Business Administration Apprentice Level 3
UNIVERSAL FABRICATIONS (COVENTRY) LTD
WARKS (CV11 6BX)
Closes in 11 days (Sunday 21 December 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 9 December 2025
Contents
Summary
Junior Estimator / Admin supporting the Office Manager with logging enquiries, preparing simple quotes, gathering material and finish costs, updating Excel trackers and Redthorn MRP, and helping ensure orders are processed accurately and on time for our customers.
- Wage
-
£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Business administrator (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Sunday 1 February 2026
- 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
Estimating Support
- Log and organise incoming customer enquiries in line with agreed processes.
- Prepare simple quotes under guidance (e.g. using known labour times, standard parts and finishes).
- Collect and update material, subcontract and paint/finish costs from suppliers and internal data.
- Populate quote templates accurately for review by the Office Manager.
- Update the status of enquiries and quotes in Excel trackers and Redthorn MRP.
Order & Admin Support
- Assist with checking customer purchase orders against quotes (price, quantities, lead times).
- Help enter and maintain sales orders on Redthorn MRP.
- Support the accurate filing and organisation of quotes, orders and related documents.
- Update and maintain existing Excel tracking sheets (quotes, orders, deliveries, etc.).
- Liaise with the Service Delivery Coordinators and Business Development Manager for basic information requests.
Data & Systems
- Keep data in Redthorn MRP accurate and up to date (enquiries, quotes, orders).
- Maintain simple reports and lists to support weekly reviews (e.g. open quotes, due dates).
- Help tidy and standardise templates and spreadsheets as processes improve.
Where you'll work
WHITACRE ROAD INDUSTRIAL EST
NUNEATON
WARKS
CV11 6BX
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
NORTH WARWICKSHIRE AND SOUTH LEICESTERSHIRE 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 will be via TEAMS every four weeks with the following:
- Initial onboarding day at North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire college Hinkley Road Nuneaton CV11 6BH.
- In the workplace online training and mentoring.
Full on-the-job training from the Office Manager (former Estimating Manager)
Step-by-step development plan to build skills in:
- Understanding drawings and enquiries at a basic level.
- Building up simple estimates and quotes.
- Using Redthorn MRP and Excel effectively.
- Opportunity over time to take on more complex estimating tasks as skills and confidence grow.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
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
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
Other requirements
Things to Consider Before You Apply.
This role could be ideal as a first job or early-career role, but it won’t suit everyone. Please think about the following before applying:
- Detail matters every day You’ll be working with prices, quantities, dates and order numbers. If you easily lose focus or get bored checking details, this will be frustrating.
- It’s office-based, but close to the factory You’ll mainly work in an office but surrounded by a busy manufacturing environment – machines running, deliveries going out, drivers coming and going.
- You’ll be using computers a lot. Most of your day will involve Excel, email and our Redthorn MRP system. If you dislike computer work or get easily flustered by systems, this may not be for you.
- You need to be organised, not chaotic. There will be lots of small tasks: logging enquiries, updating trackers, checking orders. You’ll need to keep yourself organised and follow processes properly.
- You must be comfortable asking questions. You won’t be expected to know everything, but you will be expected to speak up, ask when you’re unsure and learn from feedback.
- We don’t cut corners “That’ll do” is not how we work. We expect care, accuracy, and pride in getting things right, even on simple admin tasks.
- Travel to work: Make sure you can reliably get to our site every day for your agreed hours (public transport, lift, driving, etc.).
If you read this and think, “Yes, that sounds like me, and I’d like to learn how the commercial side of manufacturing works,” then this could be a great starting point for you.
About this employer
Universal Fabrications (Coventry) Ltd is a precision sheet-metal engineering and fabrication business based in Nuneaton. We support demanding customers in sectors such as automotive, aerospace, defence, rail and EV battery systems, supplying high-quality fabricated and machined components from our 36,000 sq ft facility. We combine modern machinery with skilled people, working on everything from one-off prototypes to full production batches. The work is detailed and varied, and we pride ourselves on doing things properly – we don’t cut corners. As an employer, we offer a friendly, down-to-earth environment where people are expected to take responsibility, be organised and support each other as part of “Team Universal”. For the right person, there are real opportunities to learn, grow and progress as the business continues to invest and expand.
After this apprenticeship
This role is designed as a development position, with clear opportunities to grow as skills and experience build. Depending on performance and interest, future progression could include:
- Estimator / Senior Estimator – taking ownership of more complex quotations and technical enquiries.
- Commercial / Office Supervisor – supporting the Office Manager with coordinating enquiries, orders and admin.
- Service Delivery / Customer Account roles – moving into more customer-facing work and project coordination.
- Data / Business Analysis support – for someone who enjoys numbers, reporting and improving trackers and systems.
You’ll be working closely with the Office Manager (former Estimating Manager), so you’ll learn the full process from enquiry to delivery and be well placed to move up as the business grows
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
NORTH WARWICKSHIRE AND SOUTH LEICESTERSHIRE COLLEGE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000004514.
Apply now
Closes in 11 days (Sunday 21 December 2025 at 11:59pm)
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