People Operations Assistant Apprentice (Downing LLP)

Summary

The People Operations Assistant will work closely with the Head of People Operations and People Executive to perform people administrative tasks. We will support the People Operations Assistant to obtain an apprenticeship qualification in Human Resources up to Level 3 and expect the individual to commit to the learning process.

Wage

£20,000 a year

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£20,000 - £24,000

Training course

HR support (level 3)

Hours

Monday to Friday. Shifts to be confirmed.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 28 July 2025

Duration

1 year 4 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

Onboarding:

To administer the background screening process and to liaise with new joiners regarding the onboarding process, progress and agreed start dates
To ensure IT equipment is set up and ready for the new joiner’s first day
To add new joiners to all people team systems
To carry out new joiner inductions

Offboarding:

To process leavers, including drafting resignation acknowledgement and leaver letters
To administer the exit interview process on the people team system

Employee Relations:

To administer and monitor the probation process
To draft variation to terms and conditions of employment letters, for example salary, job title or team change
To be the first line of response for people team queries, escalating to team members as required

Systems and Management Information:

To be responsible for the people team inbox, escalating emails to team members as required
To be an administrator of the people team system and provide support and training to employees on using the system
To maintain the employee folders on the people team shared drive; ensuring they are kept up to date

Recruitment and selection:

To support hiring managers by posting job adverts to Downing’s LinkedIn page and website, and collating responses
To provide administrative support to the candidate testing process
To support work experience and intern onboarding processes

Talent Development:

To manage incoming training requests from employees; ensuring approvals are in place before training is booked
To keep the learning and development tracker UpToDate
To book sessions and facilities for group training sessions

General:

To support the wider people team in project work
To act as an ambassador for Downing’s values, and to always behave in a respectful and professional manner

Where you'll work

10 Lower Thames Street
London
EC3R 6AF

Training

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

College or training organisation

BPP PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION LIMITED

Your training course

HR support (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Service Delivery: Delivers excellent customer service on a range of HR queries and requirements, providing solutions, advice and support primarily to managers. Builds managers’ expertise in HR matters, improving their ability to handle repeated situations themselves where appropriate. Uses agreed systems and processes to deliver service to customers. Takes the initiative to meet agreed individual and team KPIs in line with company policy, values, standards. Plans and organises their work, often without direct supervision, to meet commitments and KPIs.
Problem Solving: Uses sound questioning and active listening skills to understand requirements and establish root causes before developing HR solutions. Takes ownership through to resolution, escalating complex situations as appropriate.
Communication & Interpersonal: Deals effectively with customers/colleagues, using sound interpersonal skills and communicating well through a range of media eg phone, face to face, email, internet. Adapts their style to their audience. Builds trust and sound relationships with customers. Handles conflict and sensitive HR situations professionally and confidentially.
Teamwork: Consistently supports colleagues /collaborates within the team and HR to achieve results. Builds/maintains strong working relationships with others in the team and across HR where necessary.
Process Improvement: Identifies opportunities to improve HR performance and service; acts on them within the authority of their role. Supports implementation of HR changes/projects with the business.
Managing HR Information: Maintains required HR records as part of services delivered. Prepares reports and management information from HR data, with interpretation as required.
Personal Development: Keeps up to date with business changes and HR legal/policy/process changes relevant to their role. Seeks feedback and acts on it to improve their performance and overall capability.

Your training plan

As a HR Support Apprentice with BPP, you will complete the HR Support Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, which is aligned with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). Upon completion you will be awarded the CIPD Foundation Certificate, and you will be able to apply for Membership of CIPD.

The apprenticeship will be delivered through a blend of live online learning, pre-recorded lectures, and face to face inductions and masterclasses.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

5 GCSE's including English and Maths (grade (A*-C/9-4))

A Level in:

A levels (grade (A-C/9-4 or equivalent))

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
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Team working
Initiative
Proficient in Word and Excel
Experience in customer service
Flexibility
Process Orientated

Other requirements

Downing’s values - Be bold and ambitious Be straightforward Support each other Our values serve as a guide that shapes every aspect of Downing. They extend far beyond the conduct of our employees and encompass our products, services, and relationships with our investors and their advisers. By upholding these values, we firmly believe that we can navigate challenges and seize opportunities. Our commitment to these values ensures that we make a positive impact in everything we do, leaving a lasting and meaningful imprint on the world around us. Hybrid working Downing operates a hybrid working policy whereby employees are expected to work from the office for a minimum of 3 days each week. If specific days are required in the office, this will be communicated during the interview process.

About this company

Downing is dedicated to delivering investments that matter – for our economy, our health, our society, our local communities and our environment. For over 35 years, our highly experienced team and our entrepreneurial spirit has driven us to seek out long-term and unique opportunities that solve challenges faced by investors, companies and society. From our headquarters in the City of London, and from offices in Cardiff, Glasgow, Helsinki and Stockholm, we structure and manage innovative investments that meet specific investor needs and look to the future with conviction. Our 200-plus employees drive our vision of long-term value creation, which we achieve by being bold, straightforward and ambitious. Guided by these principles we have a broad range of investment opportunities. Our private market offerings include renewable energy infrastructure, private equity and private credit. In public markets, we have a boutique of specialist fund managers that provide a distinctive suite of investment mandates. As a certified B Corp, we take our responsibilities, to our investors, our stakeholders and society, seriously. We invest for return while always considering our impact on the world. Diversity is important to us, and we see the benefits that having a team with a range of backgrounds and perspectives can bring. We are bold and ambitious, straightforward and we support each other. These core values are vital to everything we do – from the businesses we invest in, to the people we hire.

After this apprenticeship

The Downing People Team is a small team, which means we work very closely together and share knowledge. The People Operations Assistant will be a key member of the team and will be exposed to the full lifecycle of the HR agenda. This is a great opportunity to become a well-rounded HR professional. Further opportunities within Downing will be dependent upon team structure and available roles at the relevant time. The opportunity to study for the Level 5 apprentice will be considered.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

BPP PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION LIMITED

Leia Knights

LeiaKnights@bpp.com

01133500333

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000325592.

Apply now

Closes in 31 days (Monday 14 July 2025 at 11:59pm)

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