HR Apprentice

INSTITUTE OF DEVELOPMENT STUDIES(THE)

Brighton (BN1 9RE)

Closes in 13 days (Monday 16 March 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 25 February 2026

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Summary

A great opportunity for HR professionals looking to progress their career by joining the Institute of Development Studies as an HR Apprentice while completing the Level 5 People Professional Apprenticeship. Ideally, applicants should already be working in HR and hold a Level 3 qualification.

Wage

£24,479 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
People professional (level 5)
Hours
Monday to Friday with work-based learning and any required attendance at Chichester College. Times to be confirmed.

35 hours a week

Start date

Monday 27 April 2026

Duration

1 year 11 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

Casual Worker & Pay Administration

  • Checking eligibility to work documentation
  • Processing contracts and claim forms
  • Keeping up-to-date, accurate records
  • Undertaking pension assessments – to establish eligibility for auto enrolment
  • Updating and communicating changes to the Casual Workers policy
  • Clearly explaining/communicating/training on guidelines around the hiring of casual workers

Onboarding

  • Responsible for making all HR arrangements for new staff following a job offer
  • Carry out compliance checks including eligibility to work, references in line with the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and any other checks in line with the IDS Recruitment & Safeguarding policies
  • When applicable and with support from the HR Coordinator, administer certificate of sponsors and support new staff with their visa applications
  • Prepare contracts, offer letters, payroll documentation and any other information for new joiners, working with other members of the HR team and managers to ensure salary offers are in line with IDS policy. Ensure all documentation is completed accurately and in a timely manner
  • Undertake pension assessments – to establish eligibility for auto enrolment
  • Carry out individual one-to-one HR inductions
  • Administer and coordinate the new staff induction event
  • Work with the HR Advisor on a project to improve induction processes at IDS

International working

  • Support the Director of HR and HR Advisors with administering applications for international working placements
  • Prepare and collate documentation for setting up ‘Employer of Record’ arrangements

Committee Administration & Coordination

  • Responsible for organising and administering a range of formal employment and other committees to ensure they run smoothly and efficiently
  • Provide committee and meeting support such as scheduling, venue preparation, catering, agendas, papers, minutes and track actions
  • Work with the Director of Research to administer the Sabbatical scheme

General HR Operations & Administration

  • Process contractual changes for existing staff, such as change of hours, etc. accurately and in a timely manner
  • Support Employee Self-Service (ESS) and Manager Self-Service (MSS) users
  • Arranging meetings, including room bookings and catering arrangements
  • General administrative duties including processing invoices, filing, archiving, ordering stationery
  • Maintain secure digital files and support with policy, guidance and intranet updates
  • Handling employee enquiries – providing good customer service and referring to HR Team members where appropriate
  • Monitor the HR shared inbox: acknowledge, triage and respond to routine enquiries professionally; signpost or escalate non-routine/sensitive matters
  • Processing HR’s monthly credit card statements with clear supporting evidence
  • Support the HR Advisors to carry out monthly payroll checks, resolve simple discrepancies, and flag complex issues promptly
  • Supporting administration of Safeguarding processes, including facilitating DBS checks
  • At busy times, supporting the recruitment processes
  • Attend training to build skills and keep knowledge current-Any other duties considered reasonable for this role 

Where you'll work

At The University Of Sussex Falmer
Brighton
BN1 9RE

Training

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

Training provider

CHICHESTER COLLEGE GROUP

Training course

People professional (level 5)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Communicate information through appropriate channels to enable key stakeholders to understand what is required.
  • Build and manage multiple and diverse stakeholder's relationships.
  • Advise on application of policy, regulation, and law for HR issues.
  • Use data and metrics to mitigate areas of risk and highlight opportunities.
  • Negotiate with and influence stakeholders to support achievement of business and organisation objectives.
  • Present insight and conclusions on workforce issues or people process failures.
  • Enable stakeholders to deliver people solutions. e.g., through negotiation, providing guidance.
  • Lead and improve people capability within the business.
  • Manage and deliver people related business and change projects.
  • Handle and process people data according to legislative requirements.
  • Embed organisational people policy to promote a diverse and inclusive culture with stakeholders.
  • Analyse financial implications of people solutions ensuring value for money.
  • Support the delivery of people strategies using technology and innovation in accordance with regulations and policies.
  • Make decisions on people policy and issues raised, escalating concerns outside own area of responsibility.
  • Use prioritisation tools e.g., priority matrix to manage workload, and deliver against business objectives.
  • Challenge matters which conflict with ethical values or legislation.
  • Contribute to the development of people policies and procedures or people initiatives.
  • Interpret people and management data, from both internal and external sources to identify trends.
  • Educate and support stakeholders to deal with wellbeing issues.
  • Benchmark to improve people policies and procedures, or people initiatives.
  • Communicate information through appropriate channels to enable key stakeholders to understand what is required.
  • Build and manage multiple and diverse stakeholder's relationships.
  • Advise on application of policy, regulation, and law for HR issues.
  • Use data and metrics to mitigate areas of risk and highlight opportunities.
  • Negotiate with and influence stakeholders to support achievement of business and organisation objectives.
  • Present insight and conclusions on workforce issues or people process failures.
  • Enable stakeholders to deliver people solutions. e.g., through negotiation, providing guidance.
  • Lead and improve people capability within the business.
  • Manage and deliver people related business and change projects.
  • Handle and process people data according to legislative requirements.
  • Embed organisational people policy to promote a diverse and inclusive culture with stakeholders.
  • Analyse financial implications of people solutions ensuring value for money.
  • Support the delivery of people strategies using technology and innovation in accordance with regulations and policies.
  • Make decisions on people policy and issues raised, escalating concerns outside own area of responsibility.
  • Use prioritisation tools e.g., priority matrix to manage workload, and deliver against business objectives.
  • Challenge matters which conflict with ethical values or legislation.
  • Contribute to the development of people policies and procedures or people initiatives.
  • Interpret people and management data, from both internal and external sources to identify trends.
  • Educate and support stakeholders to deal with wellbeing issues.
  • Benchmark to improve people policies and procedures, or people initiatives.

Training schedule

This training schedule has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4)
  • Math (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
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Follows Procedures
  • Methodical
  • Willingness to learn
  • Maintains confidentiality
  • Meets Deadlines
  • Able to prioritise
  • Enthusiastic

About this employer

The Institute of Development Studies (IDS) is a global leading institution for research, teaching and learning, and impact and communications, based at the University of Sussex.  We are ranked first in the world for development studies by the QS University Rankings, together with the University of Sussex. We are also ranked best international development policy think tank.

After this apprenticeship

There is the possibility of a full-time job upon successful completion for the apprenticeship.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

CHICHESTER COLLEGE GROUP

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000015585.

Apply now

Closes in 13 days (Monday 16 March 2026 at 11:59pm)