Customer Service Apprentice

HORDEN PARISH COUNCIL

HORDEN (SR8 4LX)

Closes in 6 days (Thursday 12 March 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 2 March 2026

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Summary

Horden Parish Council are looking for a Customer Service Apprentice to provide administration support, to take responsibility for cemetery and burial records. 

Wage

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

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Customer service practitioner (level 2)
Hours
Monday- Friday 09:00- 17:00

37 hours a week

Start date

Wednesday 1 April 2026

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

  • Cemetery burials and memorial administration
  • Scanning paper records to computerised files
  • Data Input of Cemetery Records
  • General office duties to include filing and incoming/outgoing post
  • Assisting with financial processing
  • Answering telephone and dealing with queries raised
  • Assist the general public who visit the Parish Council Office
  • Establish and maintain good working relationships with
  • Members of the Parish Council, staff, and users of the Social Welfare Centre
  • The post holder will be expected to undertake any other duties which could reasonably be expected under the general purview of the post
  • All employees are expected to demonstrate a commitment to the principles of equal rights both in relation to employment issues and service delivery and to adhere to the policies of the Council in the performance of their duties

Where you'll work

COUNCIL OFFICES
HORDEN SOCIAL WELFARE CENTRE
SEVENTH STREET
HORDEN
SR8 4LX

Training

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

Training provider

EAST DURHAM 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

The apprentice will work 5 x days per week at the workplace with regular visits from the apprenticeship trainer coach

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 3 or above)
  • Maths (grade 3 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
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Patience

About this employer

Horden Parish Council is on the East Coast in County Durham. The Parish Council is made up of up to 15 Councillors and predominately provides recreational services including parks, play areas and the Social Welfare Centre. We are the burial authority for the village.

https://horden-pc.gov.uk/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

  • Potential full time position on completion of apprenticeship

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

EAST DURHAM COLLEGE

Adam Heslop

adam.heslop@eastdurham.ac.uk

01915185589

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000017977.

Apply now

Closes in 6 days (Thursday 12 March 2026 at 11:59pm)