Apprentice HR Assistant - University of Oxford Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health
University of Oxford
Headington (OX3 9DU)
Closes in 13 days (Monday 6 July 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 23 June 2026
Contents
Summary
A key role in supporting the HR Team and Professional Services Team within the Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health (NDWRH) and the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit (NPEU) at the University of Oxford. You will support on a range of HR and administrative activities, to ensure the smooth running of HR operations.
- Wage
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£26,686 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
All new entrant apprentices at the University of Oxford start at apprentice salary scale 1A. This is a two year employment contract in total.
- Training course
- HR support (level 3)
- Hours
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Monday- Friday, office hours. Work will be mostly on-site between the two main buildings (John Radcliffe Hospital and Radcliffe Observatory Quarter) with one day per week working remotely.
36 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
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Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
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1 year 7 months
- Positions available
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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
HR Duties - Support and Transactional
- Act as first point of contact for enquiries from employees, line managers and the general public by telephone, email and face to face, answering straightforward questions on the administration of HR processes or recruitment campaigns or redirecting queries as appropriate
- Provide administrative support for the HR team
- Record staff sickness leave, annual leave, end of probationary periods and annual PDR dates and highlight any issues
- Take ownership of the University cards system within the department, creating cards for new starters and extending cards for current department members as required
- Assist the HR Administrators and HR Operations Manager with the administration of recruitment exercises which will include; editing job advertisements and job descriptions to ensure that they comply with University guidance and best practice, placing advertisements, gathering information for visa applications where necessary, generating letters to applicants, and preparing shortlisting packs
- Coordinate interview arrangements, ensuring facilities have been arranged, candidates contacted and any assistance provided, and interview packs have been prepared.
- Conduct new starter checks, prepare standard letters of appointment, contracts, and visitor agreements
- Plan inductions for new staff members or visitors
HR Duties- Compliance:
- Accurately maintain all confidential personnel files in accordance with GDPR and Information Security policies
- Attend appropriate training on HR systems and procedures
Reception Duties and Supporting the Office Manager:
The Reception area in NDWRH handles a range of different enquiries from staff and visitors (by phone, email or in person) and provides a number of different services for the department. You will support the Office Manager by learning to:
- Respond to internal and external enquiries made by telephone, email and in-person in a helpful and professional manner, and redirect them as appropriate
- Welcome and assist visitors to the department
- Assist the Office Manager with organising IT equipment and desk space for new starters
- Distribute post
- Handle delivery and collection of parcels, ensuring that relevant staff are notified
Meetings and Events:
- Book out meeting rooms and the lecture theatre as requested
- Assist with the organisation and running of internal and external events, as required
- Take minutes at meetings as required
Other administration support may include:
- Assisting with the delivery of projects across the HR team; working with different team members on a varied array of projects, liaising with colleagues across the department to gather information and support successful delivery
- Note-taking and coordination of suitable working groups
- Undertaking any additional tasks that fall within your competency as directed, and complete mandatory training, as required by the University, Division and Department.
Where you'll work
Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health
John Radcliffe Hospital
Headington
OX3 9DU
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
ABINGDON AND WITNEY 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
Duration:
13 months practical training period, plus 6 months for End Point Assessment
Delivery model:
- Work-based training with your employer
- Day release during term time (approximately 1 day a week for 1 year)
- Level 2 Functional Skills in maths and English (7 days at college for each, if required)
- Off the job training will count for at least 6 hours a week of an apprentice’s time at work
Qualifications included:
- CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice
- Level 3 HR Support Apprenticeship
End Point Assessment:
- Consultative project
- Professional discussion
Requirements
Essential 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
- Administrative skills
- Team working
- Initiative
- MS Excel, Outlook and Word
- Discretion / confidentiality
- Able to manage workload
- Accuracy
- Proactive
- Willingness
- Interest in HR career
Other requirements
BEFORE APPLYING FOR THIS ROLE, PLEASE VISIT THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD JOBS PAGE AND READ THE FULL ADVERT AND ACCOMPANYING JOB DESCRIPTION AS THIS PROVIDES DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE ROLE - JOB REFERENCE 187172.
Please ensure you can get to both places of work before applying:
Level 3, Women’s Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU and New Radcliffe House, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter
Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6NW (work will be mostly on-site between the two buildings with one day per week working remotely)
- You will be passionate about starting your HR career and excited about the opportunity about becoming an apprentice at the University of Oxford. You may be starting your career or you may be looking for a career change.
- To complete this level 3 apprenticeship, it is essential that you are able to evidence passes at grades 9-6/A*-B in GCSE Maths and English at the time of applying.
- Please note that the Training Provider is required to assess your current ability in Maths and English as part of the application process, even if you already have your English and maths qualifications.
- In applying for this role, you are giving Abingdon and Witney College the permission to access your Learner Record and to contact you in order to carry out required pre-screening checks.
Any new person applying for apprenticeship roles where Abingdon and Witney College deliver the training will be required to complete a series of initial assessments and eligibility checks prior to start. As a new Apprenticeship applicant, you will only have to undergo this process once. If you would like to talk to us about the assessments, please call us on 01235 216216.
Qualification checks: By applying for this vacancy, you are giving Abingdon and Witney College permission to undertake a Learner Record Service check on your previous qualifications. We make every effort to ensure that applicants from non-traditional academic backgrounds or those who may not have the formal GCSE entry requirements can access apprenticeships where possible.
About this employer
We are the largest employer in Oxfordshire with around 16,000 staff working in and around Oxford in a huge range of roles. Our apprentices are never on their own and will benefit from a supportive environment working in collaboration with the rest of our committed team. You will also be supported by the central apprenticeship team and you will join our growing network of apprentices within the university. You will have the opportunity to become an apprenticeship ambassador for the University and region. We will provide you with a welcoming and inclusive workplace, offering support and development opportunities that will enable you to progress and do your best work. We recognise diversity as our strength, vital for innovation and creativity, and we aspire to build a truly diverse community, which values and respects every individual’s unique contribution.
https://www.ox.ac.uk/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
You'll enjoy 38 days’ paid holiday, generous pension schemes, travel discounts and professional development opportunities. Free entry to the Botanic Gardens and University colleges, and discounts at University museums.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
- Over 80% of our apprentices continue with us in the role they have been trained for after their apprenticeship and that is just the start of their career
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
ABINGDON AND WITNEY COLLEGE
Jane Phipps
apprenticeships@abingdon-witney.ac.uk
01235 216216
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000038517.
Apply now
Closes in 13 days (Monday 6 July 2026 at 11:59pm)