Apprentice Business Support Officer

Summary

Woodley Town Council is an active, professional, competent, and progressive town council. Staff are provided with job security and fulfilment, as well as the opportunity to develop and grow within their role.

Wage

£23,500 a year

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Offering more than the minimum apprenticeship wage -with potential salary increase subject to satisfactory performance established through annual appraisal.

Training course

Business administrator (level 3)

Hours

Monday - Thursday, 9.00am - 5.00pm. Friday, 9.00am - 4.00pm.

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 30 June 2025

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Business Support:

Provide administrative support to Council officers, as and when required.
Open and stamp post, and frank and record outgoing post.
Compose standard letters/emails.
To assist with the filing and archiving of Council documents, as directed by senior officers, including handling the deletion of data in line with GDPR.
Order stationery and monitor stock levels.
Prepare cash floats, and process and input cash sheets.
Receive payments for hire of facilities and any other payments made at the office.
Assist with basic finance functions, such as the reconciliation of income
Monitor levels of forms and information leaflets, printing further copies as required.
Coordinate arrangements for and supervise work experience students and volunteers in the Council officers, completing all required documentation and reports.

Reception Desk / Customer Contact:

Cover the council office reception desk and telephone lines during opening hours (9am - 12pm / 1pm - 4.30pm (Mon-Thu) & 4pm (Fri)), being the first point of contact for visitors or telephone callers to the Council.
Manage the council’s Admin inbox, responding to enquiries / forwarding emails to relevant officers as necessary.
Coordinate requests for memorial plaques / benches / trees, working with the Amenities Manager to fulfil these.
Meet with prospective hirers to discuss requirements and give tours of Council premises, where required.

Communications & Marketing:

Assist with the running of the council’s social media accounts, including designing and scheduling posts.
Monitor and collate a record of press coverage relating to the council
Assist with the design and production of marketing materials, including posters and signage
Support the publication of press releases and news items on the Council’s website
Provide support for the organising of the council’s public events
Maintain the council’s noticeboards
Assist the Communications & Events Manager in any other way they deem required to support the council’s marketing and communications functions

Other Information:

Carry out all duties whilst ensuring the Health and Safety of resources within the post holder’s responsibility, ensuring that personal responsibilities of Health and Safety, as laid down in the Health and Safety at Work Act, are followed.
Maintain the highest levels of discretion and confidentiality.
Maintain the standards of service set by the Council.
Commit to Woodley Town Council’s inclusivity policy and values, treating colleagues and customers with dignity and respect.

Where you'll work

THE OAKWOOD CENTRE
HEADLEY ROAD
WOODLEY
READING
RG5 4JZ

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

CHILTERN TRAINING LIMITED

Your training course

Business administrator (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Skilled in the use of multiple IT packages and systems relevant to the organisation in order to: write letters or emails, create proposals, perform financial processes, record and analyse data. Examples include MS Office or equivalent packages. Able to choose the most appropriate IT solution to suit the business problem. Able to update and review databases, record information and produce data analysis where required.
Produces accurate records and documents including: emails, letters, files, payments, reports and proposals. Makes recommendations for improvements and present solutions to management. Drafts correspondence, writes reports and able to review others' work. Maintains records and files, handles confidential information in compliance with the organisation's procedures. Coaches others in the processes required to complete these tasks.
Exercises proactivity and good judgement. Makes effective decisions based on sound reasoning and is able to deal with challenges in a mature way. Seeks advice of more experienced team members when appropriate.
Builds and maintains positive relationships within their own team and across the organisation. Demonstrates ability to influence and challenge appropriately. Becomes a role model to peers and team members, developing coaching skills as they gain area knowledge.
Demonstrates good communication skills, whether face-to-face, on the telephone, in writing or on digital platforms. Uses the most appropriate channels to communicate effectively. Demonstrates agility and confidence in communications, carrying authority appropriately. Understands and applies social media solutions appropriately. Answers questions from inside and outside of the organisation, representing the organisation or department.
Completes tasks to a high standard. Demonstrates the necessary level of expertise required to complete tasks and applies themself to continuously improve their work. Is able to review processes autonomously and make suggestions for improvements. Shares administrative best-practice across the organisation e.g. coaches others to perform tasks correctly. Applies problem-solving skills to resolve challenging or complex complaints and is a key point of contact for addressing issues.
Takes responsibility for initiating and completing tasks, manages priorities and time in order to successfully meet deadlines. Positively manages the expectations of colleagues at all levels and sets a positive example for others in the workplace. Makes suggestions for improvements to working practice, showing understanding of implications beyond the immediate environment (e.g. impact on clients, suppliers, other parts of the organisation). Manages resources e.g. equipment or facilities. Organises meetings and events, takes minutes during meetings and creates action logs as appropriate. Takes responsibility for logistics e.g. travel and accommodation.
Uses relevant project management principles and tools to scope, plan, monitor and report. Plans required resources to successfully deliver projects. Undertakes and leads projects as and when required.

Your training plan

You will attend 1x face to face lesson at Chiltern Training, once a month. The rest of your time will be spent working in your placement gaining hands on experience in the sector.

(5th Floor, One Valpy, 20 Valpy Street, Reading RG1 1AR).

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade C)
Maths (grade C)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Administrative skills
Initiative
Interpersonal skills
Tact
Competent Microsoft user

Other requirements

This is a full time, office based role

About this company

As the town has grown so have the services provided by the Town Council. The Town Council is responsible for a number of parks and open spaces, play areas, allotments, community halls, street lighting and bus shelters, planning consultation, The Oakwood Centre, including the Alan Cornish Theatre, and Woodford Park Leisure Centre. The Council also gives grants to local community organisations and individuals and represents residents on wider issues.

https://woodley.gov.uk/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Upon completion of your Business Administration apprenticeship and with experience in this sector, you could progress from business support officer to supervisor or office manager.
You could also move into other departments, like IT, payroll, or accounting.
With further training, you could specialise in an area like legal, financial, or medical administration, become a personal assistant or executive officer.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

WOODLEY TOWN COUNCIL

Matthew Filmore

matthew.filmore@woodley.gov.uk

0118 969 0356

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000321314.

Apply now

Closes in 19 days (Monday 9 June 2025 at 11:59pm)

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