Apprentice Operations Assistant
AGE UK PORTSMOUTH
PORTSMOUTH (PO1 5RZ)
Closes in 10 days (Saturday 19 September 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 4 September 2026
Contents
Summary
Kick-start your administration career with a charity that changes lives. Age UK Portsmouth is offering an exciting opportunity for an Apprentice Operations Assistant. You'll gain practical experience supporting day-to-day operations while earning a Business Administration Level 3 Apprenticeship and helping those in later life.
- Wage
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£12,480 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Business administrator (level 3)
- Hours
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Monday to Friday with flexible time from 08:30/09:00 to 16:30/17:00, with 6 hours for study per week.
30 hours a week
- Start date
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Tuesday 27 October 2026
- Duration
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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
What you will gain:
- Experience working closely with colleagues across the organisation to ensure high-quality support is provided to staff, volunteers, service users, and partners.
- Practical experience in office administration, operational support, record management, and stakeholder communication within a charitable organisation.
Key Responsibilities:
Administrative Support
- Provide general administrative support to the Operations Manager
- Manage incoming and outgoing correspondence, including emails and post.
- Assist with data entry and updating organisational records.
Operational Support
- Support the coordination of day-to-day office activities.
- Assist with scheduling meetings, appointments, and room bookings.
- Help maintain operational documents, policies, and procedures.
- Assist with monitoring and maintaining office equipment.
Customer and Service User Support
- Respond to basic enquiries from service users, volunteers, and external organisations.
- Support the delivery of excellent customer service across all activities.
- Maintain confidentiality when handling personal and sensitive information.
Data and Compliance
- Ensure records are maintained accurately and in accordance with GDPR requirements.
- Support data collection and reporting activities.
- Assist with audits and compliance checks where required.
- Follow Age UK Portsmouth's safeguarding, health and safety, and data protection policies.
Team Support
- Work collaboratively with staff and volunteers across departments.
- Attend team meetings and training sessions.
- Contribute ideas for improving administrative and operational processes.
- Undertake other reasonable duties as requested by the Operations Manager.
Who you will be:
- Someone with a genuine interest in developing administrative and operational skills.
- Someone with a genuine enthusiasm for working within a charitable organisation that supports older people.
- Someone with a professional and respectful approach when dealing with staff, volunteers, service users, and external partners.
- Someone with the ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information appropriately.
- Someone with the willingness to undertake training and complete all requirements of the apprenticeship programme.
Where you'll work
THE BRADBURY CENTRE
16-18 KINGSTON ROAD
PORTSMOUTH
PO1 5RZ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
CHICHESTER COLLEGE GROUP
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
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 5)
- Math (grade 5)
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
- Punctual
- Reliable
- Willing to learn
- Flexible
- Accuracy
- Positive Attitude
- Professional
- Respectful
- Committed
Other requirements
Things you need to know:
- This is an 18-month apprenticeship including end point assessment.
- This is an in-person role at the Age UK office in Portsmouth and learning is work-based and will take up 6 hours in one day for the working week.
- To apply you must have lived in the UK for a minimum of 3 years before the start date of the apprenticeship learning and have authorisation to work in the UK.
- You cannot apply if you already have a qualification equal to or higher than the apprenticeship standard being studied.
- You can apply if you have a higher qualification than the apprenticeship standard in an unrelated subject.
- You should live in the area local to the employer and the college campus offering the apprenticeship.
- This is a combination of work and learning so you will need to commit to the learning and stay at the employers until the apprenticeship is successfully completed.
About this employer
Age UK Portsmouth is an independent, locally registered charity who has been caring for vulnerable and isolated older people in Portsmouth and the local area for over 80 years. Responsible for their own funding and services, and a brand partner of the national Age UK organisation, their mission is 'To help adults in Portsmouth and Southeast Hampshire enjoy a better quality of life, with a specific focus on all aspects of getting older.'
Age UK Portsmouth has regularly responded to an ever-changing environment, including anticipated changes in commissioning, social care, society and not least, the changing expectations of older people.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship a permanent position or find alternative suitable role within the organization based on person’s skills and learning would be considered.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
CHICHESTER COLLEGE GROUP
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000051775.
Apply now
Closes in 10 days (Saturday 19 September 2026 at 11:59pm)