Community & Culture Apprentice (Business Admin level 3)

Summary

A fantastic opportunity to join the new Community & Culture department at Spennymoor Town Council as a Community & Culture Apprentice. You will work as part of a close team of three colleagues and a range of external providers and partners to look after the Council’s art gallery, performance spaces and other community/cultural facilities.

Wage

£14,526.20 to £23,492.04, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course

Business administrator (level 3)

Hours

Monday - Friday, 9.00am - 5.00pm. Due to the nature of our events and activities you will also be working some evenings and weekends, so a flexible approach to work is definitely needed!

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

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

As an apprentice, you’ll work full time at the Town Council and get hands-on experience of working in a multi-disciplinary Community & Culture team across a wide range of settings. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff and for an employer that genuinely cares about you.

What you’ll do at work:

You will work 37 hours per week, usually Monday to Friday during regular office hours but with some evening and weekend working for events and other community/cultural activities.

You will get involved in working directly with artists and creative practitioners on rotating exhibitions, temporary pop-up exhibitions, and our permanent collection; arranging artists residencies and workshops as well as learning about curating our gallery spaces; organising school visits and supporting our education package.

Theatre programming and venue room hire, working with performance organisations, technical requirements and performer riders and associated liaison with external partners.

Work closely with our Events Officer on the logistics and all aspects of public events from inception to delivery, working with event management companies, health, safety and security as well as local community groups, performers and agencies.

The Business Administration Apprenticeship is delivered by East Durham College but is 100% work-based so you do all of your learning in the work environment. The Council will support you with 6 hours a week of dedicated time to work on your apprenticeship coursework and studying.

Duties whilst training will include:

As well as immersing yourself in all things community/cultural in our town, your Business Administration training will also include:

IT

You'll use multiple types of IT packages and systems (will vary depending on who you work for) to complete tasks such as writing letters and emails, perform financial processes and recording/analysing data
You may use such things as Microsoft Office and custom programs (depending on the business) and you'll develop your skills to be able to choose the right IT solution for a problem, how to update/review databases, how to record information and how to produce data analysis should it be requested

Record & Document Production:

A big part of business administration will be producing records and documents such as emails, letters, files, payments, reports and proposals
Using your IT and other skills, you'll be able to draft up letters and other correspondence, write reports and be able to review the work of others
You'll learn to respect confidential information in line with your businesses' procedures and learn how to be comfortable in coaching others to complete tasks

Decision Making:

Improve your decision-making skills to make effective decisions with sound reasoning and learn to deal with day-to-day business challenges as a responsible, mature working employee
You'll also learn to approach other, more experienced team members for advice and support as and when you need it

Interpersonal Skills

Become more confident and outgoing as you work with the people in your team and others across the business you work for
You should strive to become a role model to peers and team members, developing your skills and developing coaching abilities to train others to perform similar tasks that you will complete in your job role

Communications:

Using different channels, including face-to-face, writing and on the phone, you'll develop your communications skills as part of your apprenticeships. You'll learn to be professional and approachable in the way you communicate and may also gain an understanding of social media and how it applies to your job role
You will also learn to become confident enough to answer questions from both inside and outside the business you work for

Where you'll work

TOWN HALL
SPENNYMOOR
CO DURHAM
DL16 6DG

Training

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

College or training organisation

EAST DURHAM COLLEGE

Your 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.

Your training plan

Business Administrator Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard
Apprenticeship is fully delivered in the workplace with a tutor
They will visit once per month

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 4/C or above)
Maths (grade 4/C or above)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Presentation skills
Administrative skills
Number skills
Logical
Team working
Creative
Initiative
Patience

About this company

Spennymoor Town Council is a relatively large town council serving the people of Spennymoor in south west County Durham. Formed as a Town Council in 1974 as a successor to the former Spennymoor Urban District Council, it currently has a turnover of around £2million a year and holds assets of around £11million. The town itself is growing in population, and the Town Council now serves a population of over 22,000 residents . The Council provides a range of services for Spennymoor residents and visitors including parks and play areas, two cemeteries, over 700 allotments, a local nature reserve, community buildings, sports facilities, and the Town Hall with its art gallery, mining museum and performance spaces. The Town Council also arranges town and civic events and gives grant funding and other forms of assistance to local charities, community and sports groups.

https://spennymoor-tc.gov.uk/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Possible progression to a full time role

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

EAST DURHAM COLLEGE

Sara Jolly

sara.jolly@eastdurham.ac.uk

0191 8237656

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000326346.

Apply now

Closes in 29 days (Friday 25 July 2025 at 11:59pm)

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