Reception Apprentice (Customer Service Level 2)

University of Cambridge

Cambridge (CB2 0BB)

Closes in 29 days (Saturday 13 September 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 14 August 2025

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Summary

We are seeking an enthusiastic Reception Apprentice to join our Building Services Team. You will be a key part of our team, providing a friendly and professional welcome to visitors and staff. Working alongside experienced colleagues, you will gain experience and develop essential skills while studying towards a nationally recognised qualification.

Wage

£14,526.20 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

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Training course
Customer service practitioner (level 2)
Hours
Monday to Friday, Start and finish times may vary according to business requirements, and some flexibility is expected. Our reception team work on alternative shifts 8AM to 4PM and 10AM to 6PM.

36 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 3 November 2025

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

Your responsibilities will include:

  • Delivering excellent customer service at our busy reception desk
  • Greeting and assisting visitors, staff, and researchers
  • Managing bookings for meeting and conference rooms
  • Handling phone and email enquiries efficiently
  • Supporting the Building Services Team with general administrative tasks

What we’re looking for

  • Skills: Basic computer literacy (Word, Excel, Outlook), strong organisation, communication, and time management skills
  • Attributes: Excellent attention to detail, willingness to learn and take responsibility for your own development, ability to follow instructions and work as part of a team

Where you'll work

Heart & Lung Research Institute
Biomedical Campus,
Papworth Road,
Cambridge
CB2 0BB

Training

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

Training provider

CAMBRIDGE REGIONAL COLLEGE

Training course

Customer service practitioner (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Use a range of questioning skills, including listening and responding in a way that builds rapport, determines customer needs and expectations and achieves positive engagement and delivery.
  • Depending on your job role and work environment: Use appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication skills, along with summarising language during face-to-face communications; and/or
  • Depending on your job role and work environment: Use appropriate communication skills, along with reinforcement techniques (to confirm understanding) during non-facing customer interactions.
  • Depending on your job role and work environment: Use an appropriate ‘tone of voice’ in all communications, including written and digital, that reflect the organisation’s brand.
  • Provide clear explanations and offer options in order to help customers make choices that are mutually beneficial to both the customer and your organisation.
  • Be able to organise yourself, prioritise your own workload/activity and work to meet deadlines.
  • Demonstrate patience and calmness.
  • Show you understand the customer’s point of view.
  • Use appropriate sign-posting or resolution to meet your customers needs and manage expectations.
  • Maintain informative communication during service recovery.

Training schedule

What we offer

  • Practical Experience: Work alongside experienced staff in a world-class research environment
  • Professional Development: Full support and training from the department and regular workplace visits from your dedicated Assessor
  • Career Progression: Gain a Customer Service Level 2 apprenticeship and valuable experience to kickstart your career

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade D/3)
  • Maths (grade D/3)

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
  • Team working
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience

About this employer

The Department of Medicine at Cambridge is one of the most prestigious and top-ranked in the UK and throughout the world. We are the largest department in the School of Clinical Medicine at the University of Cambridge. Our work extends from biomedical research through to the clinic, and is linked to all research throughout the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, the UK, and the wider international community.

After this apprenticeship

After your apprenticeship, if you want to continue to work within the university, there are always plenty of roles you can apply for. Some of our past apprentices are now building their careers within the universities HR, Education, and Finance.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

CAMBRIDGE REGIONAL COLLEGE

Hayley

01223 418778

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000337301.

Apply now

Closes in 29 days (Saturday 13 September 2025 at 11:59pm)

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