification.

Our Level 3 apprenticeship is an advanced apprenticeship – it is the equivalent to two A Levels or T Level. These apprenticeships are a fantastic steppingstone into your preferred career. You’ll work under the guidance of experienced professionals to develop a solid foundation in you chosen profession, while also contributing to the overall goals and objectives of the Essex County Council.

There is every opportunity to progress to further roles and training within Essex County Council. You will have the chance to put forward your ideas, grow your skillset and collaborate with an innovative team in a collaborative environment.

What our apprentices say:

“I really enjoyed my apprenticeship with ECC, I loved that the majority of the apprenticeship is on the job learning and minimal classroom work. The opportunities for career development have been much wider than I originally thought, and the apprenticeship is such a great way to start your career and get your foot in the door with your local council/ government”

“I love the apprenticeship process as you’re getting paid as you learn. I have been able to make good connections with other employees and really good relationships throughout my journey so far. It’s a great starting point to anyone who hasn’t got a clear idea of what work they would like to pursue. Also, the apprenticeship allowed me to try multiple different types of jobs when opportunities came up, so I was able to see what I liked, and I was good at.”

The Role:

Essex County Council is looking for a motivated and enthusiastic individual to join our team as an Apprentice within our Business Support function.

The role will be extremely rewarding if you have an interest in office administration, enjoy helping people and being part of a busy team in a challenging role and as an entry point, for someone considering a career in Administration, Local Government or Social Care. ECC highly values its apprentices, and successful candidates will be encouraged to develop and in time progress within the organisation, with over 85% securing permanent roles during their apprenticeship.

This position provides the work-based experience to compliment the learning-based elements of the Apprenticeship Framework and will offer you a supportive environment in which to gain a wealth of experience and transferable skills such as IT systems, organisational skills, effective teamwork and communication.

Business Support provide high quality administrative support to all Essex County Council front-line services, so can offer experience in all aspects of customer service and administrative tasks during the apprenticeship.

About You:

You will be:

• Educated to RQF level 2 (GCSE) or equivalent by experience.
• Highly organised and reliable.
• Capable of prioritising a demanding workload and have a “can do” attitude.
• Able to take ownership of work and achieve the agreed commitments.
• Able to communicate effectively as well as have an ability to build and establish relationships and provide a high-quality service to customers.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office/Office 365 applications and willing to learn new systems.
• Have a friendly approach and a good phone manner.
• Emotionally intelligent.
• Good teamwork skills and a commitment to collaboration.
• Experienced in a working environment is helpful, but not essential.

Essential Requirements for the role:

• You will need to be 16 years of age at the start of the apprenticeship.
• You will need to have the right to work and study in England.
• You will have been ordinarily resident in the UK or EEA for three years before the apprenticeship start date.
• You cannot have previously completed a qualification that is Level 2 or above in field that is related to Customer Services or Business Administration.
• As apprentices have employed status you must have the right to permanently live, work and study in the UK. Apprenticeships are not covered by student visas.

Please note that we must be provided with your GCSE certificate at the final stage of the recruitment process. If you have international equivalent qualifications a NARIC Statement of Comparability must be provided. If you do not already hold one you can purchase online – you can find more information here Statement of Comparability (enic.org.uk).

What will you be doing?

You will assist with the delivery of routine administrative tasks, dealing with day-to-day work including (but not limited to):

• Inputting data from source documents into the relevant recording system, checking the accuracy, verifying and correcting data.
• Responding to emails.
• Telephone calls.
• Front facing customer service.
• Maintain your own diary and work pattern management.
• Photocopying/ scanning.
• Sending letters and dealing with incoming post.
• Attend meetings with team colleagues and Managers, either in person or by video.
• Working from home or in an office space.
• Work alongside other administrative assistants and apprentices who will train you and support you through the day-to-day work.
• Follow ECC policies and procedures for task completion and our expected standards of behaviours.

Company:

Essex County Council

Salary:

Up to £15435.00 per annum

Location:

Colchester, Essex

Sector:

Corporate Services

Sector:

Administration

Job Role:

Officer