Customer Service Practitioner Level 2 Apprentice

THE CHILDRENS FOUNDATION

Gateshead (NE9 5PA)

Closes in 11 days (Thursday 9 April 2026)

Posted on 27 March 2026

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Summary

Support the day-to-day running of the Stay and Play Café in the Deckham Family Hub. Delivering excellent customer service, preparing and serving food and drinks while maintaining high standards of cleanliness, food safety and hygiene. Contributing to a welcoming, inclusive environment for customers, volunteers and colleagues.

Wage

£16,926 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Customer service practitioner (level 2)
Hours
Monday to Friday 9am - 3:30pm (6-hours per day plus 30-mins un-paid lunch).

30 hours a week

Start date

Friday 1 May 2026

Duration

1 year 3 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

  • Provide friendly, welcoming and professional customer service at all times
  • Prepare and serve food and drinks in line with food hygiene and safety standards
  • Build & maintain professional working relationships with families and colleagues
  • Interact with children and parents as part of the Stay and Play sessions
  • Operate the till accurately, including cash handling and contactless payments
  • Support stock control by monitoring supplies and informing the Café Manager when items need replenishing
  • Maintain high standards of cleanliness and hygiene across all café areas, including kitchen, service and seating areas
  • Follow all food hygiene, health & safety, and licensing regulations
  • Support the set-up and presentation of the café, including displays and any charity shop shelf or promotional areas
  • Work collaboratively with the Café Manager, staff and volunteers to ensure a positive and supportive working environment
  • Assist with opening and closing duties as required
  • Promote a welcoming, safe and inclusive space for customers, including families and children

Where you'll work

Elgin Centre
Elgin Road
Gateshead
NE9 5PA

Training

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

Training provider

GATESHEAD COUNCIL

Training course

Customer service practitioner (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Use a range of questioning skills, including listening and responding in a way that builds rapport, determines customer needs and expectations and achieves positive engagement and delivery.
  • Depending on your job role and work environment: Use appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication skills, along with summarising language during face-to-face communications; and/or
  • Depending on your job role and work environment: Use appropriate communication skills, along with reinforcement techniques (to confirm understanding) during non-facing customer interactions.
  • Depending on your job role and work environment: Use an appropriate ‘tone of voice’ in all communications, including written and digital, that reflect the organisation’s brand.
  • Provide clear explanations and offer options in order to help customers make choices that are mutually beneficial to both the customer and your organisation.
  • Be able to organise yourself, prioritise your own workload/activity and work to meet deadlines.
  • Demonstrate patience and calmness.
  • Show you understand the customer’s point of view.
  • Use appropriate sign-posting or resolution to meet your customers needs and manage expectations.
  • Maintain informative communication during service recovery.

Training schedule

Customer Service Practitioner Level 2.

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
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Patience

About this employer

The Children’s Foundation is a north east charity that improves the health and wellbeing of babies, children and young people by making the serious stuff fun. We focus on Early Years, Children’s Mental Health and Children’s Physical Health, delivering early intervention and preventative community based activities.

https://thechildrensfoundation.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Future employment subject to funding.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

GATESHEAD COUNCIL

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000023323.

Apply now

Closes in 11 days (Thursday 9 April 2026)

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.