Business Administration Apprentice

Cambridge Enterprise Ltd

Cambridge (CB3 0GT)

Closes in 30 days (Friday 29 May 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 29 April 2026

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Summary

Ready to start your career at the heart of a world-class organisation? Support Cambridge Enterprise's Executive Director and CFO, sit in on leadership meetings, and gain real experience from day one. With a brilliant mentor by your side, this apprenticeship will accelerate your career faster than you think. 

Wage

£20,559 a year

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30 days holiday (plus bank holidays)
Hybrid role with genuine flexible working 
Generous University pension scheme

Training course
Business administrator (level 3)
Hours
Monday - Friday, 09:00 - 17:30

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 14 September 2026

Duration

1 year 5 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

The Business Administrative Apprentice provides dedicated PA and administrative support to the Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer, while also supporting the broader Executive Leadership Team (ELT) as required. The role sits within the Operations team and reports directly to the Strategic Project Manager & EA, working in close partnership with them to ensure seamless executive-level support across the organisation.

This is a Level 3 Business Administration Apprenticeship. Alongside their day-to-day responsibilities, the postholder will work towards a nationally recognised qualification in a fast-paced, senior-facing environment.

Main Responsibilities:

PA Support - Executive Director & Chief Financial Officer:

  • Manage diaries, ensuring time is allocated effectively and conflicts are resolved proactively
  • Arrange travel and accommodation, confirming all logistics accurately and in good time
  • Process expense claims and reconcile receipts, ensuring accuracy and alignment with internal policies
  • Support the drafting of correspondence on behalf of senior leaders
  • Handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and sound judgement

ELT & Executive Office Support:

  • Prepare agendas, collate materials and support notetaking and minute-taking for meetings involving the Executive Director, CFO and broader ELT, with training provided
  • Support the planning and coordination of multi-stakeholder meetings, managing attendee logistics, briefing materials and communications (with guidance from the Strategic Project Manager & EA)
  • Coordinate company meeting slides and catering arrangements to a high standard
  • Track actions arising from meetings and follow up to ensure timely completion
  • Deputise for the Strategic Project Manager & EA as required, including occasional cover for CEO-related diary and meeting support

Administration & Information Management:

  • Maintain well-organised electronic filing systems, ensuring records are easy to locate and consistently structured
  • Book meeting rooms and manage logistics for Executive Office events and meetings
  • Support the Strategic Project Manager & EA with project administration, research and presentations as required

 

Where you'll work

3 Charles Babbage Road
Cambridge
CB3 0GT

Training

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

Training provider

CAMBRIDGE REGIONAL 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

  • Actively engage with the Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship programme, completing coursework and assessments to the required standard
  • Apply learning from the programme to day-to-day work, developing skills and knowledge progressively throughout the role

More training information

Given the nature of the role, training would be both structured and on-the-job.

We would offer:

  • Diary and inbox management: hands-on guidance from the Strategic Project Manager & EA on how to manage complex, multi-principal diaries effectively
  • Minute-taking and meeting support: shadowing before taking ownership, with feedback after each meeting
  • Professional written communication: coaching on drafting emails and correspondence on behalf of senior leaders
  • Microsoft Office: access to internal or external training resources, particularly Outlook, Word and PowerPoint
  • Confidentiality and data handling: induction training on GDPR and internal policies given the sensitive nature of the role
  • Stakeholder awareness: informal coaching on working with and communicating at senior leadership level
  • Cambridge Enterprise induction: understanding the organisation, its mission and how the teams connect, so they can support the ELT with real context
  • The role itself is fundamentally a training environment, they will learn most by doing, supported closely by the Strategic Project Manager & EA as their day-to-day mentor

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4 or C)
  • Maths (grade 4 or C)

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
  • Presentation skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience

Other requirements

  • There may be times where you're required to attend events outside of working hours

About this employer

Cambridge Enterprise is the commercialisation arm of the University of Cambridge. We take brilliant ideas, from groundbreaking medical research to world-changing technology, and help turn them into real products, companies and services that benefit society.

We're a small organisation with an outsized impact. You won't be lost in a corporate machine, you'll know the people around you and see the difference the work makes.

Company benefits

  • Family-friendly policies 
  • Mental health and well-being support including access to free counselling
  • Retail and travel discounts

After this apprenticeship

  • The Level 3 Business Administration Apprenticeship runs over 18 months, during which time the apprentice will build a strong foundation in executive support, administration and professional communication, all in a senior-facing environment
  • On successful completion, the natural progression would be into a PA role, whether within Cambridge Enterprise should a suitable opportunity arise, or externally
  • The experience gained supporting the Executive Director, CFO and broader ELT puts them in a strong position for PA roles across a wide range of organisations and sectors
  • We cannot guarantee a permanent role on completion, but we are committed to developing our apprentice fully and supporting them to take their next step with confidence, whatever that looks like

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

CAMBRIDGE REGIONAL COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000029052.

Apply now

Closes in 30 days (Friday 29 May 2026 at 11:59pm)