HR Apprentice

ORION EDUCATION

Kent (BR7 5PS)

Closes in 27 days (Monday 31 August 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 4 August 2026

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Summary

The HR Apprentice supports the HR team in delivering efficient, compliant, and professional HR services across Orion Education. This includes assisting with recruitment, onboarding, HR administration, employee relations, payroll coordination, and data management, whilst working towards a L3 HR Support Qualification. 

Wage

£20,000 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
HR support (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday, 36 hours per week. 52 weeks a year. Working hours TBC.

36 hours a week

Start date

Wednesday 30 September 2026

Duration

1 year 3 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

The role is key in ensuring the smooth running of HR operations and supporting school leaders in the consistent application of Orion Education’s people policies.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Recruitment and onboarding
  • Support the Trust with recruitment administration in line with Orion Education’s Safer Recruitment Policy
  • Offer letters and employment contracts (SCR)
  • HR Administration
  • Confidentiality at all times
  • Reviews, and leavers

Employee Relations and Support:

  • Prepare and post job advertisements, coordinate shortlisting and interviews
  • Carry out all necessary pre-employment checks and maintain the Single Central Record
  • Support onboarding and induction processes for new starters, ensuring documentation and systems are completed accurately
  • People policies
  • Maintain and update staff records and HR databases, ensuring accuracy
  • Support the administration of staff changes, including contract variations, probation
  • Maintain digital HR files and ensure compliance with data protection requirements
  • Support the HR Director with compiling regular HR reports and audit documentation
  • Provide first-line HR advice to staff and managers, referring complex matters to the HR Director or HR Business Partner
  • Support HR colleagues in managing employee relations cases, including notetaking, documentation, and coordination of meetings
  • Assist in the administration of absence management, maternity/paternity leave, and other employment matters

Payroll and Data Management:

  • Support the HR & Payroll Manager to ensure accurate payroll input each month
  • Ensure starters, leavers, and contractual changes are correctly processed
  • Assist with HR reporting and data analysis to support strategic decision-making
  • Update and maintain personnel records on the HR & payroll system

Learning, Development, and Compliance:

  • Track and log staff training and professional development records
  • Support the delivery of HR-related briefings and induction sessions
  • Contribute to ensuring all HR processes comply with employment law, safeguarding, and data protection standards

Where you'll work

Mansion House C/O Coopers School
Hawkwood Lane
Chislehurst
Kent
BR7 5PS

Training

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

Training provider

C.M.S. VOCATIONAL TRAINING LIMITED

Training course

HR support (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Service Delivery: Delivers excellent customer service on a range of HR queries and requirements, providing solutions, advice and support primarily to managers. Builds managers’ expertise in HR matters, improving their ability to handle repeated situations themselves where appropriate. Uses agreed systems and processes to deliver service to customers. Takes the initiative to meet agreed individual and team KPIs in line with company policy, values, standards. Plans and organises their work, often without direct supervision, to meet commitments and KPIs.
  • Problem Solving: Uses sound questioning and active listening skills to understand requirements and establish root causes before developing HR solutions. Takes ownership through to resolution, escalating complex situations as appropriate.
  • Communication & Interpersonal: Deals effectively with customers/colleagues, using sound interpersonal skills and communicating well through a range of media eg phone, face to face, email, internet. Adapts their style to their audience. Builds trust and sound relationships with customers. Handles conflict and sensitive HR situations professionally and confidentially.
  • Teamwork: Consistently supports colleagues /collaborates within the team and HR to achieve results. Builds/maintains strong working relationships with others in the team and across HR where necessary.
  • Process Improvement: Identifies opportunities to improve HR performance and service; acts on them within the authority of their role. Supports implementation of HR changes/projects with the business.
  • Managing HR Information: Maintains required HR records as part of services delivered. Prepares reports and management information from HR data, with interpretation as required.
  • Personal Development: Keeps up to date with business changes and HR legal/policy/process changes relevant to their role. Seeks feedback and acts on it to improve their performance and overall capability.

Training schedule

As a Level 3 HR Support apprentice, you will complete the following qualifications as part of your apprenticeship:

  • Level 3 HR Support apprenticeship standard
  • You will also develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours required to work within an office environment
  • This apprenticeship is delivered in the workplace and 6 hours a week of your working time will be dedicated towards training and learning new skills
  • You will be allocated a tutor who will provide you with personal support and assessment at pre-arranged times
  • Assessment is through a variety of methods, including observations in the workplace, witness testimonies, product evidence and professional discussions
  • All evidence will be logged to your electronic portfolio

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4 or above)
  • Math (grade 4 or above)

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

IT (grade 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
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience
  • Communicates confidently
  • Calm under pressure
  • Builds positive relationships
  • Committed to supporting staff
  • Good Time Keeper
  • Flexible
  • Good attendance record

Other requirements

Check bus routes for travel on a daily basis.

About this employer

Thank you for taking the time to look, and for showing an interest in one of the roles in our schools. In a long career in education, starting
out as an English teacher, I have loved the fact that I get to work with some fantastic young people and a group of like minded professionals who have a real passion for their work and share the same values. There aren't many professions where that is the case. We are driven by our desire to do the best for our young people. Our reason to exist is to improve outcomes, transform lives and enable social mobility. Our values of trust kindness and endeavour underpin our work, and we
succeed through ensuring a healthy culture and academic rigour. This emphasis on leadership involves nurturing a robust pipeline of leaders deeply committed to our values and mission. Collaborative partnerships are integral to our goals, as we seek to forge strong
partnerships to amplify our impact.
At Orion Education, we take pride in the work that we do to develop our teachers and our leaders. Our approach to instructional coaching and leadership development has been recognised nationally. We are at the forefront of a coaching model that supports you in making the most of your career. Our expectations of ourselves and each other are high. In return we offer you unrivalled professional development, so that you can fulfil your own ambitions. Finally, I am extremely grateful for your interest in our Trust. We are moving forward at a rapid rate and it’s an
exciting time to join us. 

https://www.orionedu.org.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

  • Pension Scheme
  • Professional Development
  • For a full list of our benefits, please visit our website Orion Education - Staff Benefits

After this apprenticeship

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

After a L3 HR support apprenticeship you can progress onto a L5 People Professional if you wish.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

C.M.S. VOCATIONAL TRAINING LIMITED

Mandy Hodson

Mandy.Hodson@cmsvoc.co.uk

01924614523

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000046243.

Apply now

Closes in 27 days (Monday 31 August 2026 at 11:59pm)