Payroll Apprentice

WHITWORTH BROS.LIMITED

Northampton (NN8 2DT)

Closes in 6 days (Monday 31 August 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 24 August 2026

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Summary

Start your career in payroll with Whitworth Bros Ltd. As a Payroll Administrator Level 3 Apprentice, you'll gain hands-on experience processing payroll, supporting employee benefits, and working with HR and Finance teams. Earn £25,000 while achieving a recognised qualification, with opportunities for permanent employment on completion.

Wage

£25,000 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Payroll administrator (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 5.00pm.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 14 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

  • Support the Payroll Manager with processing payroll across the Group, ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time.
  • Collate and process overtime, expenses, and other payroll-related information.
  • Check starters, leavers, statutory payments, and payroll calculations.
  • Assist with payroll reporting and payments to third parties, including pension providers and unions.
  • Respond to employee payroll and benefits queries in a professional and confidential manner.
  • Maintain accurate employee records and update company systems.
  • Support the administration of employee benefits, including new joiners, leavers, and annual renewals.
  • Assist with audits and the preparation of payroll and benefits information.
  • Work closely with colleagues across HR and Finance on payroll-related activities.
  • Develop knowledge of payroll legislation, policies, and best practice while working towards a Level 3 Payroll Administrator qualification.

Where you'll work

Victoria Mills
Wellingborough
Northampton
NN8 2DT

Training

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

Training provider

SWARM TRAINING C.I.C.

Training course

Payroll administrator (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • gather, analyse and process payroll data and information
  • resolve different types of queries that may be presented from payroll customers such as employees, clients, management, explaining and documenting responses
  • deal with complaints, following processes and escalating complex situations
  • meet client or customer needs in line with service level agreements
  • provide customer service using agreed systems and processes, taking ownership for work applying agreed processes for checking
  • adhere to deadlines and process schedules both internal and statutory, mitigating the impact on the business, employees and clients of deadlines not being met by reprioritising tasks when dealing with conflicting or changing demands
  • select appropriate media for communication etc recognising the advantages and risks related to each method
  • escalate concerns relating to deadlines in a timely manner, suggesting solutions
  • use the appropriate communication media for each stakeholder for each situation. Examples may include ‘phone, face-to-face, email and letters, communicating and engaging professionally, accurately and appropriately, respecting the principles of data protection and confidentiality
  • Build and maintain trust and sound relationships with stakeholders to deliver quality payroll services
  • develop and maintain strong working relationships with team colleagues, supporting and collaborating to achieve results, seeking advice when appropriate within parameters of the role
  • use computerised payroll software and spreadsheet packages such as MS Excel
  • use systems and processes to support the payroll function. Examples may include the provision of accounting information and the Real Time Information submissions to His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
  • gather, analyse and process payroll data and information
  • resolve different types of queries that may be presented from payroll customers such as employees, clients, management, explaining and documenting responses
  • deal with complaints, following processes and escalating complex situations
  • meet client or customer needs in line with service level agreements
  • provide customer service using agreed systems and processes, taking ownership for work applying agreed processes for checking
  • adhere to deadlines and process schedules both internal and statutory, mitigating the impact on the business, employees and clients of deadlines not being met by reprioritising tasks when dealing with conflicting or changing demands
  • select appropriate media for communication etc recognising the advantages and risks related to each method
  • escalate concerns relating to deadlines in a timely manner, suggesting solutions
  • use the appropriate communication media for each stakeholder for each situation. Examples may include ‘phone, face-to-face, email and letters, communicating and engaging professionally, accurately and appropriately, respecting the principles of data protection and confidentiality
  • Build and maintain trust and sound relationships with stakeholders to deliver quality payroll services
  • develop and maintain strong working relationships with team colleagues, supporting and collaborating to achieve results, seeking advice when appropriate within parameters of the role
  • use computerised payroll software and spreadsheet packages such as MS Excel
  • use systems and processes to support the payroll function. Examples may include the provision of accounting information and the Real Time Information submissions to His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC)

Training schedule

The apprentice will work towards a Level 3 Payroll Administrator Apprenticeship delivered by Swarm Training.

Training will be completed through a combination of practical, on-the-job learning and structured apprenticeship training. The apprentice will receive dedicated training time within working hours, with a minimum of 6 hours per week allocated to apprenticeship learning. They will attend monthly training sessions with a Swarm Training tutor and complete assignments and workplace projects to develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours.

The apprenticeship is expected to take 16-18 months to complete and will provide the apprentice with the skills and experience needed to build a successful career in payroll.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4/C or above)
  • Maths (grade 4/C or 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
  • Problem solving skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Patience

About this employer

At Whitworth Brothers ltd, we’ve been milling quality flour for over 130 years—and we’re still growing strong. Our world class mills coupled with our continued investment in our people and our estate mean we are a market leading business that helps to feed the nation. 

Whether you’re behind the wheel delivering our goods, keeping production running smoothly, or supporting operations from head office, you’ll play a vital role in our success.

Our Values

At Whitworth Food Group, our values guide how we work, support one another, and deliver for our customers and communities:

  • Innovation - We are focused on using new technology and smarter ways of working to deliver customers the best value, healthy foods.
  • Excellence - We are obsessed about quality, efficiency, safety and service to deliver market leading solutions for our customers.
  • Ambition - We are determined to constantly improve all parts of our business to deliver long term growth.
  • Togetherness - We are always better working together as a team. We support each other, our customers, our suppliers and our communities to succeed. 

Our employees demonstrate these values through their day-to-day work, behaviours and decision-making.

https://whitworthbros.ltd.uk/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

This apprenticeship is designed to provide the skills, knowledge and experience needed to build a successful career in payroll. On successful completion of the Level 3 Payroll Administrator Apprenticeship, there is the opportunity to secure a permanent role with Whitworth Bros Ltd, subject to performance and business needs.

Future career opportunities may include:

  • Payroll Administrator
  • Payroll Coordinator
  • Senior Payroll Administrator
  • Payroll Officer
  • Payroll Team Leader

The role also provides valuable experience working alongside Payroll, HR and Finance teams, creating opportunities for further professional development and progression within the business.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

WHITWORTH BROS.LIMITED

Marc Crouch

marc.crouch@whitworthbros.ltd.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000041885.

Apply now

Closes in 6 days (Monday 31 August 2026 at 11:59pm)