HR Assistant Apprentice

PARADIGM TRUST

Suffolk (IP3 0EW)

Closes in 26 days (Monday 1 June 2026)

Posted on 6 May 2026

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Summary

This is an opportunity to take your first steps to a career in HR, working in education. This is a rewarding role that will enable you to develop your skills within the Trust’s HR team. You will be an integral part of the team responsible for maintaining efficient HR service at the Trust.

• Wage:

  £22,878 a year

  Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  Enhanced hourly rate - £11.85; £22,878 per annum

• Training course: HR support (level 3)
• Hours: 37 hours per week/52 weeks per year with annual leave allowance. Working days are Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm (can be flexible). Time for study included in working hours.

  37 hours a week

• Start date:

  Tuesday 1 September 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

To coordinate and support the director of HR, payroll and risk and HR Manager in the management of the recruitment and selection process, including but not limited to:

• Organising and leading, with support from the HR Team Manager(s)/HR Officer,recruitment meetings
• To undertake the administration of the recruitment and selection process, acting as the key HR contact/liaison for specific recruitment drives
• To prepare adverts, liaising with the relevant principal/service head to ensure a successful recruitment drive
• To ensure that applicants are contacted throughout the recruitment and selection process, ensuring all administrative arrangements for the selection process are made
• To maintain an up to date record of all job descriptions and person specifications
• To adhere to the Trust’s safer recruitment practices in the administration of recruitment and selection, and ensure new recruits have undergone and completed the necessary
  pre-employment checks, that these are recorded in a timely and accurate fashion on the single central record, and to draw any concerns or anomalies to the attention of the director of HR, payroll and risk/HR manager and principal/service Head. Following up on outstanding vetting checks as necessary
• To advise on the administration of staff recruitment, selection and appointments, escalating more complex queries to the director of HR, payroll and risk/HR manager
• To manage the starter and leaver administration process, including drafting and sending out offer letters and contracts; liaising with payroll; adding/removing details to/from the
  internal management and other systems (SCR, iTrent); ensuring the accurate entry on all e-files
• Under the direction of the director of HR, payroll and risk/HR manager, maintain an up to date suite of template letters and forms, enabling the effective production of offer letters
  and contracts of employment

Where you'll work

Piper’s Vale Primary Academy
Raeburn Road
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP3 0EW

Training

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

Training provider

SUFFOLK NEW COLLEGE

Training course

HR support (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• Service Delivery: Delivers excellent customer service on a range of HR queries and requirements, providing solutions, advice and support primarily to managers. Builds managers’ expertise in HR matters, improving their ability to handle repeated situations themselves where appropriate. Uses agreed systems and processes to deliver service to customers. Takes the initiative to meet agreed individual and team KPIs in line with company policy, values, standards. Plans and organises their work, often without direct supervision, to meet commitments and KPIs.
• Problem Solving: Uses sound questioning and active listening skills to understand requirements and establish root causes before developing HR solutions. Takes ownership through to resolution, escalating complex situations as appropriate.
• Communication & Interpersonal: Deals effectively with customers/colleagues, using sound interpersonal skills and communicating well through a range of media eg phone, face to face, email, internet. Adapts their style to their audience. Builds trust and sound relationships with customers. Handles conflict and sensitive HR situations professionally and confidentially.
• Teamwork: Consistently supports colleagues /collaborates within the team and HR to achieve results. Builds/maintains strong working relationships with others in the team and across HR where necessary.
• Process Improvement: Identifies opportunities to improve HR performance and service; acts on them within the authority of their role. Supports implementation of HR changes/projects with the business.
• Managing HR Information: Maintains required HR records as part of services delivered. Prepares reports and management information from HR data, with interpretation as required.
• Personal Development: Keeps up to date with business changes and HR legal/policy/process changes relevant to their role. Seeks feedback and acts on it to improve their performance and overall capability.

Training schedule

• HR Support Standard
• English and Maths (if required) Level 2

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

• English or equivalent (grade C/4)
• Maths or equivalent (grade C/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
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Administrative skills
• Number skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Initiative
• Non judgemental
• Self Motivated
• Flexible
• Time Management

Other requirements

All applicants must have due regard for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and this will be assessed as part of the recruitment and selection process.  If you are successful you will be required to comply with the Trust’s safeguarding policies and procedures. 

An Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service will be required.

About this employer

Paradigm Trust (Paradigm) is a not-for-profit educational trust with schools in Ipswich and Tower Hamlets that are free and open to all. Paradigm has a very simple ethos: to develop and sustain great schools where we can make the biggest difference to pupils. Our values are: Integrity – doing the right thing even when no one is watching; Excellence – enabling everyone to achieve more through education and Community – working together; learning from, and supporting, others.

https://paradigmtrust.org (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• A strong commitment to professional development
• We strive to be a family friendly employer
• Employee counselling service
• Cycle to work scheme

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

This role has the potential to become permanent on successful completion of the apprenticeship. 

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SUFFOLK NEW COLLEGE

Chloe Rowntree

hr@paradigmtrust.org

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000030015.

Apply now

Closes in 26 days (Monday 1 June 2026)

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