HR Apprentice
Equal Lives
Suffolk (IP2 8SD)
Closes in 26 days (Monday 18 August 2025)
Posted on 22 July 2025
Contents
Summary
Do you have a passion for learning and supporting Disabled People to live independently? With an HR apprenticeship, you’ll learn the ins and outs of employment law and you will apply this to Disabled People who are employing their own carers or PA’s. You’ll contribute towards better outcomes for Disabled People while furthering your own career.
- Wage
-
£23,242.40 a year
- Training course
- HR support (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday, 8.30am - 4.30pm, with a 36 minute lunch break.
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Wednesday 1 October 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
The successful candidate will be a part of an excellent team of people who support disabled people to live independent lives. This is an exciting opportunity to gain on the job experience whilst simultaneously gaining insight of the Human Resources sector. You will be supporting disabled people who employ their own Personal Assistants or Support Workers. This includes creating job descriptions on their behalf, supporting with their interview processes, creating employment documents and supporting them to be a fair and lawful employer.
Duties of the role include:
- Supporting service users with recruiting a suitable PA/ Support
Worker from start to finish. This includes creating a tailored job
description, placing job adverts on job boards and through social
media, shortlisting candidates, supporting service users with
interviewing and creating employment documents such as contracts and job of fer letters. This support extends to the lifecycle of the employment and empowering service users to ensure that their experience of being an employer runs smoothly. - Providing advice to service users to answer their queries regarding their personal budgets, Direct Payments and HR matters. This is completed through a variety of office-based contact methods, supporting them to make independent and informed decisions.
- Completing accurate and current records on our client base system whilst demonstrating confidentiality and understanding the importance of our Data Protection policies. This is put into practice within every aspect of the role and is paramount to protect our service users and their safety.
- Liaising with external organisations and Social Workers to support with the management of Service Users’ direct payments and to complete basic calculations relating to personal budgets and the maintenance of direct payments.
- Attending apprenticeship workshops and 1-1s with your apprenticeship assessor. This supports with monitoring your progress and developing your knowledge and understanding to gain the Level 3 HR Support qualification.
Where you'll work
Unit 9
Bath Street
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP2 8SD
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
COLCHESTER INSTITUTE
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.
Training schedule
- The apprentice will be working towards the HR Support Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard
- This apprenticeship is supported by the CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice
- Monthly classroom attendance at Colchester Institute (Colchester Campus)
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted 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
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
Other requirements
There is some occasional travel around Suffolk as our clients sometimes request face to face support. Apprentices would never do this alone, they would always be accompanied by an advisor. This is an office/desk based job so there are long periods working with a computer. We encourage regular breaks and have space for people to rest away from their desk.
About this employer
Equal Lives is a Disability rights organisation covering Norfolk and Suffolk. We have a range of services, and the Suffolk Independent Living service that this role would work in is an advice service for Disabled people who employ their own PA or carer. We have around 35 employees across 3 sites. Equal Lives are proud to be user-led, meaning our services are designed for Disabled people, by Disabled people. Our board of trustees are Disabled people and many of our staff and leadership team. We support people with advice, advocacy, borrowing mobility equipment, and campaigning for their rights. We believe there should be ‘nothing about us without us’.
https://www.equallives.org.uk/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
Pension scheme, employee assistance programme, 28 days paid annual leave plus bank holidays, cycle to work scheme, sick pay (after probation), hybrid working
After this apprenticeship
If we have an available position, the apprentice can stay on with us as an HR advisor in the team, offering HR support and advice to our Disabled clients.
Alternatively, the completed apprenticeship qualification means you can take up an internal HR role, or work for an organisation offering HR advice to companies.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
COLCHESTER INSTITUTE
Colchester Institute - Apprenticeship Team
ci.apprenticeships@colchester.ac.uk
01206 712043
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000332822.
Apply now
Closes in 26 days (Monday 18 August 2025)
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