UCL East Communications Apprentice

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON

London (2 available locations)

Closes in 5 days (Monday 6 April 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 30 March 2026

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Summary

This is an Apprenticeship role, and the post holder will work towards a Public Relations and Communications Assistant (Level 4) qualification. UCL and the allocated training provider (PA Media Academy) will support the Apprentice to achieve this in a timely manner by making the time available to attend the training.

Wage

£27,586 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Public relations and communications assistant (level 4)
Hours
Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm

36 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Wednesday 1 July 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

  • Attend project planning meetings, supporting the development of communication plans where required
  • Develop written and non-written content and schedule this content for publication/distribution across our communications channels
  • Carry out updates to our website and intranet pages, actively checking to ensure they are up to date
  • Research, analyse and monitor our audiences and stakeholders to inform engagement strategies
  • Create ticket ordering forms using Eventbrite for events, managing the booking process and responding to accessibility requests
  • Maintain and manage mailing lists and databases
  • Monitor shared mailboxes to act as the first point of contact for enquiries
  • Ensure a high degree of accessibility across all our communication activities
  • Develop and maintain an awareness of UCL’s brand and ensure that brand values are embedded in communications
  • Contribute to risk assessments and event management plans, considering how reputational damage can be mitigated
  • Support the procurement, briefing and payment of freelancers and contractors, such as designers, printers, photographers and filmmakers
  • Help to analyse and evaluate communication activities and present findings to the team and wider stakeholders
  • Support the team with routine administrative, logistical and time-sensitive tasks
  • Assist with the planning, delivery and evaluation of our events, such as press launches, exhibition private views, awards ceremonies, training workshops, and other public events
  • Actively consider and support diversity and inclusion across all areas of work
  • Actively participate in personal and professional development when opportunities arise both within and alongside the Apprenticeship Level 4 training
  • Follow and actively promote the UCL Ways of Working
  • Carry out any other duties within the scope, spirit and purpose of the job as requested by the line manager
  • This job description may be reviewed and be subject to amendment in consultation with the post holder

Where you'll work

You can select which locations you want to apply for in your application on Find an apprenticeship.

This apprenticeship is available in these locations:

  • Bidborough House 38-50, Bidborough Street, London, WC1H 9BT
  • 7 Sidings Street, Stratford, London, E20 2AF

Training

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

Training provider

THE PRESS ASSOCIATION LIMITED

Training course

Public relations and communications assistant (level 4)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Use IT systems and software to support campaigns.
  • Build stakeholder relationships and present to them in both formal and informal settings.
  • Support campaigns by undertaking tasks such as desk research, event co-ordination, and database management to ensure compliance with agreed service or performance levels.
  • Produce written content such as news releases, articles, social media content, bulletins, and blogs, that is accessible to meet the needs of different audiences and channels.
  • Able to adapt communication styles as appropriate to the audience.
  • Support the production of non-written content such as film production management, producing short user generated style content, live video streaming, social image creation, and infographic production.
  • Distribute content using social media channels.
  • Use qualitative and quantitative research to analyse and evaluate public relations and communications activities and present findings to project stakeholders.
  • Analyse and interpret complex subjects through different communication channels and identify areas for improvement.
  • Input to and review communications programmes and plans with a focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles within their organisation's procedures.
  • Undertake risk assessment and provide information to support stakeholder planning and strategy.
  • Plan and deliver engagement activities for stakeholders, such as curating the content, supporting events, and collating feedback.
  • Proofread and edit communications materials such as news releases, graphics and video, and social media content.
  • Support team and colleague development through buddying or coaching.
  • Contribute to activities which focus on improving sustainability within their organisation's procedures.
  • Apply relevant legislation, regulations, codes of practice, and ethical guidance where appropriate to their work.
  • Use IT systems and software to support campaigns.
  • Build stakeholder relationships and present to them in both formal and informal settings.
  • Support campaigns by undertaking tasks such as desk research, event co-ordination, and database management to ensure compliance with agreed service or performance levels.
  • Produce written content such as news releases, articles, social media content, bulletins, and blogs, that is accessible to meet the needs of different audiences and channels.
  • Able to adapt communication styles as appropriate to the audience.
  • Support the production of non-written content such as film production management, producing short user generated style content, live video streaming, social image creation, and infographic production.
  • Distribute content using social media channels.
  • Use qualitative and quantitative research to analyse and evaluate public relations and communications activities and present findings to project stakeholders.
  • Analyse and interpret complex subjects through different communication channels and identify areas for improvement.
  • Input to and review communications programmes and plans with a focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles within their organisation's procedures.
  • Undertake risk assessment and provide information to support stakeholder planning and strategy.
  • Plan and deliver engagement activities for stakeholders, such as curating the content, supporting events, and collating feedback.
  • Proofread and edit communications materials such as news releases, graphics and video, and social media content.
  • Support team and colleague development through buddying or coaching.
  • Contribute to activities which focus on improving sustainability within their organisation's procedures.
  • Apply relevant legislation, regulations, codes of practice, and ethical guidance where appropriate to their work.

Training schedule

Public Relations and Communications Assistant Level 4.

Training will take place both in the workplace and PA Media Academy, located in Stratford.

College days are one day per week and will involve a combination of in-person, hybrid and online training sessions.

More training information

PA Media Academy is an apprenticeship training provider specialising in public relations and communications, journalism and content creator programmes. It is part of the PA Media Group, which includes the UK's newswire service.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4)
  • Maths (grade 4)

Other in:

Any (grade C or equivalent)

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
  • Analytical skills
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental

Other requirements

  • Experience of writing, editing and proofreading for a variety of online and/or printed materials
  • A good understanding of east London and the communities that work and live there
  • A demonstrable interest in working in the arts and culture and/or higher education

About this employer

UCL is one of the world's leading universities. At its establishment in 1826, UCL was radical and responsive to the needs of society, and this ethos – that excellence should go hand-in-hand with civic responsibility – continues today. UCL’s teaching and research extends across all disciplines; from one of Europe’s largest and most productive hubs for biomedical science interacting with several leading London hospitals, to world-renowned centres for the built environment (UCL Bartlett) and fine art (UCL Slade School).

UCL’s new campus on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (QEOP), UCL East, has been conceived and built to be open, accessible and publicly engaged university campus. With two buildings currently open, and more to come, UCL East is dedicated to breaking down boundaries between knowledge and experience to solve some of the most urgent challenges facing people and the plant. The campus is a unique combination of multidisciplinary research centres, teaching spaces, study areas and living accommodation.

The comms team at UCL East fall under the Vice-President External Engagement. The team ensures that the work of UCL East’s academics, students, staff as well as its extensive cultural programming and community engagement reaches the appropriate audiences.  

https://www.ucl.ac.uk (opens in new tab)

Disability Confident

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

Work in press and communications offices, specifically in education. But skills can be applied more broadly in a range of settings - both public, private and charity sector.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

THE PRESS ASSOCIATION LIMITED

Will McKinna-Hannigan/UCL Communications

east.comms@ucl.ac.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000019075.

Apply now

Closes in 5 days (Monday 6 April 2026 at 11:59pm)