Intelligent Client Function (ICF) Business Apprentice

NORTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Northants (NN15 7QX)

Closes in 26 days (Wednesday 9 September 2026)

Posted on 13 August 2026

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Summary

We are committed to supporting care-experienced young people into employment. As a result, this apprenticeship is reserved for care leavers who meet the essential criteria. This is a hybrid position with the office base of up to 2 days a week. This could be in any NNC building to help with your transport. (Kettering, Corby or Wellingborough)

• Wage:

  £20,344.80 a year

  Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  £20,344.80 per annum to £21,016.80 per annum

• Training course: Business administrator (level 3)
• Hours: 37 hours a week over Monday to Friday. Normally 9.00am to 5.30pm, Monday to Thursday and 9.00am to 5.00pm, on Friday. The council has a flexible working policy.

  37 hours a week

• Start date:

  Monday 19 October 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

To provide administrative support to the ICF to ensure an efficient, effective and responsive service to both North Northampton, West Northampton and The Northamptonshire Children’s Trust. With a focus on adding value, the role of business apprentice contributes to the efficiency of the team, through support of functional areas, working across teams and resolving issues as requested. Building skills to use a range of digital tools, including Microsoft 365 and AI-supported applications, to improve efficiency and support day-to-day operations while contributing to team objectives.

The flexibility and responsiveness required allows the apprentice to develop a wide range of skills and experience across a variety of tasks.

Principal responsibilities

• Provide administration support linked with day-to-day governance and relationship management of the Northamptonshire Children’s Trust, on the behalf of West Northants and North Northants.
• Carry out a range of administrative/business support tasks for the team and service area. This may include but is not limited to; data entry, producing correspondence, event planning, minute taking, booking venues or transport, uploading content to our website and intranet pages, and supporting with grant funding applications.
• Provide administrative support for all governance meetings or processes which will involve, scheduling meetings, including meetings with cabinet members, minute taking and producing meeting minutes for those specified processes.
• Maintaining the corresponding action logs, chasing for outstanding actions and managing the attendance log for meetings.
• Manage incoming and outgoing post and deliveries for the ICF and additional Children’s Services as required.
• Maintain procedures and documentation in relation to the role’s tasks and responsibilities.
• Assist with administration for the Head of Commissioning and Contracts and the wider Commissioning team.
• Ensure that all legal documentation for the Service Delivery contracts, the associated schedules, and the Support Services agreement are available for the Directors and Assistant Directors as and when required.

General responsibilities

• The business apprentice is expected to deliver their responsibilities efficiently and with integrity – showing a positive attitude.
• The role involves demonstrating strong communication skills (both written and verbal) and adopting a proactive approach to developing skills.
• The business apprentice is expected to show initiative, managing priorities and own time, problem-solving skills, decision-making.
• Demonstrate awareness/understanding of equal opportunities and other people’s behavioural, physical, social and welfare needs.
• Comply with the Council’s policies and procedures including (but not limited to) safeguarding, financial regulations, promotion of equalities, customer care, agreed audit actions and health and safety (ensuring that reasonable care is taken at all times for the health, safety and welfare of yourself and other persons).
• Understand the councils commitment to Corporate Parenting and take responsibility to support this commitment. Enable the council to be the best corporate parents possible to children and young people in our current and previous care.
• Carry out any other duties which fall within the broad spirit, scope and purpose of this job description and which are commensurate with the grade of the post.

This job description reflects the major tasks to be carried out by the post holder and identifies a level of responsibility at which they will be required to work.  In the interests of effective working, the major tasks may be reviewed from time to time to reflect changing needs and circumstances.

Where you'll work

Municipal Offices,
Bowling Green Road
Kettering
Northants
NN15 7QX

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

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 at grade 4/C and above)
• Maths (grade at grade 4/C and above)

Desirable qualifications

Recognised Administration Qualification (e.g. NVQ) in:

Administration (grade Pass)

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
• Team working
• Non judgemental

Other requirements

The postholder will be required to travel between some North Northants and West Northants Council offices as necessary to support Northamptonshire Children’s Trust governance meetings, training and attend Team Meetings.

Experience and Knowledge

• Skilled in the use of multiple IT packages and systems relevant to the organisation in order to: write emails, perform financial processes. Examples include MS Office, Outlook, Word and Excel.
• Desire to work and train in an administrative role within the Council.
• Ability to work independently while seeking advice and support when required.

Ability and Skills       

• Excellent organisational skills, with a systematic and methodical approach to work. Able to accept and deal with changing priorities related to both their own work and to the organisation.
• Ability to communicate effectively face to face, on the telephone and digital platforms.
• The ability to take initiative and prioritise workload, working to tight deadlines and operating calmly and professionally under pressure.
• Seeks advice of more experienced team members when appropriate.
• Good literacy and numeracy skills

Equal Opportunities 

• Ability to demonstrate awareness/understanding of equal opportunities and other people’s behaviour, physical, social and welfare needs.
• Knowledge of Data Protection and GDPR legislation and the importance of maintaining accurate records and confidentiality.

Desired Personal Qualities:

• Experience of PowerPoint
• Knowledge of local government and the services provided by the Council
• Experience of taking minutes at meetings.

Answers questions from inside and outside of the organisation, representing the organisation and Team.

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

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

This apprenticeship provides an excellent foundation for a career in local government. Following successful completion, there may be opportunities to apply for permanent roles within Business Support, Administration, Governance, Commissioning or Project Support teams. The skills and qualification gained will support future career progression across the Council and wider public sector.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

P.T.P. TRAINING LIMITED

Please contact PTP Training

ptprecruits@ptp-training.co.uk

01922651100

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000048155.

Apply now

Closes in 26 days (Wednesday 9 September 2026)

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