Business Administration Apprenticeship
JAMES FISHER AND SONS PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
Plymouth (PL40RP)
Closes in 10 days (Friday 21 August 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 10 August 2026
Contents
Summary
Cattedown Wharves is owned and operated by James Fisher and Sons plc, and is a vital commercial port located on the Cattewater in Plymouth, UK. Specialising in bulk liquids, petroleum, and dry bulk cargoes, it operates a 220-meter jetty dredged to 7.6 meters LWOST and handles 1.5 million tonnes of freight annually.
- Wage
-
£21,801 a year
- Training course
- Business administrator (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Thursday 1 October 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
- Administrative Support: Produce accurate documents, letters, emails, and reports. Maintain and update physical and digital filing systems in compliance with data protection
regulations. - Communication: Serve as the first point of contact for the business. Answer the telephone, deal with general inquiries, and redirect calls to the appropriate team members.
- Customer Service: Interact professionally with internal and external clients, building positive relationships.
- Data Management: Input data into company databases, keep accurate records, and assist with processing transactions or invoices.
- Process Improvement: Learn how our business works and make recommendations to management for administrative improvements.
- Stock Control: Building a good relationship with our feed client and ensuring accurate fixings are recorded and delivery records maintained and sent to the relevant parties.
Where you'll work
Cattedown Wharf
Cattedown Road
Plymouth
PL40RP
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
CITY COLLEGE PLYMOUTH
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
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4/C)
- Maths (grade 4/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
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Willing to learn
About this employer
Cattedown Wharves is a commercial port handling bulk dry cargoes (animal feed, aggregates and clay) and fuels.
We are part of James Fisher PLC, but feel like a small family-owned business due to having only 13 members of staff employed on the site.
We have an office team of 4 people (inc apprentice), a weighbridge operator, 3 security guards and the remaining team members are all Port Operatives, working on the quay loading/unloading ships and lorries, handling dry cargoes and mooring vessels.
https://www.james-fisher.com (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- 25 days holiday per year plus bank holidays.
- Competitive benefits tailored to the division.
- Opportunities for career growth and visibility across the organisation.
- A supportive, inclusive culture that values your ideas and contributions.
- Work that truly makes a difference in safety, innovation, and global capability.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Position available subject to successful completion of the apprenticeship.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
CITY COLLEGE PLYMOUTH
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000047115.
Apply now
Closes in 10 days (Friday 21 August 2026 at 11:59pm)