Sports Business Administration & Marketing Apprentice - University of Oxford - Sport Department
University of Oxford
Oxford (OX4 1EQ)
Closes in 12 days (Wednesday 12 August 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 30 July 2026
Contents
Summary
As a Sports Business & Marketing Administrator Apprentice, you’ll play a key role in keeping teams moving, solving problems, and supporting the day-to-day operations. We are a fast-moving department with around 3,000 commercial members, supporting 5,000 student athletes and welcoming almost 600,000 visits in 2025.
- Wage
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£26,686 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
All University of Oxford Apprentices start on the Apprentice salary scale at grade 1A - £26,686 p.a.
- Training course
- Business administrator (level 3)
- Hours
-
This is an 18-month fixed term apprenticeship contract. You will be based at Iffley Road Sports Centre but may be required to work across the university sites from time to time. Some evening or weekend working for events outside regular office hours. Exact shifts TBC.
36 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
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Monday 28 September 2026
- 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
- Few days will be the same. However, we would like to work with an apprentice eager to help shape and embed new business processes which support all our users in their customer journey whether they’re on a mission to get more active, be healthier or attain high-performance competition standards
- You’ll be involved in all facets of the department to understand end to end how things work and be given latitude for your coursework to choose projects where business processes can be implemented or improved
- At the core of a customer service business is marketing, how we add value to our users, and how we capture more value from their continued patronage. Much of the work will revolve around our commercial facing work, be that how we can better engage and retain users in their subscriptions, or how we expand into new business opportunities
- You’ll experience collaboration with colleagues across the university, learning how to manage multiple tasks efficiently while building strong communication and organisational skills
- This is a new role and as such the appointee will be able to help shape the opportunity with management to meet their own development goals and help shape the future direction of our department on behalf of our customers
You will be:
- Passionate about trying a career that helps more people to become more active, more often
- Prioritising your tasks and manage deadlines in a fast-paced environment
- Supporting the team in producing accurate documents, plans, budgets or reports
- Working on customer communications across a range of media that improves our audience reach
- Experiencing the end-to-end business processes that support customer and staff needs, from car park permits to banking, from managing activity timetable to customer newsletters
- Improving customer retention through arranging appointments, calls, follow-ups or assisting with surveys with our customer base to check on satisfaction
- Assisting with the marketing, customer communications and retailing of our products, events, courses and memberships and helping ensure the team are able to track performance
- A creative thinker, identifying opportunities to streamline processes and improve efficiency
- Support colleagues in across finance & business, operations, sports development, grounds or initiatives from the Pro-Vice Chancellor for External Engagement, Sport and Community
We will also wrap around additional learning opportunities and professional development, through webinars or attending events and conferences in support of a professional membership for Chartered Institute for Managing Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA). We will purchase this annual professional membership of CIMSPA for the duration of your apprenticeship.
Where you'll work
University Sports Complex
Iffley Road
Oxford
OX4 1EQ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
ABINGDON AND WITNEY 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
Duration:
15-months practical training period, plus 3 months for End Point Assessment
Delivery model:
- Work-based training with your employer
- 10 days Business Professionals training at college
- Approximately 12 on-site assessment visits per year
- Off-the-job training will count for at least 6 hours per week of an apprentice’s time at work
Qualifications included:
Level 3 Business Administrator apprenticeship standard
End Point Assessment:
- Knowledge test
- Portfolio based interview
- Project/improvement presentation
More training information
College training will be at Abingdon & Witney College's Abingdon Campus and also on-site in the workplace.
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
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Written communication skills
- Clear verbal communication
- Accuracy
- High level of professionalism
- Microsoft Office experience
- Accuracy and timekeeping
- Working or competing in a team
- Sports orientated
- Advocate for physical activity
Other requirements
PLEASE NOTE:
- INTERVIEWS WILL BE HELD on 3rd September 2026
- PLEASE ENSURE YOU VISIT THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD JOBS PAGE TO READ THE FULL JOB DESCRIPTION AND SELECTION CRITERIA BEFORE YOU APPLY. VACANCY ID IS 187928
- Your application will be judged solely on the basis of how you demonstrate that you meet the selection criteria stated in the job description
As part of the recruitment process, shortlisted candidates will be contacted directly by the Apprenticeship Training Provider and will be required to complete initial assessments in English and maths, and book onto a short eligibility assessment telephone call where you can also find out more about the apprenticeship and ask any questions you may have.
PLEASE NOTE APPLICANTS MUST REPLY PROMPTLY TO THESE REQUESTS - PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAILS/JUNK EMAILS SO THAT YOU DON'T MISS OUT.
By applying for this vacancy, you are giving the Training Provider permission to undertake a Learner Record Service check on your previous qualifications. The Training Provider for this apprenticeship is Abingdon & Witney College.
If you would like to talk to them about the assessments, please call on 01235 216216.
We make every effort to ensure that applicants from non-traditional academic backgrounds or those who may not have the formal GCSE entry requirements can access apprenticeships where possible.
About this employer
We are the largest employer in Oxfordshire with around 17,000 staff working in and around Oxford in a huge range of roles. Our apprentices are never on their own and will benefit from a supportive environment working in collaboration with the rest of our committed team. You will also be supported by the central apprenticeship team and you will join our growing network of apprentices within the university. You will have the opportunity to become an apprenticeship ambassador for the University and region. We will provide you with a welcoming and inclusive workplace, offering support and development opportunities that will enable you to progress and do your best work. We recognise diversity as our strength, vital for innovation and creativity, and we aspire to build a truly diverse community, which values and respects every individual’s unique contribution.
https://www.ox.ac.uk/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
You'll enjoy 38 days’ paid holiday, generous pension schemes, travel discounts and professional development opportunities. Free entry to the Botanic Gardens and university colleges, and discounts at university museums.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Over 80% of our apprentices continue with us in the role they have been trained for after their apprenticeship and that is just the start of their career.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
ABINGDON AND WITNEY COLLEGE
Jane Phipps
apprenticeships@abingdon-witney.ac.uk
01235 216216
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000045626.
Apply now
Closes in 12 days (Wednesday 12 August 2026 at 11:59pm)