Apprentice Administrator – Payroll and Pensions
THE DAVID ROSS EDUCATION TRUST
Loughborough (LE11 4SQ)
Closes in 21 days (Thursday 30 April 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 9 April 2026
Contents
Summary
Working within our friendly payroll team, this role will provide payroll administration support for all staff within the trust and support to ensure accurate and timely payment of salaries, management of pensions, compliance with statutory requirements, and effective communication with staff regarding payroll and pension queries.
- Wage
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£15,434 a year
- Training course
- Business administrator (level 3)
- Hours
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Monday - Thursday - 8.30am until 4.30pm. Half an hour lunch break.
Friday - 8.30am until 4pm. Half an hour lunch break
37 hours a week
- Start date
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Monday 4 May 2026
- Duration
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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
- Maintain payroll records and update employee details as necessary
- Work with the HR team to ensure new starter information is complete on the system
- Liaise with staff members in response to payroll-related enquiries and work with the wider team to find answers and provide timely resolutions
- Co-ordinate with the schools to help in the resolution of queries
- Support the team with monthly payroll processing
- Administer the expense system
- Administration tasks for pension schemes, including Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) and Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). This will include liaising with staff members and the pension schemes on matters such as pension opt-outs, missing service, and retirement requests
- Act as first line contact for pension providers for administrative queries
- Generate reports for review by management
- Work with wider team to ensure accurate pension contributions and timely submission of returns
- General administration tasks
Where you'll work
Charnwood College
Thorpe Hill
Loughborough
LE11 4SQ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
LOUGHBOROUGH COLLEGE
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
- Online attendance with Loughborough College within the first 15-months, one morning per week with onsite sessions in the afternoon to assist with portfolio building and preparation for End Point Assessment
- Diarised visits from dedicated Trainer/Assessor
- Attendance to Loughborough College for an Induction Day (Induction to take place on the last Wednesday of the month that you are enrolled, 9:30am-3pm. Confirmation of date provided upon enrolment)
- Attendance to Loughborough College for Functional Skills (if required)
- On-the-job training
- Off-the-job training
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
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
- Customer care skills
- Number skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Confidentiality
- Security of Data
About this employer
The David Ross Education Trust (DRET) is a network of academies with a geographical focus on Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire/Humberside, and London.
The Head Office is a modern office space based in Loughborough.
http://www.dret.co.uk (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- 31 days annual leave plus statutory holiday
- Benefits Platform: Health & Wellbeing Programme: Cycle to Work Scheme
- Commitment to employee Health and Wellbeing
- Employee Assistance Programme
After this apprenticeship
This role will give the candidate a really good base knowledge of payroll and pensions and enable career progression within the profession.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
LOUGHBOROUGH COLLEGE
Michelle Lawrence
payroll@dret.co.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000025202.
Apply now
Closes in 21 days (Thursday 30 April 2026 at 11:59pm)