Central Business Support Apprentice

West Northamptonshire Council; Northampton; Hybrid; GBP 22,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Northampton is looking for an apprentice to provide administrative support across various services. This full-time, fixed-term role offers the chance to gain a Level 3 apprenticeship in Business Administration while working with diverse teams. The position includes organizing events, handling customer inquiries, and supporting various projects, with a working environment that promotes personal and professional development.

Benefits

70% of full Business Support Officer salary

Time off for studies

Employee benefits package

Qualifications

• A proactive attitude and ambition to learn are important.
• You should be highly organized and able to manage conflicting tasks.

Responsibilities

• Organising and planning major events in West Northants.
• Handling customer enquiries via phone, email, and MPs and Members.
• Providing administrative support like data entry and maintaining databases.

Skills

Excellent organization and time management

High-quality customer service

Strong IT skills and adaptability to new systems

Ability to handle multiple tasks and prioritize

Discretion with confidential information

Education

No prior experience required, Level 3 apprenticeship in Business Administration

Job description

We are recruiting an apprentice to join our Central Business Support team to provide administrative support to services across the organisation. The team will supplement our existing Business Support arrangements and will work across the entire authority from Adult Social Care to Planning, Education, Transport, Corporate Services, Housing and Communities, and Finance and Benefits.

This is a full-time fixed-term contract for the duration of your apprenticeship, but we are passionate about retaining and developing our staff. Our Business Support posts are a fantastic way to kick off a career in local government. Alongside your day job, you will have the opportunity to work towards a Level 3 apprenticeship in Business Administration. To support you, you will have time off the job for your studies, and your salary will be 70% of the full Business Support Officer salary.

The role is part-flexible, meaning you will likely spend most of your week working from one of our office locations, with a couple of days working from home. The main base will be at One Angel Square in Northampton, but you may occasionally work alongside teams in our Towcester and Daventry office locations.

We aim to interview shortlisted candidates during the week commencing 18 August, with a view to starting in mid-September.

For further information or an informal conversation about the roles, please contact [e-mail].

Our benefits

You can see our full list of employee benefits on our careers site.

What will you be doing?

The role will be varied, offering opportunities to work with different services across the organisation depending on demand and projects. If you enjoy trying new things and learning about various areas of local government, this is a great fit for you! Tasks may include:

1. Organising and planning major events in West Northants
2. Supporting services like Home to School Transport and School Admissions during peak periods
3. Handling customer enquiries via phone, email, and MPs and Members
4. Taking notes at meetings and collating actions/decisions
5. Supporting projects such as hardware or IT rollouts
6. Providing administrative support like data entry, maintaining databases, scanning documents, bid writing, and booking travel
7. Raising purchase orders and setting up contracts on corporate systems
8. Supporting emergency response as a loggist

About you

We are looking for bright, dedicated individuals passionate about making a positive community impact. You should be highly organized, capable of managing conflicting tasks, and attentive to detail. Resilience, teamwork, and the ability to build positive relationships are essential. We value innovation, adaptability, and a willingness to learn new skills.

No prior experience in administration or the public sector is required, but a proactive attitude and ambition to learn are important. We welcome applicants seeking a new challenge or to start a career in local government.

You will need:

• A positive, responsive, and adaptable attitude
• Confidence to work independently
• An innovative approach to work
• A team-oriented mindset
• A customer-focused approach
• Flexibility to work across different offices or from home

Skills required include:

• Excellent organization and time management
• The ability to handle multiple tasks and prioritize
• High-quality customer service
• Strong IT skills and adaptability to new systems
• Discretion with confidential information

About us

At West Northants Council, our people are our strength. We foster a culture of innovation, ambition, and community service, aligned with our vision to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit, and thrive. Our values—Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate, and Empower—guide our work. We are committed to diversity, equality, and inclusion, and are proud to be a disability confident employer and partners in the Armed Forces and Care Leaver Covenants.

For more insights, watch our video on what DEI means to us. For support during the application process, contact [e-mail].