Business Administration Apprentice – animal charity sector
National Foundation for Retired Service Animals
CIRENCESTER (GL7 2BU)
Closes in 25 days (Monday 17 November 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 22 October 2025
Contents
Summary
We are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic Apprentice to join our team. This apprenticeship offers a fantastic opportunity to gain hands-on experience in an office environment while developing skills in business administration. The successful candidate will assist in administrative tasks and contributing to the overall efficiency of the charity.
- Wage
-
£12,000 a year
- Training course
- Business administrator (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, Shifts to be confirmed.
30 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 1 December 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
This role will give you the opportunity to gain hands-on experience of all aspects of business administration, and to play an important role in the growth of the Charity.
You will support all aspects of the day to day running of the NFRSA including new registrations, processing grants, supporting our corporate partnerships and helping to plan and deliver our busy schedule of events.
You will also help with our marketing, in particular creating engaging posts for our growing social media following. This is an exceptionally varied and rewarding role for the right person, as your work will directly contribute to the lives of retired service animals and their owners/handlers.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Gain a deep understanding of the NFRSA’s purpose, activities, values, and future ambitions
- Communicate effectively with a range of NFRSA stakeholders, including the NFRSA core team, our network of volunteers, donors, corporate partners, fundraisers, suppliers and our members and owners of retired service animals
- Maintain up to date records, using a range of administrative systems, including hard copy filing systems, spreadsheets, databases and Office 365 products
- Process new registrations, checking details carefully, and adding to our registration database
- Provide administrative support to our grants process, checking documentation, liaising with our members and vet panel and sending grants for payment
- Process online merchandise sales and prepare and dispatch to customers in a timely manner
- Support our network of fundraisers, by identifying and delivering practical help such as sending out posters, flyers and collection boxes
- Carry out regular audits of NFRSA stock levels to ensure they are sufficient, identifying when more is required
- Contribute to the planning and organisation of NFRSA events, to include managing resources required, organising logistics and briefing volunteers
- Provide administrative support to NFRSA Management Committee and Trustee meetings, producing accurate minutes for distribution
Providing hands-on support with NFRSA marketing including:
- Reviewing our website to ensure it remains current and liaising with our website developers
- Creating engaging and impactful content for our growing social media audience and posting across all channels
- Monitoring the performance of our social media posts and using data to help us improve
- Supporting the creation and distribution of press releases
- Creating a range of marketing assets to include posters, flyers, surveys etc
You will work primarily within an office in the Bathurst Estate, Cirencester.
Tis is a hugely varied role, ideal for someone who enjoys a fast-paced environment and can on their own initiative when required.
Where you'll work
BATHURST ESTATE OFFICE CIRENCE
CIRENCESTER
GL7 2BU
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
CIRENCESTER 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
- Training for the Level 3 Business Administrator Apprenticeship will take place both in the workplace and at college
- The apprentice will attend regular sessions delivered by Cirencester College to develop the core knowledge, skills, and behaviours required for the role
- This will be supported by ongoing learning and development activities in the workplace, where the apprentice will apply their training to real tasks and projects
- In addition, the apprentice will have regular one-to-one sessions with their skills coach to review progress, set objectives and prepare for assessments
- Off-the-job training will typically take place one day per week (or equivalent) and will include a blend of classroom learning, self-directed study and practical application linked to the apprentice’s day-to-day work
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4)
- Maths (grade 4)
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
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
Other requirements
The NFRSA regularly attends fundraising events (e.g. Cotswold Show, Crufts etc). There may be a requirement to work occasional days at weekends, to attend charity events. Time off in lieu (TOIL) will be given. You will have a genuine passion for animal welfare, and ideally a love of dogs and horses Accurate and grammatically correct written communication is an important aspect of this role As interest in social media marketing, and related skills would be beneficial A working knowledge of Microsoft Office would be an advantage Ability to work independently at times, using own initiative, is required
About this employer
The National Foundation for Retired Service Animals (NFRSA) is a registered charity (1200949) supporting retired dogs and horses from the police, fire, prison, national crime agency, NHS, border force and MoD Police services by helping with medical and veterinary bills, which inevitably occur as they get older. When serving dogs and horses careers end, the financial support they have enjoyed whilst working, including food, kennels or stables, medical and veterinary requirements, training and equipment also comes to an end. Unfortunately, affordable insurance can be difficult to find due to their age and training. This is obviously a worry for handlers who have their own financial obligations, and medical bills can become a real challenge. As is widely acknowledged, the relationship between a handler and their working partner is second to none, and it is unthinkable the pair may be broken up due to financial pressure. Unfortunately, this does happen, and it causes great distress for the handlers, their families, and of course the animals themselves. The NFRSA is there to help to ensure these wonderful animals can stay where they belong, with the families they love, as the years advance. It’s the least they deserve when they’ve devoted most of their lives to keeping us, the public, safe. Since its formation in 2022, the NFRSA has more than 550 members and has provided in excess of £200K of support to retired service animals. Our job, quite simply, is to ‘Protect Our Protectors’.
After this apprenticeship
- This apprenticeship is an excellent stepping stone for individuals looking to build a career in business administration while gaining valuable experience in a supportive setting
- For the right person, we will be looking to offer a permanent, long-term position within the charity with opportunity for progression
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
National Foundation for Retired Service Animals
Hannah Hockley
hannah@theapprenticeshippartner.co.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000347837.
Apply now
Closes in 25 days (Monday 17 November 2025 at 11:59pm)
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