Business Support Apprentice

UK Research and Innovation

Wiltshire (SN2 1PL)

Closes in 19 days (Sunday 17 August 2025)

Posted on 28 July 2025

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Summary

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) have a number of interesting, diverse and challenging Business Support Apprenticeship roles to be based within our Delivery Support and Administrative Support Teams. The roles will be wide-ranging and include opportunities for providing support within the team.

• Wage:

  £18,900 a year

  Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  Rising incrementally every 12 months during the Apprenticeship

• Training course: Business administrator (level 3)
• Hours: Monday to Friday 37 hours per week, working hours TBC

  37 hours a week

• Start date:

  Monday 6 October 2025

• Duration:

  2 years

• Positions available:

  3

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 broad purpose of the roles are to provide administrative support to one or more teams in our office in Swindon. The roles will be wide-ranging and include opportunities for providing administrative support within the post holder’s respective team. You will work closely with other business support colleagues as well as wider team members in a supportive and collaborative environment to contribute to team objectives, where development and continuous improvement is encouraged and supported.  

Your role will involve building and managing relationships with senior colleagues, arranging and supporting meetings and playing a key role in the delivery of the peer review process. You will deliver effective support that underpins the delivery teams and supports our wider objectives by ensuring that operations are carried out in an efficient and effective manner in a way that maximises benefit to the whole organisation.

Examples of activities you may undertake include:

• Diary support for the Head of Team
• Meeting scheduling and support
• Arrangement and support for virtual meetings, such as video conferencing or teleconferencing
• Organisation of meetings including preparation of agendas and note-taking
• Providing support at our events, internal and external
• Travel and accommodation booking
• Travel and expense claim processing
• Contribute to updating best practices, being mindful of continuous improvement
• Setting up and maintaining purchase orders
• Supporting the team to deliver peer review and grant award processes
• Support corporate projects as required

Where you'll work

Polaris House
North Star Avenue
Swindon
Wiltshire
SN2 1PL

Training

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

Training provider

NEW COLLEGE SWINDON

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.

Training schedule

You will undertake professional development and training as part of a cohort of apprentices. We are offering two routes for this apprenticeship - Level 3 Business Administrator and Level 3 Data Technician. Under the Business Administrator pathway your training will include:

• Level 3 Business Administrator apprentices will complete their apprenticeship with New College Swindon, over 18-21 months. The first 15-18 months are the ‘practical period’ where you will learn through a combination of on-and-off-the-job training with New College Swindon and EPSRC to develop and implement the required Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours. Candidates will be required to attend New College Swindon 1 day per week during the practical period for facilitated workshops
• In the final 3 months of your programme you will undertake and lead on a work-based improvement project, deliver a presentation on this project, undertake a Knowledge Test and a professional discussion underpinned by a work-based portfolio as part of the End Point Assessment

More training information

If you have a preference over the pathways on offer, please indicate this within your covering letter. Applicants will be matched to the most suitable department and relevant apprenticeship pathway following the shortlisting and interview process.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 4/C)
• Maths (grade 4/C)

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
• Logical
• Team working

Other requirements

To be eligible to be considered for the apprenticeship programme, you must: 1. Have evidence of Maths and English GCSE at grade 4/C or above (or equivalent i.e. Level 2 Functional Skills) or be predicted to achieve these in August 2025 2. Have lived in the UK and/or EU for 3 consecutive years prior to the apprentice start date 3. Confirm that this apprenticeship offers substantive new skills and knowledge and that you have not already achieved an equivalent or higher-level qualification in a similar or related subject As part of our shortlisting process, we may be required to determine your eligibility to undertake the programme based on the information provided within your application.  By applying for this apprenticeship, you are giving permission for your details to be shared with the relevant training provider. The training provider will also ask you to complete an initial assessment during the application process.

About this employer

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

http://ukri.org (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

A full list of our benefits can be found here: https://www.ukri.org/about-us/work-for-us/working-at-ukri/

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

EPSRC have supported a number of apprentices over the years who have forged careers within UKRI. 

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

NEW COLLEGE SWINDON

apprenticerecruitment@ukri.org

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000334240.

Apply now

Closes in 19 days (Sunday 17 August 2025)

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