Business Administrator Apprentice
WIDDOP BINGHAM & CO. LIMITED
Oldham (OL9 9XE)
Closes in 9 days (Friday 24 October 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 13 October 2025
Contents
Summary
In this particular role, you will be responsible for supporting the efficient processing of samples through approval and data enrichment in a timely, efficient and commercial manner. You will work to maintain the order of the sample room, the studio, the product development & design room.
- Wage
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£13,741 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 - Friday, 8.00am - 4.30pm or 8.30am - 5.00pm, 30 minutes for lunch.
35 hours a week
- Start date
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Monday 10 November 2025
- 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
Specifically for this role (backed up by the other Product Development Assistant:
- Input DD packaging selections for B2C and Mail Order into the system at the point of photography completion of an item & maintain the organisation of the DD packaging library § Develop & maintain effective relationships with Licensor partners to ensure all information communicated is done so in a clear, concise & polite manner internally and externally.
- Input and validate physical product specifications on every product before it is passed to the VM team to prepare for sale, including dimensions, weight, packaging info, raw materials and others as needed.
- Working with all the licenced product designers to input and administer approval of all licenced samples for Disney and Warner Brothers initially (others later), feeding back changes to the design team and ensuring that the product is not released when not correct and that images and details are updated with approval information.
- Positive & proactive engagement with the whole product development & design team to create & sustain a positive & collaborative working environment e.g. Design Meetings. Update the team on important findings to share product development & design knowledge.
- Communicate & update photography, VM & marketing teams when necessary to ensure the correct product is on display in the showroom or on the website, particularly for licenced products.
- Liaise with the VM team once product enrichment has been completed and checked to brief our showroom style guides, ensuring the vision & initial concept is carried through into commercial display of the product.
- Attend UK tradeshows, assisting with set up/break down & display as needed.
- Maintain the organisation of the labelling & photography area. Ensure they are clean, tidy & organised well & all rubbish cleared & sent down to the DC.
- Assist with packing & unpacking in the showroom during busy periods. In supporting the other Product Development Assistant, this role will include: § Morning check of all supplier communication and liaising with them promptly to arrange the on-time shipment of all samples.
- Morning check of all logistics/ freight company communication to ensure the on-time shipment, delivery, clearance and arrival of samples and progression through unpacking, requesting support where possible to ensure all unpacked within 2 days of arrival.
- Review and report on all products loaded but not ordered for upcoming seasons and validate their status with BDMs each week.
- Supporting the PD team with the administration of range plans and product information ahead of all sign-offs.
- Supporting BDMs in managing and preparing the sign-off suite for all sign-off activity, moving, managing and preparing samples.
- Unpack the weekly console within 2 days § Unpack Express parcels on the same day as received in order to process them/pass on quickly.
- Process all samples throughout the business, ensuring they are booked into the system, labelled, weighed & measured in line with the critical path.
- Pass samples received onto the relevant people/teams such as the NAMS & Designers, as quickly as possible, to ensure timely approvals can be made with factories, customers & licences.
- Pass Shipment samples over to the correct team member as soon as they arrive & store any spares in the designated area in the PD & D room.
- Make sure all samples are tidied away into their correct designated areas ready for selections or sample processing.
- Ensure all product holding areas ready for selections are labelled with the most up-to-date signage for the season ahead.
Where you'll work
Broadgate Broadway Business Park
Chadderton
Oldham
OL9 9XE
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
THE OLDHAM COLLEGE
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
Attend Oldham College one day per week.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade Grade 9-4/A*-C or equivalent)
- Maths (grade Grade 9-4/A*-C or equivalent)
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
- Presentation skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
About this employer
We are one of the leading wholesale suppliers of giftware in the UK. We pride ourselves on providing unparalleled levels of customer service and aim to get your goods onto your shop floor as quickly and efficiently as possible from the moment you place an order. We have 12 regional representatives operating across the UK and Ireland and export worldwide to over 75 countries. We also have a dedicated sales team to provide you with any assistance you need by phone. With an in-house design team designing exclusive gifts, as well the procurement of the very best licences, we have a wide range of over 7000 products across more than 30 brands for you to select from.
After this apprenticeship
To secure employment within the company.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
THE OLDHAM COLLEGE
Deborah Wynn
deborah.wynn@oldham.ac.uk
0161 785 3586
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000345128.
Apply now
Closes in 9 days (Friday 24 October 2025 at 11:59pm)
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