HR Officer Apprentice
National Church Institutions (Church of England)
London (SW1P 3AZ)
Closes in 17 days (Monday 5 January 2026)
Posted on 19 December 2025
Contents
Summary
This is an exciting opportunity for someone with a keen interest in pursuing a career in Human Resources to study a CIPD qualification whilst working in an HR role on a fixed-term basis for 18 months.
- Wage
-
£27,039 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
The post holder will be paid London Living Wage, currently £14.80 per hour, plus age-related pension contributions between 8-15% of salary. We will also match any pension contributions you make up to an additional 3% of your salary.
- Training course
- HR support (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (however, we do offer flexible working patterns).
35 hours a week
- Start date
-
Sunday 1 March 2026
- 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
- Undertake and complete a Level 3 CIPD HR Apprenticeship and apply learnings and best practice to the role.
- Be the first point of contact support on operational HR queries via our HR Helpdesk, responding to queries within a timely manner to provide advice in line with policies, processes and HR legislation, escalating to HR Advisers or HR Business Partners where
necessary, and at all times providing excellent customer service in line with our values. - Prepare letters and other HR documentation, processing employment changes eachmonth and liaising with the internal payroll team to provide necessary evidence.
- Monitor monthly reports to process timely appointment confirmations, DBS renewals and right to work checks.
- Ensure accurate employee records are maintained, and necessary documentation is stored on an individual’s HR file in accordance with data protection regulations, and archive HR files in accordance with the relevant procedure.
- Participate in and deliver virtual and in-person induction sessions to a high standard.
- Proactively look for ways to improve the HR service to stakeholders including through the increased use of technology and assist and contribute to the implementation of HR
systems which are necessary to provide high standards of HR delivery. - Support the HR Operations Manager, HR Business Partners, and Deputy People Director.
Where you'll work
27 Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3AZ
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
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4/C grade)
- Maths (grade 4/C grade)
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
- Administrative skills
- Team working
- Initiative
Other requirements
- You will need to have excellent verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to work with accuracy and attention to detail, including working with numerical data.
- You will have an enthusiastic, flexible, and highly organised approach to work, with the ability to understand and process high volumes of information.
- You will need experience of using Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel in a work-based context, as well as HR Information Systems (ideally Oracle HCM). SharePoint experience would also be an advantage.
- This role will require the postholder to work from our London office in Westminster, London, once a week on average (currently Wednesdays).
About this employer
There are seven national administrative bodies that work together to support the mission and ministries of the Church. These are called National Church Institutions (NCIs). Each has a role to play in helping the day-to-day work of churches across England. We serve as the Church’s central office, managing finance, education, communications, and more, to keep the Church of England growing. We work with parishes, dioceses (regional offices), schools, other ministries and our partners at a national and international level. The NCIs are separate legal entities, but they are a common employer. The present arrangements were established under the National Institutions Measure 1998. The seven NCIs are: The Archbishops' Council Lambeth Palace Bishopthorpe Palace The Church Commissioners The Church of England Pensions Board National Society for Promoting Religious Education The Church of England Central Services The majority of NCI staff are based at Church House in Westminster, Lambeth Palace, the Lambeth Palace Library, and Bishopthorpe Palace near York.
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
We have a supportive HR team with various roles which may be suitable upon completion of this apprenticeship
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
BABINGTON BUSINESS COLLEGE LIMITED
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000006110.
Apply now
Closes in 17 days (Monday 5 January 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.