HR Apprentice

Watford Mencap

HERTFORSHIRE (WD17 4PJ)

Closes in 20 days (Monday 16 November 2026)

Posted on 26 October 2026

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Summary

Start a career in HR with Watford Mencap, a learning disability charity. As HR Apprentice you will join a small and friendly team and gain hands on experience while you work towards a HR qualification. This role offers variety and a chance to learn and work across HR including recruitment, payroll, employee relations, benefits and compliance.

• Wage:

  £24,882 a year

  Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

• Training course: HR support (level 3)
• Hours: Your working hours and shift pattern will be full-time Monday to Friday (9.00am to 5.00pm). You will be office-based, working in our head office with occasional travel to other sites.

  37 hours 30 minutes a week

• Start date:

  Monday 1 February 2027

• 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

• Recruitment – supporting with the advertisement of roles, place adverts on our website and jobs boards, reviewing applications and conducting telephone interviews with candidates, communicating with the candidates through the pre-employment process, sending offer letters and contracts of employment, DBS checks.
• Payroll – supporting the collation of documents for monthly payroll, data entry, identify where sick pay is due and calculating salary deductions.
• Compliance – auditing staff files, undertaking right to work checks and maintaining records on various systems.
• Correspondence – sending out letters and emails to staff about pensions, benefits, inductions and changes to contracts.
• Employee relations – supporting in grievance and disciplinary meetings, taking notes, drafting outcome letters.
• Assisting in absence management, reporting and administration
• Helping to maintain HR policies and procedures and HR documentation
• Supporting the training and development through administration, maintaining employee training records and reporting
• Working alongside team members, you’ll contribute to HR related projects.
• You’ll take part in work across all areas of the HR function as required, to support your understanding and development.
• You’ll act as ambassador for apprenticeships at Watford Mencap, by supporting careers events, engagement activities and campaigns to promote opportunities and inspire future talent.
• You’ll learn and apply new skills, knowledge and behaviours through a combination of practical experience, formal learning and on-the-job training.
• You’ll work collaboratively with colleagues and build positive relationships with colleagues, managers, clients and other stakeholders where appropriate.
• You’ll take responsibility for your own learning and development, making the most of opportunities to gain experience and build your skills and competence.
• You’ll complete apprenticeship learning activities, assignments and all required learning to successfully complete apprenticeship programme.

Where you'll work

92A LANGLEY ROAD
WATFORD
HERTFORSHIRE
WD17 4PJ

Training

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

Training provider

CITY SKILLS LIMITED

Training course

HR support (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• Service Delivery: Delivers excellent customer service on a range of HR queries and requirements, providing solutions, advice and support primarily to managers. Builds managers’ expertise in HR matters, improving their ability to handle repeated situations themselves where appropriate. Uses agreed systems and processes to deliver service to customers. Takes the initiative to meet agreed individual and team KPIs in line with company policy, values, standards. Plans and organises their work, often without direct supervision, to meet commitments and KPIs.
• Problem Solving: Uses sound questioning and active listening skills to understand requirements and establish root causes before developing HR solutions. Takes ownership through to resolution, escalating complex situations as appropriate.
• Communication & Interpersonal: Deals effectively with customers/colleagues, using sound interpersonal skills and communicating well through a range of media eg phone, face to face, email, internet. Adapts their style to their audience. Builds trust and sound relationships with customers. Handles conflict and sensitive HR situations professionally and confidentially.
• Teamwork: Consistently supports colleagues /collaborates within the team and HR to achieve results. Builds/maintains strong working relationships with others in the team and across HR where necessary.
• Process Improvement: Identifies opportunities to improve HR performance and service; acts on them within the authority of their role. Supports implementation of HR changes/projects with the business.
• Managing HR Information: Maintains required HR records as part of services delivered. Prepares reports and management information from HR data, with interpretation as required.
• Personal Development: Keeps up to date with business changes and HR legal/policy/process changes relevant to their role. Seeks feedback and acts on it to improve their performance and overall capability.

Training schedule

Training will take place once a week at work.

More training information

Training will be provided in online classes, where the apprentice will be able to attend (online) group classes and break-out discussion groups. Further support will be provided from the tutor in regular 1-2-1s and coaching  support from the line manager.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 4 or higher)
• Maths (grade 4 or higher)

3 GCSEs in:

any other subject (grade 4 or higher)

Desirable qualifications

A'levels or level 3 in:

Any other subject (grade pass)

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
• Team working
• Initiative
• Non judgemental
• Excellent telephone manner
• Able to follow instructions
• Maintain confidentiality
• Be fair & consistent
• Interpersonal skills

Other requirements

• An enhanced DBS clearance.
• 2 satisfactory references.
• Minimum 6 months’ experience in an office/ reception role, preferably in an HR or recruitment setting. This may have been gained over a variety of settings and periods.
• Some knowledge of UK employment law
• Some knowledge of and interest working in HR, with any related experience (e.g. through education, part-time work, volunteering, or personal projects).
• Commitment to our values (welcoming, challenging, inclusive, respectful, progressive).

 

About this employer

Watford Mencap is a charity providing social care services and support to people with learning disabilities, and their families, in South West Hertfordshire.  We are affiliated to Royal Mencap but are a self-funding and independent local charity that has provided services and support to local families for the past 75 years. We enable people with learning disabilities and their families to make the most of life, to enjoy choice and control over their own lives, enabling them to fulfil their life ambitions.

 

We have worked hard to make our services both efficient and really focused on the person. We have a strong business model that is sustainable and diverse. Our work has expanded, and we are trying new things and ideas across the entire organisation, while keeping everything we do focused on meeting the diverse needs of the people we support. We currently employ 170 staff, have over 35 volunteers and provide support and services to over 500 people with learning disabilities and their families.

 

This is an exciting opportunity to help, strengthen and develop an established team and you will play an important role, working collaboratively with the people we support, their families and friends, as well as other social and health care professionals. We currently operate across 11 sites in Hertsmere, Three Rivers and Watford.

https://www.watfordmencap.org.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

• Competitive starting salary
• 6 weeks holiday per annum
• Contributory pension scheme
• A number of employee recognition and reward schemes
• Free Health Cash Plan
• Retail discounts
• Referral scheme
• Long service awards

After this apprenticeship

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

The opportunity to remain in employment in the HR team after completing the apprenticeship.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

Watford Mencap

Naomi Sword

nsword@watfordmencap.org.uk

01923 713626

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000060707.

Apply now

Closes in 20 days (Monday 16 November 2026)

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.