Business Administration Apprentice

City of London Corporation

Hounslow (TW6 3JF)

Closes in 19 days (Thursday 16 October 2025)

Posted on 26 September 2025

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Summary

The City of London Corporation has a vacancy for a Level 3 Business Administration Apprentice at the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre. Based at Heathrow Airport, the Animal Reception Centre provides a service to the airlines transporting live animals. The main remit of the HARC is to enforce U.K. & E.U. legislation for animal health and welfare.

• Wage:

  £25,780 a year

  Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  City of London Corporation staff can take advantage of the pension scheme. They also receive discounts and special offers for a wide range of products and services.

• Training course: Business administrator (level 3)
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm core hours. Flexibility will be required for business needs.

  35 hours a week

• Start date:

  Monday 1 December 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

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

• Assist with reception duties: receiving pet owners, agents, airline representatives and visitors to the Animal Reception Centre.
• Undertake general clerical duties including photocopying, scanning documents and filing. Carry out basic word processing, diary management, routine correspondence and data inputting.
• Input consignment information into the relevant databases and ensure efficient recording, filing and retrieval of all administrative records relating to Heathrow Animal Reception Centre procedures.
• Prepare animal health documents for checking under the Pet Travel Scheme.
• Assist with answering enquiries by telephone and email, from the public and airlines, regarding shipment of animals by air.
• Follow procedures for raising invoices for services provided. Assist with calculating charges and taking payments.
• Carry out basic stock control to ensure supplies meet demands. Assist with placing orders with approved suppliers as requested.
• Coordinate work experience placements and assist with booking and making provisions for visitor groups.
• Provide support and assist with administration for training events, seminars and meetings. Assist with appropriate set up and clear down of rooms and catering.
• Assist with occasional animal husbandry tasks as required.
• Actively seek to implement the City of London’s Occupational Health and Safety Policy in relation to the duties of the post, and at all times give due regard to the health and safety of both themselves and others when carrying out their duties.
• Actively seek to implement the City of London’s Equal Opportunity Policy and the objective to promote equality of opportunity in relation to the duties of the post.
• To undertake any other duties that may reasonably be requested appropriate to the grade.

Where you'll work

Heathrow Animal Reception Centre, Beacon Road
London Heathrow Airport
Hounslow
TW6 3JF

Training

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

Training provider

COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LONDON

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 be supported to achieve a Business Administration Level 3 apprenticeship. Theoretical training will be delivered by the training provider. Practical training and support will be given in the workplace, allowing you to embed your learning in the working environment. You will receive 6 hours per week to complete course work within your working hours.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 4)
• Maths (grade 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
• Attention to detail
• Customer care skills
• Administrative skills
• Number skills
• Team working
• Non judgemental
• Patience

Other requirements

Successful applicants will require their own transport due to the remoteness of the site. There is no direct transport, as the site is based outside the main airport grounds.

About this employer

The City Corporation with a rich history that precedes parliament, the City Corporation has been an ever constant throughout history adapting in order to meet modern demands of the City it serves, and is home to some of the world’s most striking modern architecture. The City of London Corporation forms part of London as a whole, along with the 32 London Boroughs who have responsibility for local government services within their local area. Based at the Guildhall the City Corporation looks after and promotes the City of London.

http://www.cityoflondon.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

On successful completion of the apprenticeship, we aim to offer a permanent role within the team if a position is available. Alternatively, we shall endeavour to secure an alternative position within the City of London Corporation. 

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LONDON

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000344056.

Apply now

Closes in 19 days (Thursday 16 October 2025)

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