Business Administration Bookselling Apprentice

Summary

"Kickstart your career in retail with our Bookseller Apprenticeship! Gain hands-on experience, learn customer service, sales techniques, and administration skills, including marketing and using office systems and packages while earning and learning. Perfect for motivated individuals ready to grow in this interesting retail sector."

Wage

£18,200 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course

Business administrator (level 3)

Hours

Monday to Friday with occasional weekends to work at conferences. Exact hours have to be agreed between the apprentice and their manager.

35 hours a week

Start date

Monday 18 August 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

Tasks and responsibilities (some tasks may only be carried out occasionally and some may be introduced later in the apprenticeship)

Administration:

Adding book orders that have come in from institutions and individuals to our database.

Sourcing and placing these orders with individual suppliers/publishers.

Collating and paying statements provided by our suppliers.

Collating expense costs.

Chasing amounts owed from institutions.

Stock work:

Taking in, unpacking and checking off deliveries of book stock.

Entering titles onto our database.

Invoicing titles that have been ordered by institutions.

Packing for delivery, titles that have been ordered by individual customers and institutions.

Stock checking quantities of titles held.

Organising the return of surplus conference stock publishers.

Marketing:

Making changes and adding titles to our website.

Working with authors/publishers and others to market their books.

Adding posts to social media platforms to promote particular titles.

Adding customers to our mailing list and compiling marketing emails to send.

Answering customer enquiries via phone and email and updating customers regarding their orders.

Conferences:

Attend conferences with our events team. This may involve overnight stays close to the event venue which could be anywhere in the country.

Taking boxes of stock into conference venues to set up on our stalls.

Customer facing work on bookstalls, including taking payments from event delegates for items purchased.

Where you'll work

10 CHERRY WOOD
OLDLAND COMMON
BRISTOL
BS30 6PQ

Training

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

College or training organisation

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE AND STROUD COLLEGE

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 complete the Level 3 Business Admin Standard at the Filton Campus of SGS College. Throughout the course you will be working on your portfolio and new learning in the workplace. As well as managing a project to improve a process in your work environment. This will prepare you for your EPA by allowing you to document your skills, experiences, and achievements, creating a showcase of your professional development and knowledge in real-world scenarios.

More training information

In addition to the Knowledge Skills and Behaviours set out in the apprenticeship standard, we also embed a City and Guilds Diploma in business administration. This covers the following mandatory units:

Principles of business administration
Personal and professional development
Managing performance
Your organisation
Communication in a business environment
Project management
ICT for business

In addition, learners will be required to select one relevant optional unit.

The diploma in business administration and knowledge set out in the apprenticeship standard is delivered through 10 classroom-based lessons at an SGS campus of your choice. During this time, the knowledge for the diploma and the standard will be delivered face to face. You will be required to attend college up to one day a week during this period.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 4 and above)
Maths (grade 4 and above)

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
Presentation skills
Administrative skills
Number skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Creative
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience
Physical fitness

Other requirements

The office is an annex next to the Proprietor's house. There will be some lifting of boxes involved with stock in the office and also at occasional conference bookstalls. The ability to drive would be good but not essential.

About this company

We sell books and equipment to a number of defined groups including NHS Trusts and other healthcare and educational organisations, students on various courses and psychological therapists working in the mental health professions. We sell books online and also from bookstalls at conferences and other events around the country.

https://www.psychologicaltherapybooks.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

To grow with the company and to become a permanent part of our team.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is: