Bereavement Services Apprentice

NORTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Kettering (NN16 8XE)

Closes in 13 days (Monday 2 March 2026)

Posted on 16 February 2026

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Summary

To contribute to a high quality and effective Service within the Council’s Bereavement Services functions including burials and cremations, cemetery grounds, closed churchyards, and public health funerals to ensure the council provides services which both meet the needs of its customers and are responsive to market opportunities.

• Wage:

  £24,088.48 a year

  Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  £12.52 per hour

• Training course: Business administrator (level 3)
• Hours: Monday - Friday, 9.00am - 5.00pm

  37 hours a week

• Start date:

  Wednesday 1 April 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

• Assist and support in all duties in accordance with all current legislation, guidance and best practices including accurate record keeping in line with policies and procedures
• As required, carry out administration functions including covering reception, processing documentation and payments, inputting details into databases and documents, answering the telephone and other duties as considered suitable by the Bereavement Services Manager
• Assist in ensuring that the highest standards of cleanliness are maintained throughout the sites including cleaning ceremony rooms, chapels, the crematory, customer facilities and all other areas internally and externally as required
• Report any defects to the Bereavement Services Senior Officers or Manager as soon as possible
• Assist and support in locating and identifying graves for excavation by the ground’s maintenance service
• Receive and process statutory documentation where necessary, to ensure that the wishes of service users are met
• Assist in updating records of inspections of memorials to ensure compliance with health and safety standards and current guidance

Where you'll work

Warren Hill Crematorium
Warren Hill
Kettering
NN16 8XE

Training

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

Training provider

P.T.P. TRAINING LIMITED

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

• Business Administration Level 3 Standard
• Relevant workplace training

 

More training information

Your programme will be delivered online, with the following structure:

• 9 workshops which will be delivered on-line on a monthly basis.
• During these sessions, new topics will be taught by your tutor.
• Between sessions, you’ll complete self-study tasks spread throughout the week
• You will have regular meetings with your tutor on 1-2-1 basis every 6-8 weeks

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade C/4 or above)
• Mathematics (grade C/4 or above)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• Calm methodical work ethic
• Precise and accurate
• Organised
• Competent in Word
• Competent in Excel
• Competent in use of databases

Other requirements

• 6 months customer service experience is essential for this role,
• Competent in the use of Microsoft products especially Word and Excel,
• How will you travel to work?

About this employer

North Northamptonshire Council is the unitary local authority responsible for delivering public services across the areas of Corby, East Northamptonshire, Kettering, and Wellingborough.

As a unitary council, it manages services such as council tax, waste and recycling, housing, planning, roads and transport, education, libraries, and adult and children’s social care.

https://www.northnorthants.gov.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

• Opportunities to develop skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
• Generous leave entitlement
• An Employee Assistance Programme, Employee Benefits Scheme, and wellbeing support

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

• There may be the opportunity for conversion/application to a permanent role, subject to future budgets, approvals, and performance

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

P.T.P. TRAINING LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000015663.

Apply now

Closes in 13 days (Monday 2 March 2026)

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.