Business Support Assistant

Essex County Council; Basildon; Hybrid; GBP 26,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent local authority in the UK is seeking a Business Support Assistant for a fixed-term, full-time role based in Basildon. This position entails providing high-quality administrative support, managing inquiries, and assisting with various meetings. The ideal candidate will have GCSE qualifications in maths and English, alongside experience in MS Office and an ability to handle sensitive information. The role involves both remote and in-office work, contributing to a dynamic public service environment.

Qualifications

• Educated to RQF Level 2 (GCSE) with maths and English.
• Experience and competence in MS Office applications.
• Ability to manage electronic filing systems.

Responsibilities

• Providing high-quality administrative support.
• Responding to customer queries in a timely manner.
• Taking minutes at various meetings.

Skills

High level of speed and accuracy with computerised systems

Competence in MS Office applications

Ability to communicate effectively

Experience managing filing systems

Ability to handle sensitive information

Education

Educated to RQF Level 2 (GCSE) in maths and English or equivalent

Job description

Business Support Assistant

Fixed Term, Full Time

£25,081 per annum

Location: Basildon

Closing Date: 14/12/2025

Please note this vacancy is available as a Full Time 37 hours per week fixed term contract for up to 6 months.

As an 'Anywhere Worker' position, the role will involve a combination of remote and office‑based working. There will be an expectation for you to attend the office based at Ely House, Basildon, approximately 1 day per week in addition to 'as and when' there is a business need. There may also be a requirement to attend other Essex County Council offices during the Fixed Term Contract.

The Opportunity

Essex County Council (ECC) is one of the largest and most dynamic local authorities in the UK and is undergoing significant transformational change to further enhance customer focus, service and delivery. As part of this, the Business Support team will work in specialised Business Centres to promote specialised knowledge and improved service and efficiencies.

The Business Support Assistant works as part of a business support team to deliver effective, routine administrative support to a team or service. Learning and developing an understanding of existing processes and systems, with a good basic knowledge of the Function. Providing routine clerical support to a team/service/Function (e.g. word processing, data entry, updating databases, meeting support, meet and greet, directing customer queries). Managing day to day work, ensuring this meets ECC and local policies and procedures.

This is a varied and challenging role, as a minute taker within our team, you will be supporting a variety of ECC meetings varying from social care meetings for Adults & Children, through to Corporate and HR meetings.

To read more about our business area, please visit: Corporate Services and Transformation

Accountabilities

• Providing high quality, efficient and effective Business Support services to internal customers within agreed timescales and SLAs.
• Responding to customer requests and queries in a timely and efficient way.
• Acting as a professional representative of the Business Support service at a local level, dealing with customers via telephone calls personally or redirecting in line with Essex customer standards.
• Providing high quality self‑directed clerical support, checking own work and proactively looking to raise standards.
• Maintaining confidential records according to Essex County Council policy and guidance.
• Providing support to the team or service with the organisation of events, conferences and workshops to ensure high quality events.
• Providing support across the team or service in dealing with correspondence, providing meeting support in terms of documentation and finance support in all aspects of documentation processing, in a timely, consistent and professional manner.
• Sharing knowledge and good practice with colleagues and highlighting more efficient ways of delivering customer service.
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Educated to RQF Level 2 (GCSE) including maths and English or an equivalent vocational qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience.
• Evidence of the ability to develop skills and knowledge in role.
• Demonstrable experience and competence of MS Office applications and their practical application.
• Ability to use computerised systems with a high level of speed and accuracy.
• Previous experience of managing electronic or hard copy filing systems.
• Ability to communicate in a manner which is easily understood and tailored to meet the needs of the audience.
• Experience of dealing with sensitive and/or personal information.
• Ability to think of improved ways of working and open to new practices and responsive to change.
• Ability to take ownership of work and fulfil agreed commitments, checking work for accuracy.