Income Recovery Apprentice
Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council
West Midlands (B91 3QB)
Closes in 13 days (Sunday 28 June 2026)
Posted on 15 June 2026
Contents
Summary
To deal with the effective recovery of any debts outstanding to the authority including Council Tax, Non-Domestic Rates, Business Improvement District (BID), Housing Benefit Overpayments and Sundry Debts in order to maximise income to the council.
To adopt a holistic view in relation to monies owed to the council.
- Wage
-
£24,552 a year
- Training course
- Revenues and welfare benefits practitioner (level 4)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 September 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
- To learn and understand legislation relating to Council Tax and Non-Domestic recovery and enforcement
- To progress Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rate debt recovery by making a decision on the appropriate course of action in relation to the debt taking into account the individual circumstances of the customer
- To progress Housing Benefit Overpayments and Sundry Income debt recovery by making a decision on the appropriate course of action in relation to the debt, taking into account the individual circumstances of the customer
- Deal with all recovery correspondence from the reminder stage onwards
- Deal with debt recovery enquiries on the telephone as required
- Make outbound telephone calls to customers to obtain payment where bills/invoices have not been paid on time
- Process and monitor arrangements, attachments to benefits and attachments to earnings, taking the appropriate action where necessary
- Review reports to ensure unpaid debts are progressed through the recovery process
- Review customers' income and expenditure to agree on affordable repayment plans
- To take the necessary action to trace debtors who have left with no forwarding address and update accounts as appropriate. Where necessary, arrange for any write-off action to be processed
- To carry out the appropriate checks with regard to cases that will be sent to Enforcement or Collection Agents
- To deal with cases returned from Enforcement or Collection agents
- Liaise with other sections of the council, enforcement/collection agents and other outside bodies as required
- Take the appropriate action to prepare court cases for Housing Benefit Overpayment and Sundry Income debts
- Have a working knowledge of the computer systems and be aware of the impact the inputting of information has on customer accounts
- Adapt to new methods, techniques and procedures as they are introduced
- Any other appropriate duties as and when required
Where you'll work
Council House
Manor Square
Solihull
West Midlands
B91 3QB
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
THE INSTITUTE OF REVENUES, RATING AND VALUATION
Training course
Revenues and welfare benefits practitioner (level 4)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Consistently deal with customers politely and considerately, adapting your approach to meet customer and employer needs
- Achieve outcomes that the customer wants where possible. Where this is not possible, explain the reasons why. Evaluate and recommend alternative options
- Obtain all required information in the most effective way to allow tasks to be completed, considering each customers individual circumstances
- Interpret and evaluate all information to determine the relevant details for the required task
- Interpret and evaluate information to judge whether there is potential fraud indicated. Refer to the appropriate department where required
- Determine whether a dispute should lead to a change of decision and explain the reasons, using appropriate legislation
- Handle sensitive information securely and in line with current legislative requirements
- Analyse and use information and legislation to calculate amounts due when a customer first contacts your department (e.g. new claims or new accounts)
- Analyse and use information and legislation to correctly deal with changes in customers circumstances, recalculating amounts due where required
- Provide justification for any inferences drawn from available information
- Decide on the best method of recovery by evaluating the customers circumstances. Act on this judgment to start recovery of amounts due
- Use judgement to deal correctly with non-routine situations that arise
- Adapt your communication style and method to meet the individuals needs
- Communicate confidently by being personable, asking insightful questions and being able to negotiate effectively and respectfully
- Undertake activities to ensure knowledge stays current
- Take appropriate action within the limits of your authority to solve problems or make relevant colleagues aware of them
- Make accurate decisions based on the information available
- Support team members to achieve the best outcome for the team
- Request assistance or authorisation when required
- Communicate with other departments to achieve required outcomes
- Proficiently use the systems available to achieve tasks
- Refer to processes to determine the action to be taken
- Evaluate the customers financial position, assisting with personal budgeting where appropriate, or directing the customer to appropriate support
Training schedule
Monthly online workshops hosted by the training provider.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- any (grade A-C or 4 and above)
- Any (grade A-C or 4 and above)
- English (grade A-C or 4 and above)
- Maths (grade A-C or 4 and above)
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
Other requirements
Basic DBS check.
About this employer
Here at Solihull Council we want to ensure that all our citizens have an equal chance to share in Solihull’s success. We do this by putting our customers at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our employees are the key factor in achieving our vision. As such, we are always on the lookout for talented individuals, who want to make a real positive difference to people’s lives and can help us to continue building on our success.
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
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Although not guaranteed, there may be a permanent role on successful completion of the apprenticeship and performance in the role.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
THE INSTITUTE OF REVENUES, RATING AND VALUATION
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000036920.
Apply now
Closes in 13 days (Sunday 28 June 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.