Administrator Apprentice (Prison Services)

Milton Keynes College

Buckinghamshire (MK6 5LP)

Closes in 15 days (Thursday 8 October 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 21 September 2026


Summary

We are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic Administration Apprentice to join the Prison Education team based on Campus in Milton Keynes. This role offers valuable hands-on experience within a Further Education (FE) environment, supporting the prison education team with the 30 prisons that form part of the contract.

Wage

£15,600 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Annual Salary

Training course
Administration assistant (level 2)
Hours
Monday - Friday.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 2 November 2026

Duration

1 year

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 opportunity involves supporting the prison central management team with the day-to-day administration and operation of the department and you will support with a range of admin tasks.

In this role, you will:

  • Provide a range of administrative services including document production, and summarising documents
  • Receive and act on telephone/email enquiries
  • Raise purchase orders and track invoices
  • Deal with telephone/email enquiries and action where appropriate

Where you'll work

Chaffron Way Campus
Leadenhall
Milton Keynes
Buckinghamshire
MK6 5LP

Training

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

Training provider

MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE

Training course

Administration assistant (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Receive, retrieve, process, record and store information and data.
  • Operate within organisational policies, standards and procedures and relevant legislation respecting confidentiality; adapting to operational changes as they occur.
  • Use software packages and tools for example AI or automation to input and process data and information, to contribute to routine administration tasks in line with organisational policies and procedures.
  • Handle and communicate information in line with organisational policies, procedures and security requirements.
  • Recognise and rectify issues and escalate as required. For example stakeholder documents and reports, safeguarding concerns or abusive behaviour.
  • Plan and review administration tasks allocated by supervisor.
  • Maintain professional relationships with stakeholders.
  • Monitor and report on the use of resources such as materials, equipment and supplies.
  • Use agreed organisational systems and protocols to manage calendars, diaries and booking systems.
  • Source information as requested by stakeholders, ensuring they are shareable. As examples client records, signpost to services or reports.
  • Use continuing professional development including self-reflection to support current and future training and development needs.
  • Use communication tools to respond to stakeholders using professional language and organisational etiquette.
  • Operate within agreed health and safety standards.
  • Use time management tools to meet deadlines.
  • Handle feedback following expected professional etiquette.
  • Maintain wellbeing, accessing organisational support mechanisms if required.
  • Review and check own work.
  • Use cloud services to share documents for use and or collaboration.
  • Protect against security threats for example, strong passwords, two step verification, office tailgating and display of security passes or clothing that identifies secure workplaces.
  • Seek clarification and help, when required, to complete assigned tasks within agreed timeframes.
  • Receive, retrieve, process, record and store information and data.
  • Operate within organisational policies, standards and procedures and relevant legislation respecting confidentiality; adapting to operational changes as they occur.
  • Use software packages and tools for example AI or automation to input and process data and information, to contribute to routine administration tasks in line with organisational policies and procedures.
  • Handle and communicate information in line with organisational policies, procedures and security requirements.
  • Recognise and rectify issues and escalate as required. For example stakeholder documents and reports, safeguarding concerns or abusive behaviour.
  • Plan and review administration tasks allocated by supervisor.
  • Maintain professional relationships with stakeholders.
  • Monitor and report on the use of resources such as materials, equipment and supplies.
  • Use agreed organisational systems and protocols to manage calendars, diaries and booking systems.
  • Source information as requested by stakeholders, ensuring they are shareable. As examples client records, signpost to services or reports.
  • Use continuing professional development including self-reflection to support current and future training and development needs.
  • Use communication tools to respond to stakeholders using professional language and organisational etiquette.
  • Operate within agreed health and safety standards.
  • Use time management tools to meet deadlines.
  • Handle feedback following expected professional etiquette.
  • Maintain wellbeing, accessing organisational support mechanisms if required.
  • Review and check own work.
  • Use cloud services to share documents for use and or collaboration.
  • Protect against security threats for example, strong passwords, two step verification, office tailgating and display of security passes or clothing that identifies secure workplaces.
  • Seek clarification and help, when required, to complete assigned tasks within agreed timeframes.

Training schedule

Administration Assistant apprenticeship qualification plus on-the-job training.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 3)
  • Maths (grade 3)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Customer service skills
  • Word processing skills
  • Spreadsheet use
  • Database management
  • Email and internet use
  • Planning and organisation
  • Effective communication
  • Problem solving
  • Attention to detail
  • Written communication
  • Verbal communication

Other requirements

Must be aged under 25 at the start of the apprenticeship training.

Apprentices starting the Level 2 Administration Assistant apprenticeship standard (ST1472) will only be eligible for funding, if, at the start of the apprenticeship, they are aged between 16 and 24-years-old (or 15 years of age if the apprentice’s 16th birthday is between the last Friday of June and 31 August).

About this employer

Milton Keynes College Group was formed in 2021, with the mission of Building Fairer Futures. The College Group includes 1,200 colleagues who work across MK College, Bletchley, our prison education services in 30 prisons and MK Commercial which comprises The Brasserie restaurant, Sport Central, Courtside and the Chaffron Centre. The College is also a national provider of education services in prisons across the country. For over 30 years, we have worked with offenders in both custody and the wider community and currently work with 30 prisons across England. This includes public sector prisons and the privately operated HMP Fosse Way.

https://www.mkcollege.ac.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).

Potential progression to a Level 3 Business Administrator apprenticeship and further development opportunities within the organisation.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE

Julie Jeffery

Apprenticeships@mkcollege.ac.uk

01908 637056

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000054589.

Apply now

Closes in 15 days (Thursday 8 October 2026 at 11:59pm)