Governance Apprentice

Hafod Housing Association Limited; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 18,000; Full time

Job summary

Hafod Housing Association Limited in Wales is offering a 24‑month full‑time Apprenticeship in Governance. This role supports governance, compliance, performance and data protection while you study for a Level 3 Business Administration Apprenticeship.

You’ll gain hands‑on experience, work with seasoned professionals, and develop administrative, organisational and analytical skills as you contribute to real projects across Hafod’s services and communities.

Qualifications

• No prior governance experience required; eagerness to learn.
• Five GCSEs minimum, including English and Maths.
• Willingness to balance work and study.
• Strong attention to detail and collaborative mindset.
• Good IT skills with Word, Excel and Outlook.

Responsibilities

• Assist general administration: meetings, agendas and minutes.
• Support governance and compliance by maintaining records and legal documents.
• Assist with regulatory filings and governance processes.
• Support Data Protection Officer with records management and subject access requests.
• Assist with complaints and insurance claim administration.
• Produce reports and collect data to monitor service performance.
• Support colleagues to improve data collection and reporting processes.
• Represent Hafod apprenticeships at careers events.
• Complete apprenticeship learning alongside day-to-day responsibilities.

Skills

Governance

Administration

Data protection

Reporting

Communication

Education

GCSEs incl English & Maths

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Here for people. Here for communities. Here for you.

What is the role?

Make a difference every day as a Governance apprentice at Hafod.

Start a new chapter at Hafod, whether you’re leaving education, returning to work, or looking for a career change.

You’ll gain hands‑on experience supporting governance, compliance, performance and data protection activities that help Hafod deliver excellent services to our customers and communities.

You’ll work alongside experienced professionals, contribute to meaningful projects and develop valuable administrative, organisational and analytical skills while working towards a nationally recognised qualification.

Please note: We’re unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. This is a 24‑month full‑time (37.5 hours) apprenticeship programme that will begin in January 2027

What you’ll learn and how we’ll support you :

• You’ll work towards a nationally recognised Level 3 Business Administration Apprenticeship with one of our trusted training providers.
• You’ll gain practical experience across governance, compliance, performance monitoring, complaints, data protection and corporate administration activities.
• You’ll learn how governance frameworks support the effective management of a large organisation and help ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
• You’ll develop your administration, communication, organisation and data management skills while working alongside supportive and experienced colleagues.
• You’ll benefit from coaching, mentoring and regular check‑ins to support your learning and development.
• You’ll take part in Hafod's Early Talent Development Programme, joining a community of apprentices and developing both personally and professionally.

This role involves regular travel across our sites and services. While a driving licence isn’t essential, many of our locations are not easily reached by public transport, so being able to drive and use your own vehicle is often the most practical way to travel.

If you use your own vehicle for work, you’ll need appropriate insurance (for example business use).

If you don’t hold a licence or don’t have access to a vehicle, we’d still encourage you to apply. We’re happy to have a conversation with you about how you could still meet the travel requirements of the role.

What you’ll be doing

• Assisting with general administration activities, including arranging meetings, preparing agendas and taking minutes.
• Supporting governance and compliance activities by maintaining records and legal documentation.
• Assisting with regulatory filings and governance processes.
• Supporting the Data Protection Officer with records management, archiving, monitoring activities and subject access requests.
• Assisting with complaints and insurance claim administration.
• Producing reports and collecting data to help monitor service performance and key performance indicators.
• Supporting colleagues across the organisation to improve data collection and reporting processes.
• Representing Hafod apprenticeships at careers events and engagement activities.
• Completing apprenticeship learning, coursework and development activities alongside day‑to‑day responsibilities.

You can find the full job description attached for a more detailed overview of the role.

What you’ll bring

We’re looking for people who share our values and are ready to learn.

You don't need previous governance experience. What matters most is your willingness to learn, attention to detail and ability to work collaboratively with others.

At Hafod, how we work is just as important as what we do. As an apprentice, you'll:

• Have a genuine interest in governance, compliance, risk management, data protection or business administration.
• Have good IT skills, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Be organised and able to balance work responsibilities with apprenticeship study requirements.
• Communicate confidently and build positive working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Be willing to learn, apply feedback and adapt to new ways of working.
• Demonstrate a reliable, responsible and professional approach to work and learning.
• Work respectfully and inclusively with people from different backgrounds and experiences.

These strengths can come from education, work, volunteering, family or other life experiences.

Who can apply?

If you’re thinking about applying, here are a few things to help you decide if this apprenticeship is right for you.

• You’re aged 16 or over. Some apprenticeships may have a higher minimum age where this is needed for safety or service reasons.
• You have a minimum of five GCSEs (or equivalent), including English and Maths (A* -C)
• You’re not studying towards another qualification when the apprenticeship begins, as this programme requires strong commitment to both work and learning.
• You do not already hold a qualification at the same or higher level in the same subject area as this apprenticeship.
• You can start the apprenticeship in January 2027.

If you’re unsure whether you’re eligible, please get in touch before applying. We’ll be happy to help.

Support and adjustments

We’re committed to ensuring a fair and inclusive recruitment process. If you need any reasonable adjustments or support at any stage, please let us know and we'll be happy to help.

Hafod futures

At Hafod, we believe great careers can start at any stage of life. Our early talent programmes support people taking their first steps after education, changing career, or returning to work.

We’re growing these programmes because the future of housing, care and support depends on skilled, compassionate people who want to make a real difference. By investing in early talent, we’re helping people build meaningful careers while strengthening the future workforce that supports our communities across south Wales.

At Hafod, we’re a socially conscious, not for profit organisation providing housing, care and support across South Wales. Everything we do is guided by our mission, Get the basics right, connect with you, and invest for a better future. We work together to deliver services that make a real difference in our communities.

We’re committed to creating a culture where everyone feels they truly belong; not just included, but respected, valued, and safe to be themselves. When people feel they belong, they bring their best, and that benefits all of us.