Library, Information and Archive Services Assistant Apprentice Level 3

Bristol City Council

Bristol (BS1 6XN)

Closes in 11 days (Sunday 5 July 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 24 June 2026

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Summary

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a Library, Information and Archives Services Assistant Apprentice at Bristol Archives. You will work alongside archivists and colleagues to support the preservation and accessibility of Bristol’s rich history, helping people explore the city’s past and engage with its heritage.

• Wage:

  Competitive

  Competitive wage offered

  Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

• Training course: Library, information and archive services assistant (level 3)
• Hours: Part-time, 30 hours per week (24 hours on-site at Bristol Archives and 6 hours off-the-job learning), with on-site working Tuesdays to Thursdays in our public searchroom and archives.

  30 hours a week

• Start date:

  Tuesday 1 September 2026

• Duration:

  2 years

• 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

This is a 24‑month apprenticeship programme, offering a unique opportunity to earn while you learn, gaining valuable skills and a nationally recognised qualification. You will develop practical experience in archives and information services, alongside customer service and organisational skills, supporting your future career in the heritage, archive or library sector.
As part of the team at Bristol Archives, you will provide a welcoming and professional service to visitors using the archives searchroom and support the day-to-day running of archive services.

You will:

• Support visitors in accessing archive collections and resources
• Learn how to safely handle, store and preserve important historical documents
• Assist in organising and maintaining archive records and collections
• Help create and share information about the archives to improve access and engagement
• Work with colleagues across the service and occasionally visit other local authority archives as part of your learning

This role offers a hands-on learning experience where you’ll build confidence working with both people and historical materials, contributing to making heritage accessible to all.

Where you'll work

B Bond
B Bond Warehouse
Smeaton Road
Bristol
BS1 6XN

Training

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

Training provider

LET ME PLAY LIMITED

Training course

Library, information and archive services assistant (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• Interpret and implement policy, e.g. communicating clearly the basic copyright restrictions and reasons for not sharing personal data
• Undertake regulation and compliance checking, e.g. in order to ensure data protection is not breached
• Solve user problems in a range of situations using their knowledge and interpretation
• Use information management processes to store, manage and retrieve records and data to support collaboration, exploitation and the organisation’s Information Management (IM) practices
• Describe and arrange material/resources, by observing and applying identified cataloguing standards in order to create online catalogues and other finding aids to meet users’ needs
• Employ information retrieval techniques to identify and use relevant media and systems, e.g. searching online databases, catalogues or physical stores, and EDRMS (electronic document record management systems)
• Perform preservation (analogue/physical and digital) practices to keep collections physically safe using institutional/sector guidelines, and supporting work that provides digital access by creating alternatives that meet a range of user requirements
• Use enquiry techniques to clarify and meet users’ information requirements and manage expectations, e.g. by signposting to alternative resources and providing solutions
• Develop knowledge sharing with users, cultivating an environment where knowledge is freely shared and sought within a ‘safe’ environment, including online solutions
• Use relevant approaches to learning support to contribute to the development of learning activities for different audiences to enhance knowledge and literacy, e.g. reader development
• Select and use appropriate tools and technologies to support users in researching and disseminating information, e.g. databases, search engines, digital libraries, repositories and social media
• Develop information and digital skills to support users to identify, find, access and evaluate information, to share knowledge and to promote self-help
• Demonstrate information sharing by contributing to learning activities for specific audiences, e.g. inductions and events, catering to a variety of levels of knowledge and understanding
• Use promotion techniques for resources so that users and potential users are aware of their value, impact and benefit, e.g. by curating collections and displays in effective ways, undertaking outreach activities to guide users to achieve independence in their use of information
• Implement the organisation’s collection management policy, e.g. through identifying stock that should be acquired and that which is no longer used or needed, and relegating or removing these appropriately
• Develop the service by assessing the learning environment and anticipating user needs, e.g. re-organising study/virtual spaces, suggesting improvements to catalogues or web pages
• Use teamwork and collaboration to achieve goals, e.g. with stakeholders and partners beyond the organisation
• Use information provision to enable users to access materials, e.g. through lending books/artefacts, emailing documents, accessing original archives, signposting links to information
• Exercise communication skills - oral, written, presentation, interpersonal, listening, assertiveness (online and face to face)
• Interpret and implement policy, e.g. communicating clearly the basic copyright restrictions and reasons for not sharing personal data
• Undertake regulation and compliance checking, e.g. in order to ensure data protection is not breached
• Solve user problems in a range of situations using their knowledge and interpretation
• Use information management processes to store, manage and retrieve records and data to support collaboration, exploitation and the organisation’s Information Management (IM) practices
• Describe and arrange material/resources, by observing and applying identified cataloguing standards in order to create online catalogues and other finding aids to meet users’ needs
• Employ information retrieval techniques to identify and use relevant media and systems, e.g. searching online databases, catalogues or physical stores, and EDRMS (electronic document record management systems)
• Perform preservation (analogue/physical and digital) practices to keep collections physically safe using institutional/sector guidelines, and supporting work that provides digital access by creating alternatives that meet a range of user requirements
• Use enquiry techniques to clarify and meet users’ information requirements and manage expectations, e.g. by signposting to alternative resources and providing solutions
• Develop knowledge sharing with users, cultivating an environment where knowledge is freely shared and sought within a ‘safe’ environment, including online solutions
• Use relevant approaches to learning support to contribute to the development of learning activities for different audiences to enhance knowledge and literacy, e.g. reader development
• Select and use appropriate tools and technologies to support users in researching and disseminating information, e.g. databases, search engines, digital libraries, repositories and social media
• Develop information and digital skills to support users to identify, find, access and evaluate information, to share knowledge and to promote self-help
• Demonstrate information sharing by contributing to learning activities for specific audiences, e.g. inductions and events, catering to a variety of levels of knowledge and understanding
• Use promotion techniques for resources so that users and potential users are aware of their value, impact and benefit, e.g. by curating collections and displays in effective ways, undertaking outreach activities to guide users to achieve independence in their use of information
• Implement the organisation’s collection management policy, e.g. through identifying stock that should be acquired and that which is no longer used or needed, and relegating or removing these appropriately
• Develop the service by assessing the learning environment and anticipating user needs, e.g. re-organising study/virtual spaces, suggesting improvements to catalogues or web pages
• Use teamwork and collaboration to achieve goals, e.g. with stakeholders and partners beyond the organisation
• Use information provision to enable users to access materials, e.g. through lending books/artefacts, emailing documents, accessing original archives, signposting links to information
• Exercise communication skills - oral, written, presentation, interpersonal, listening, assertiveness (online and face to face)

Training schedule

You will undertake a combination of on-the-job training and off-the-job learning as part of the Level 3 Library, Information and Archives Services Assistant apprenticeship.

Where training will take place:

The majority of training will take place in the workplace at: Bristol Archives, Bond Warehouse, Smeaton Road, Bristol, BS1 6XN.

You will also complete structured learning delivered by the training provider (LMP), which will be undertaken online (remote delivery).

There may be occasional opportunities to visit other local authority archive services in the South West as part of the learning programme.

How often training will be:

You will work 30 hours per week, which includes:

• 24 hours of on-the-job learning within the Archives service
• 6 hours per week (off-the-job training) dedicated to formal study and training provider-led sessions

Off-the-job training will typically be delivered through a combination of:

• Weekly online learning sessions
• Independent study
• Tutor support and progress reviews

Additional training support:

• You will be supported in the workplace by experienced Archivists and their line manager
• A structured training plan will be agreed at the start of the programme, including regular progress reviews with the training provider
• You will build a portfolio of evidence throughout the programme to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and behaviours 

More training information

The apprenticeship training will be delivered by LMP through a blended approach, combining online learning, tutor-led sessions and workplace-based application. The programme is structured to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for a career in library, information and archive services, with regular progress reviews and one-to-one support. You will build a portfolio of evidence throughout the programme, leading to an End Point Assessment at the end of the apprenticeship.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

5 GCSE's including Maths and English at grade 4/C in:

OR Functional Skills (grade Grade Level 2)

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
• Team working

Other requirements

• Commitment to completing the apprenticeship programme
• Ability to balance work responsibilities with study requirements
• Willingness to follow council policies and procedures

About this employer

Bristol City Council is committed to equality and diversity, as both a provider of services to the community and to our employees. Our practices and procedures aim to reflect the varied needs, expectations and culture of all members of our community and our workforce. Please note that if you were to be invited to interview, you will be asked a question on equal opportunities.

https://www.bristol.gov.uk/ (opens in new tab)

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).

On successful completion of the apprenticeship, there may be opportunities to progress into roles such as Archives Assistant, Library Assistant or other entry-level positions within archives, heritage, museums or information services. The skills and experience gained will also provide a strong foundation for further study or progression to higher-level apprenticeships within the sector, supporting a long-term career in archives and heritage.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

Bristol City Council

Bristol Apprenticeship Team

bristol.apprentices@bristol.gov.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000038761.

Apply now

Closes in 11 days (Sunday 5 July 2026 at 11:59pm)