Business Administration Apprentice

THE HARMONY TRUST LTD

Oldham (OL9 6AQ)

Closes in 10 days (Friday 29 May 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 19 May 2026


Summary

Under the direction of senior staff, the post holder will provide routine general clerical, administrative, and financial support to the Academy and key staff, including Office Manager / Principal / Finance Manager. The schools include Westwood Academy, Richmond Academy, Northmoor Academy.

Wage

£15,250.56 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Business administrator (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday. Hours to be worked between 8.00am and 6pm. Term Time only.

36 hours 40 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 15 June 2026

Duration

1 year 9 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 undertake word processing and other ICT related tasks including letters, reports and schedules, and work which utilises other ICT packages, such as databases, spreadsheets, formatting presentations or research on the internet.
  • To take notes/minutes of meetings as required, e.g. pupil reviews, CP meetings and staff meetings, and undertake other related tasks to support the organising of meetings, such as typing agendas, collating papers and booking rooms.
  • To maintain and collate registers, pupil reports & data and any other information/statistical returns are routinely required.
  • To undertake routine administration of academy lettings and other uses of academy premises.
  • Under the direction of the principal, organise supply cover.

KEY TASKS – Finance & Physical Resources

  • To undertake the financial transactions relating to school funds, petty cash, school trips, photographs, postage, telephone calls and school meals, and the balancing of such funds and secure monies in accordance with academy procedures.
  • To order equipment as requested, process invoices and reconcile statements from electronic financial management information systems in line with financial procedures.
  • To maintain stationery and consumables stock and supplies for the whole academy, cataloguing and distributing as required.
  • To operate uniform/snack or other school ‘shops’ within the academy.

KEY TASKS – Reception & Customer Service

  • To undertake reception duties, answering routine telephone and face-to-face enquiries, taking messages and forwarding them onto the relevant person as required.
  • To welcome visitors to the school, ensuring health and safety and safeguarding procedures are followed, such as signing in/out of a register, issuing badges/passes or escorting visitors as required.
  • To respond to queries and provide general advice and guidance to staff, pupils and parents and others
  • To make arrangements for external visitors, for example, the school nurse, photographer, linked schools and parents.

KEY TASKS – General Clerical

  • To provide general clerical support, e.g. photocopying, filing, faxing, emailing, completing routine forms and responding to routine enquires.
  • To sort and distribute internal and external mail.

KEY TASKS – Welfare

To undertake pupil first aid/welfare duties, looking after sick pupils, liaising with parents/staff in accordance with Academy Procedure.

STANDARD DUTIES

  • To understand the importance of inclusion, equality and diversity, both when working with pupils and with colleagues, and to promote equal opportunities for all.
  • To uphold and promote the values and the ethos of the school.
  • To implement and uphold the policies, procedures and codes of practice of the school, including those relating to customer care, finance, data protection, ICT, health & safety, anti-bullying and safeguarding/child protection.
  • To take a proactive approach to health and safety, working with others in the school to minimise and mitigate potential hazards and risks, and actively contribute to the security of the school, e.g. challenging a stranger on the premises.
  • To participate in and engage with workplace learning and development opportunities, subject to the school’s training plan, working to continually improve your own performance and that of the team/school.
  • To attend and participate in relevant meetings as appropriate.
  • To undertake any other additional duties commensurate with the grade of the post.

CONTACTS

Pupils, staff parents, carers and guardians, and visitors to the school.

Where you'll work

Alderson Street
Oldham
OL9 6AQ

Training

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

Training provider

THE OLDHAM 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

Off-the-job training will take place one day a week at Oldham College.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English and Maths (grade Grades 9-4 (A*-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
  • Administrative skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience

Other requirements

A DBS check will need to be carried out before the apprenticeship can start.

About this employer

Our core aim is to provide the best possible education for our children. We want the academy to make a real difference to the lives of pupils and parents who live and work in Oldham. We believe that The Harmony Trust will be a place where every child believes, achieves and succeeds. Developing well-being and self-esteem is at our core alongside raising attainment and achievement. we aim to prepare our learners for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life through a balanced high-quality education in a caring and stimulating environment, where our school community is learning and achieving together.

https://www.theharmonytrust.org/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Full-time employment for the right candidate.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

THE OLDHAM COLLEGE

Deborah Wynn

deborah.wynn@oldham.ac.uk

01617853586

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000032369.

Apply now

Closes in 10 days (Friday 29 May 2026 at 11:59pm)