HR Support Apprentice
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
West Midlands (B69 3DE)
Closes in 28 days (Friday 12 September 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 15 August 2025
Contents
Summary
Join Sandwell Council's HR Frontline department as a HR Support Apprentice and be part of an innovative team driving digital transformation with the new Oracle Fusion platform. This role offers a chance to develop valuable telephone, customer service and administrative skills while gaining hands-on experience across a wide range of HR processes.
- Wage
-
£14,526.20 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- HR support (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday between the hours of 8.30am and 5.30pm
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Saturday 1 November 2025
- Duration
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1 year 6 months
- Positions available
-
2
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
Working with the Helpdesk team on HR Frontline, within Sandwell Council's Human Resources department, offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to our digital transformation to Oracle Fusion.
During your apprenticeship, you will build your skills, knowledge, and experience by performing the following duties:
- Handle a wide range of telephone and email enquiries from customers
- Undertake a variety of administrative and ICT-based tasks related to HR service delivery
- Support service area projects and day-to-day service delivery as needed
- Adhere to the council’s financial procedures and accounting guidelines
- Maintain an efficient filing and electronic records management system
- Collect statistical data and prepare appropriate reports as required
- Assist the team in keeping accurate and up-to-date establishment, employee, recruitment, payroll, and pension records and systems, both manual and computerised
- Respond to employee information requests and enquiries under guidance, including supporting the completion of monitoring forms
- Help ensure compliance with legislative requirements and internal deadlines
- Assist in creating and preparing reports, letters, memos, spreadsheets, documents, and databases using a range of software including Word, Excel, Adobe, Publisher, PowerPoint, Access, SBS, and Discoverer
- Actively participate in regular progress reviews
- Become an engaged and contributing team member
- Undertake relevant training identified for the role
- Deliver services in a courteous and professional manner
- Maintain strict confidentiality of employee data at all times
Where you'll work
PO Box 2374
Oldbury
West Midlands
B69 3DE
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
SANDWELL COLLEGE
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
At the end you will gain a Level 3 HR Support Qualification. The apprenticeship training will be delivered in the workplace, as you will receive visits from a college assessor. The apprenticeship will also include a proportion of 20% Off the Job Training and a robust programme of Mandatory Apprentice Training provided by Sandwell Council to include Fire Awareness, Prevent, Safeguarding, Data Protection & Cyber Security and Equality & Diversity.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 9-4/A-C)
- Maths (grade 9-4/A-C)
Other in:
- English (grade Level 2)
- Maths (grade Level 2)
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
- Team working
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Confident telephone manner
- Flexible
- Maintain confidentiality
- Calm and approachable
Other requirements
This role requires confidence in speaking to people over the phone and a flexible approach. Also to be open to change, for example showing a willingness to learn new ways of working in a positive way. We are looking for someone with good computer skills and the ability to prioritise their workload.
About this employer
Sandwell is a large, multicultural metropolitan borough situated in the heart of the Black Country, to the west of Birmingham, within the West Midlands conurbation and with a population of over 280,000. The Council is one of the largest employers in the Borough with employees in a variety of occupations, providing a comprehensive range of services. For more information about Sandwell Council’s apprenticeship programme and our recruitment process please visit our YouTube channel. Find out more information on Sandwell’s Values and Behaviours on the council’s webpage. For more information on careers in local government you can view a copy of the Local Government Career Guide.
http://www.sandwell.gov.uk (opens in new tab)
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
This apprenticeship is a fixed term 18-month contract and at the end you will gain a Level 3 HR Support Qualification. However, the skills, knowledge and experience gained in this apprenticeship will allow you to gain future opportunities in the sector.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
Parmjit Sidhu
parmjit_sidhu@sandwell.gov.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000337510.
Apply now
Closes in 28 days (Friday 12 September 2025 at 11:59pm)
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