HR Support Apprentice

UK Research and Innovation

Wiltshire (SN2 1PL)

Closes in 16 days (Sunday 28 September 2025)

Posted on 12 September 2025

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Summary

UKRI Research and Innovation (UKRI) is offering an exciting opportunity to join our HR Operations team as an HR Support Assistant apprentice. The HR Operations teams provide high-quality advice and support to people managers and employees on day-to-day HR queries, key HR processes, UKRI policies and employee relations cases as they arise.

• Wage:

  £18,900 a year

  Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  Rising to £22,011 per annum after 12 months

• Training course: HR support (level 3)
• Hours: Monday - Friday

  37 hours a week

• Start date:

  Monday 10 November 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

As an HR Support Assistant Apprentice, you’ll provide essential support to the HR Operations department, including: 

• Provide advice to employees and managers on UKRI policy and processes
• Review and action staff change forms and provide advice on associated policy and completion of forms where appropriate.  
• Act as gatekeeper for the HR inbox, ensuring queries are dealt with in a timely manner, managing day-to-day queries and escalating to the appropriate person/team if appropriate 
• Champion the use of HR self-service options to aid line managers and employees on generic HR policy and process queries
• Handle and manage confidential data where required
• Deliver inductions for new starters and assist with any onboarding issues, including issuing of day one email/checklist to new starters and line managers.
• Support the occupational health referral process, including contact with employees, line managers and medical practitioners.
• Support casework, which includes providing routine advice and guidance and taking notes at meetings as and when required.
• Support HR initiatives and internal projects, as appropriate
• Look for opportunities to continuously improve in-house HR related processes, also in conjunction with UK SBS
• Support activities such as Instant Award and In-Year/ End-of-Year Award schemes and Training Workshops.   

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

BABINGTON BUSINESS COLLEGE LIMITED

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

As an apprentice, at least 20% of your contracted working hours will be dedicated to undertaking professional development and training as part of a cohort of apprentices with Babington, completing the Level 3 HR Support Apprenticeship. This professional development programme, delivered over 15 months, covers essential themes that are designed to develop your knowledge and experience to become a well-rounded, proficient HR professional. Sessions will be delivered online through workshops, small group study sessions and self-guided study. You will also be supported on a 1:1 basis throughout your apprenticeship by a dedicated Coach.

Throughout the course, you will build a portfolio of work, demonstrating your application of HR Support tools and techniques.

Towards the end of the programme, you will be supported on a 1:1 basis to prepare you for your End Point Assessment. The End Point Assessment will include the completion of a Workplace Project to enable you to demonstrate the required Knowledge, Behaviours and Skills required to pass.

To support your development, you will receive:  

• A dedicated line manager and mentor
• Regular progress reviews with the training provider and line manager
• Opportunities to work alongside experienced HR professionals
• Time and guidance to build a portfolio of evidence aligned to the apprenticeship’s knowledge, skills, and behaviours
• Involvement in real-world work that contributes directly to supporting UKRI’s workforce

Upon completion of this apprenticeship, you will achieve:

• Nationally recognised Level 3 HR Support Apprenticeship
• CIPD L3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice
• Opportunity to apply for Associate CIPD membership upon completion 

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

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

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
• Administrative skills
• Number skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Patience

Other requirements

As this job does not fulfil the UK Government minimum criterion for obtaining sponsored migrant worker status we will be unable to apply for sponsorship for anyone not eligible to work in the UK. At interview, all shortlisted candidates are required to bring with them identification documents and original documents that prove they hold or can obtain the right to work in the UK. You can check your eligibility here: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y Important Information To complete the apprenticeship, you will need to provide evidence of Maths and English GCSE grade A*-C / 9-4 or equivalent You will need to have been a resident in the UK for the last 3 years prior to the start of the apprenticeship, or fit the criteria of eligible residency status in the Apprenticeship Funding Rules. Apprenticeship funding rules, 2025 to 2026 - GOV.UK You cannot already hold the same or similar qualifications, i.e. CIPD Level 3.

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

The role is ideal for someone starting their HR career who will be supported by HR Operations colleagues and will be encouraged to get involved with activities run by the UKRI Early Careers Network and UKRI Apprenticeship Team. 

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

BABINGTON BUSINESS COLLEGE LIMITED

apprenticerecruitment@ukri.org

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000341714.

Apply now

Closes in 16 days (Sunday 28 September 2025)

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