HR Apprentice

Summary

We are a world-leading cancer research institute dedicated to improving patient lives through discovery science. We are a department of the University of Cambridge and one of four Cancer Research UK institutes.

Wage

£19,781 a year

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Training course

HR support (level 3)

Hours

Monday - Friday, 9.00am - 5.00pm.

36 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Sunday 14 September 2025

Duration

2 years

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

Join us at the world-leading CRUK Cambridge Institute. We’re a unique department of the University of Cambridge, core funded by Cancer Research UK’s charitable activities, and we’re eagerly searching for our new HR Apprentice. We’re a pragmatic, dynamic, values-driven and outcome-orientated HR team – passionate about delivering the institute’s ‘people and culture strategy’.

The successful candidate will play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of our HR processes, providing timely, accurate and professional support across a variety of HR functions. The role includes completing the Level 3 HR Apprenticeship qualification using the skills and knowledge that you will have built up to complete your projects and assignments. You will have the opportunity to be accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), which is the industry standard ‘first step’ for HR professionals in the UK.

Key Responsibilities

The post holder will support the HR department by ensuring high quality administrative support within a range of areas:

Provide administrative support across all HR functions.
Assist with HR administration in accordance with University policies and procedures, including recruitment, probation, performance & development reviews, starters & leavers, holiday & sickness records and contract extensions.
Monitoring and management of the HR shared Mailbox. Ensuring all enquires are responded to or passed to the relevant members of the team.
Act as first point of contact for enquiries and correspondence, replying to straightforward enquires and escalating others to senior members of the HR team as appropriate.
Management and maintenance of the institute and University HR information systems, including inputting absence records and appraisal records.
Preparation of departmental communications and formal letters.
Organise small scale events or meetings (book rooms, order refreshments, send out invites and directions etc.), and organise routine travel arrangements.
Assist with the organisation of larger events including the Welcome Induction sessions, internal committees and briefing sessions.
Assist with maintaining filing and data management to GDPR standards.
Assist the HR team with the ongoing development of processes and project work.

The successful candidate will play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of our HR processes, providing timely, accurate and professional support across a variety of HR functions.

Where you'll work

Cancer Research Uk, Robinson Way
Cambridge
CB2 0RE

Training

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

College or training organisation

WEST SUFFOLK COLLEGE

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

The learner will be studying the HR Support Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard qualification, including study for the CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

Maths and English (grade 4-9)

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
Administrative skills
Initiative
IT skills

Other requirements

The role will be based on site for the majority of the time initially, but some working from home time can be built in eventually depending on progress.

About this company

The School of Clinical Medicine currently employs nearly 3,000 people, spanning all varieties of staff type from Academic Professors to administrative support. The School aims to provide leadership in education, discovery and healthcare. It will achieve this through; inspirational teaching and training, outstanding basic and clinical research and integration of these to improve medical practice for both individual patients and the population. The School will: Through inspirational teaching and training, educate individuals who: will become exceptional doctors or biomedical scientists combine a depth of scientific understanding with outstanding clinical and communication skills demonstrate a caring, compassionate and professional approach to patients and the public and are equipped to become future international leaders of their profession. Through its commitment to the pursuit of excellence, support scientists of international standing in basic and clinical research aiming to: understand fundamental biology and thereby the mechanisms underlying disease integrate basic and clinical research apply a rigorous mechanism-based approach to clinical problems and innovate to solve the health challenges of our society.

After this apprenticeship

Would be well placed to apply for entry level HR posts, particularly within the University and other academic/ research environments. There is no guarantee of a position at the end of the apprenticeship as it would depend on vacancies/ business need, but it has happened in the past.

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